So you’ve made the decision to get a puppy. It’s not something to take on without a lot of thought. You have lots of choices, not only of the breed of pup that you feel you’d be able to cope with, but how you’re going to bring him or her up.

One of the most important things is to choose your vet. Even a dog that is in perfect health is going to need a vet from time to time and a check over when you get the pup is a good opportunity to talk through the schedule for vaccinations. At the same time, you should think about pet insurance.

Pet insurance is very worthwhile. Cover for naturally occurring illnesses as well as accidental injuries will give you peace of mind. Veterinary costs can be frighteningly high and could be a cause of worry if there’s no insurance in place. Lots of people say if you can’t afford the vet’s bills, you can’t afford the pet – but maybe for vet’s bills they should say insurance.

One of the best ways to prevent too many visits to the vets, which means fewer claims on your insurance, is to keep it at a good, healthy weight. If you start with a good diet as soon as you get your pet and keep to regular meal times, with minimal feeding of tit-bits, you’re starting in the right way.

You may not notice that you pooch has become a little more podgy than he should, but come booster time, your vet will probably want to check his weight. This is an excellent thing, as they can pick up any marked changes in weight since the last visit and draw your attention to it.

If there’s a problem with a slightly overweight dog, it is simple to address at this stage. You should take the vets advice on feeding. The type and quantity of food and how often you feed will be discussed and an ideal weight arrived at. You’ll be invited to go along and weigh in your pet to make sure that the plan is working.

An overweight dog is at risk of more problems than his fitter cousins. The heat will bother him more; he is more at risk of skin diseases, arthritis, diabetes and heart and circulator disorders. If an operation is needed at any time then there is more risk from surgical and anaesthetic procedures.

The cause of the problem is usually quite simply that you’re feeding more than the pet’s requirements. You could be feeding a good formula, but too many snacks or scraps and insufficient exercise could be taking their toll. As dogs get older they often need adjustments in their diet, due to sleeping more and requiring less exercise.

Although you should always check with your vet before making major changes to your dogs diet, there are a number of special slimming products available. These contain the minerals and vitamins your pet should be getting but with less calories. It can be quite tricky getting an older dog to adapt to a new diet and you have to be less soft-hearted and tell him it’s for his own good if this is the case!

It’s possible you won’t notice the odd pounds. Sometimes you’ll see an old photograph and realize that neither of you are looking as sleek as you once did. If you apply slight pressure on either side of his ribcage you should be able to feel your pet’s ribs. If you can’t then think what his diet really does consist of and maybe just cut down a little, or increase his exercise. If you stand over him when he’s standing up, you should be able to see his “waistline”. No waistline = too much fat.

Some breeds of dog are more inclined to put on weight than others. Pets that have been neutered and older pets are at risk too. Keep this in mind and keep up the vigilance. Enjoy your puppy.

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The great cat controversy: whether to keep you cat indoors or allow it the freedom of the wider world, is one with convincing arguments on both sides. This article does not aim to prove which method of ownership is correct, because I don’t believe there is an easy answer. However, if you do allow your cat to roam the city or countryside, below you will find some tips for responsible cat ownership.

Facts and Figures

The natural instinct of cats is to prey upon smaller animals, which, after all, was man’s reason for domesticating them. Therefore, it is easy to see why many owners, particularly in European countries, believe that it is cruel to keep a cat indoors. However, it is worth bearing in mind that on average a single domesticated cat, one that we can assume is being fed well at home, will kill up to 40 animals each year. Predominantly, theses fatalities are small mammals, such as mice, and birds.

Of course, the only way to eliminate this problem is to keep your cat indoors all of the time. However, this can cause separate issues, such as boredom, weight gain and health complications associated with obesity. Subsequently, keeping a cat indoors is not an entirely satisfactory solution. So, below you will find tips on how to reduce your outdoor cat’s hit count.

Don’t Allow Your Cat Out at Night

Typically, the hunting instinct reaches its peak during the hours of darkness. Therefore, it is wise to keep you cat indoors overnight. If you are worried about restraining the cat’s natural inclination, it is wise to bear in mind that the more infrequently a cat is allowed to hunt, the less inclined it will be to do so.

Moreover, keeping your cat in at night will increase its safety, as cats are more likely to be run over during the hours of darkness. Additionally, feral cats predominantly hunt at night, so keeping your cat indoors will help prevent the likelihood that he, or she, is involved in a fight or a romantic rendezvous.

Raise the Alarm

Many owners feel that it is a good idea to attach a bell to their pet’s collar to announce his, or her, presence. This tends to be more effective with the cat’s mammalian prey and is far less effective with birds. Additionally, cats are very intelligent and will quickly learn to move without sounding the bell.

Therefore, you may find a sonic collar more useful and it is always advisable to purchase a safety collar that will not choke the cat should it become caught on a branch.

Turn Your Garden into a Haven for Birds

You may be thinking, “How will having more birds for my cat to kill help?”. Actually, the more birds that are in your garden the safer they will be. Predominantly, this is due to a bird’s natural instinct to sound an alarm call when danger is present. Subsequently, the more birds you have the more likely they are to sense the threat from your cat.

There are many ways to attract birds to your garden; feeders are a good place to start. In addition, you may wish to purchase a bird table and birdbath.

Ensure that Your Cat is Sterilized

It is advisable to have cat’s neutered at a very young age. This has obvious benefits for you and your cat, but it also has advantages to local wildlife. Firstly, a reduction in hormones will reduce your cat’s desire to hunt, but, more importantly, fewer unwanted pregnancies will result in fewer abandoned cats that are forced to fend for themselves in the wild.

Obviously, a cat will do what it is genetically programmed to do. It is impossible to eradicate the natural instinct of a cat to prey on smaller animals, but in the interests of wildlife conservation, it is wise to do all we can to reduce the number of casualties caused by our feline friends.

Samantha Markham is a professional freelancer. She is currently writing on behalf of Remmeer.com, which is a quality supplier of pet products, including cat & kitten gifts and unique gifts for pet owners, such as cat lover picture frames.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-for-responsible-cat-ownership-1402762.html