Prepare your house for your pet's arrival. A special place should be designated for it to eat, sleep, and eliminate. Obtain any necessary accessories (eg, collar, leash, ID tag, crate, cage, aquarium and dishes) before you bring your pet home. For most pets, you will need to pet-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be kept out of reach. Open windows should be screened.
Roaming pets are prime candidates for fights with other animals, traffic accidents, and communicable diseases from other animals. Their life span can be expected to be considerably shorter as a result.
Most pets are strictly indoor pets and are perfectly content, as long as they have access to food and fresh water at all times. AVMA strongly recommends that for a healthier, happier pet you consider keeping your pets indoors only. If your pet must go outside, make sure you know where it is at all times, that the pet is old enough to manage on its own, that it is identified in some fashion (microchip ID or breakaway collar and tag), current on vaccinations, and not outdoors in extremely cold, hot, or inclement weather.
If you don't want your pet in certain areas of the house, start training it immediately to avoid those areas. When choosing where your pet will sleep, keep in mind some pets are nocturnal animals and will be active at night. Placing soft bedding materials in secluded corners will help your pet to feel at home.
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November Newsletter: How arthritis can affect your pet
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Could your pet have arthritis?
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November Newsletter: National animal shelter appreciation week
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Looking for ways to support your local animal shelter?
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Three Reasons to Always Microchip Your Pets
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Wondering if microchipping is right for your pet?
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Bad Breath Can Indicate Your Pet Needs Dental Care
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Could bad breath mean that your pet has a dental issue?
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Happy Cat Month
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How will you honor your cat during Happy Cat Month?
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Beware of Ticks this Fall
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Do you know how to protect your pet from ticks?
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How to Tell When Your Cat Is Sick
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Not sure if your cat is sick? Take a look at these signs.
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Vet Care Doesn't Have to Break the Bank; Pet Insurance
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Wondering if pet insurance is a good idea?
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Human vs Pet Medications: Why You Should Never Share Medicine with Your Pets
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Could your medications harm your pets?
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Ways to Take the Stress Out of Your Pet's Next Veterinary Visit
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Does your pet dread veterinary visits?
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Signs on Heatstroke: Keep Your Pets Safe This Summer
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Do you know how to protect your pet from heatstroke?
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Why Heartworm Protection Is Necessary for All Pets
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Is your pet protected against heartworm?
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Cat-Safe House Plants
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Not sure which house plants are safe for your cat? Take a look at our list.
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Feline Skin Allergy Symptoms and Care
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Has scratching become your cat's favorite activity? A skin allergy may be to blame.
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Gastroenteritis in Pets
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Newsletter Library, Recognizing Illness
Lengthy bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can be a sign that your pet has gastroenteritis, a common condition that occurs when the lining of the stomach and intestines becomes irritated. Since frequent diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration, a visit to the veterinarian is a good idea if you notice
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What You Need to Know About Antibiotics
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Newsletter Library, Keeping Pets Healthy
Using antibiotics incorrectly may harm, rather than help, your pet.
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