Check every year
This is important to know the health status of your pet. An annual examination is also the right time for your animal to get vaccinated, stool examination, and also a blood test to see if its internal organs are functioning properly.
Sterilization / castration
Sterilization / castration is very important to reduce the risk of your pet getting some types of cancer. Sterilization can reduce the stress level of your pet because they will lose the desire to mate, thereby reducing their risk of disappearing when they leave the house to find a partner or go home with injuries due to fighting with other animals.
Some do not agree with sterilization because they feel sorry for their pets losing the ability to mate. Unlike the human view of sex, animals consider mating as an encouragement to breed for the survival of their species. They will not be confused if they lose their mating ability.
Healthy weight
Take care of your pet to always be in the ideal body weight. Too thin because of lack of nutrition or obesity because excessive feeding can cause hormonal imbalances, organ failure, skin problems, heart disease, joint problems, diabetes, etc. Discuss with your veterinarian to find out what diet is best for your pet according to your age, weight, and lifestyle.
Another tip about pet weight is that they tend to get fat after sterilization. So be careful in keeping their meals and activities in order to always be fit.
Pay attention to the food and snacks you provide
There are many human foods that are harmful to your pet such as chocolate, wine, onions, alcohol, xylitol, raw bone, etc. some foods can cause mild symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, but most can cause irreparable organ damage. So be careful when sharing your food with your pet.
Never give human medicine without asking a veterinarian
This can be a dangerous thing to do. Common cold medicines, for example, are very toxic to dogs and cats even if given in small doses. When your pet is sick, take them to the vet to get the appropriate treatment. If it is not possible to take them to the vet, you can contact your veterinarian to consult whether you can give certain drugs to your animal. Mention the name of the ingredient and brand of the drug and ask if the drug is safe to give to your animal.
Do not accommodate excessive animals
Usually this starts with a good intention because saving sick animals or being abandoned is indeed a commendable thing. The problem occurs if you don’t know when you have to stop. Shelter alone has a limit to the number of animals they can care for. Having too many pets to treat will only cause suffering to the animals themselves in terms of lack of food and too narrow a place to live. Not to mention when diseases and parasites begin to spread among these animals, it will be very difficult to eradicate the disease and if the basic needs of life are not fulfilled, other animals will be very easily infected and not get the care needed.