Taking Your Pet To The Veterinarian

So time for a visit to the veterinarian with your pet? Here are some things you need to know:

1. First visit with your pet to the veterinarian? Try to make it fun and stress-free for your pet for that first visit. Bring treats if necessary! Introduce your pet to the veterinarian and at the very least a basic wellness exam so your pet gets use to being handled by a stranger. After all do you really want a pet that dreads the veterinarian because of a bad experience? I think not. Take it nice and easy.

2. When waiting in the waiting room keep your pet close. You may have the friendliest pet ever but some pets and their owners may not be and it really is bad pet etiquette to let your pet wander around pestering people and other animals. Keep your pet on a leash or in a pet carrier.

3. Tell the truth about your dog's health. If he/she got into something that maybe poisonous let the veterinarian know exactly what  your pet got into. Your child/someone else's child play a little rough with your pet let your veterinarian know. You won't be judged the vet just wants to treat your pet in the best way possible if they have all the facts.

4. Make sure your pet has regular check-ups. Be it a annual physical examination, to update your pet's shots, or external and internal parasite/pest prevention are investments to your pet's health to prevent any serious and costly diseases. The more regular you are at your veterinarian the more likely they are able to keep a close eye on your pet's overall health.

5. If your pet has unusual behaviors please let the veterinarian no matter how minor it may seem. Any change in your pet's normal routine may mean something serious so let your veterinarian know as soon as possible.

6. Never play doctor your self! Never give people medications to your pets ever! Be careful with home remedies as well without proper guidance from a holistic veterinarian because your pet could have bad side affects or could interact with a current pet medication you are giving your pet. Always get a veterinarian's referral or prescription before trying any pet medication on your pet.

7. Be detailed and precise about your pet's symptoms. It will help your vet determine if what your pet has is a contagious disease in which case your pet would have to be isolated immediately and more then likely would have to be taken in at a time or place where no other animals are present. Otherwise you could cause a pet disease epidemic if your not specific enough on your pet's symptoms.

8. Have a number for your local 24-hour animal hospital handy. Since most veterinarians have 9-5 office hours it would be wise to get a referral for a after-hours clinic is case you have concerns or a emergency for your pet late at night.

Are No-Kill Shelters a Good Thing?

List of no-kill shelters. http://www.nokillnetwork.org/

Now I for one believe no pet should be euthanized unless they are sick and dying or have severe behavioral problems i.e aggression toward humans (especially children) and animals that can not be controlled no matter how much professional training and socializing you put that animal through.

However unfortunately the overpopulation of shelter animals far outnumbers people actually willing to give them homes. Not to mention what seems to be high instances of former shelter animals being returned to shelter environments do to unforeseen behavioral issues or people having problems in their life and are unable to commit to there pets.

I wish every single good-hearted responsible pet owner could give all these homeless pets homes but it's not happening now and I'm sorry but it never will.

People will continue to breed animals purebred and mutts alike for profit. People will continue to not spay and neuter their pets. People will continue to abandon their pets. People will continue to re-home their pets again and again. People will continue to abuse and leave animals for dead. When it comes to pets there are always going to be irresponsible, uneducated, money grubbing or just don't give a damn about a animal's life kind of people.

No amount of no-kill shelters will be able to save every single suffering animal in the world let alone the United States as a whole. Unfortunately thousands upon thousands of healthy, well behave pets will be put to sleep because a home could not be found due to shelters just being so overcrowded and not enough people.

Please. If you decide to get a pet it is a commitment for life. No matter what problems you have in your life you will always be responsible for the well being of that animal.

*Just because it's a no kill shelter does not mean a animal will necessarily remain at that specific shelter! Animals can be and are moved from shelter to shelter based on shelter capacities or just not enough donations to care for that specific animal. So if your thinking about dropping your pet off at a no-kill shelter there is no guarantee your pet will be safe from euthanasia. Sorry that is the reality.