Furry Friends

CARING FOR YOUR FURRY FRIENDS FAMILY MEMBERS

Local veterinarian Chris Forstall gives five-paw worthy advice for families with pets.

What are some tips for choosing my family’s first pet?

There are so many breeds out there to choose from, and there is a perfect breed for everyone. First, you need to know what you want in a pet. Something independent like a cat? More of a companion like a dog? If you’re active and like to be outdoors, I would choose a medium to large working breed dog such as a Labrador.

If you’re more relaxed, I would recommend a small breed such as a toy poodle. Do you travel a lot? You may want a cat that does not need as much attention and care. Match a pet to your lifestyle.

What is the first thing I should do when bringing home a new pet?

You want to show them everything that is theirs in the house: food and water bowls, beds, cages, places to go to the bathroom, toy bins, etc. Slowly introduce them to the other pets and children in the house. It is always good to have a kennel or bed for them to call their own.

What is the one piece of advice you wished pet owners would follow, but they don't?

Take Google with a grain of salt. There is some good information out there, but there is also a lot of false/incorrect medical information. Please refer to your vet for more reliable guidance.

What are the most common ailments for pets that owners seem to wait till it is too late?

Dogs and allergies: We see a lot of allergies because of our environment and a lot of the time people wait until the skin is infected before they come in. Cats and urinary tract infections. Because cats are so independent, the owner usually will not notice until the issue is very bad.

How can kids help with house training and teaching the family pet new tricks?

House training can be overwhelming for anyone, but children can definitely help. I highly recommend crate training your puppy. If you are not home or you are distracted with a project, place the puppy in his or her kennel. When you go to take him out of the kennel, immediately take him out and reward with a treat. Your children can be as involved in this process as you would like. Let them hold the leash if they would like or give the pet a treat.

What does pet ownership teach kids?

Pet ownership is a great way to teach your children responsibility. Our two older daughters, ages 10 and 8, are responsible for feeding our two dogs nightly. We taught them the correct amount of food to give, and they actually enjoy doing it. We are also teaching them how to bathe our Maltipoo. Our pets are “family,” not just a pet for mom and dad to care for.