It’s National Pet Week! 🐾

Although the quarantine may seem like an ideal time to adopt your new furry friend, there are definitely a few things to consider before adoption. So, I’ve compiled 7 key points you should think about before you decide to adopt a pet [as recommended by AVMA and myself].

1. Remember: A PET IS FOR LIFE!! 

When looking for a pet, be sure to choose well. Pick a pet that’s right for your lifestyle. Don’t make an impulse decision – this is a committed relationship! Think of it like you would when it comes to choosing lifelong friends or a spouse (you’d wanna be smart and picky about that, right??).

If you’re considering a pet, I highly suggest looking at pets available for adoption from your local animal shelter or rescue, first. There are sadly SO many pets who are available for adoption who were either strays or needed rehoming. You are even likely to find a purebred, pedigree pet from a shelter or rescue! I admit, I’m a bit biased and prefer to #adoptdontshop, as I’ve rescued three purebred dogs in my lifetime from shelters! Yes, one was a puppy mill dog who probably didn’t meet breed standards…buttttt still, they were all BEAUTIFUL dogs who made incredible companions (same with the mutts I’ve adopted!). So please make adoption/rescuing your first choice before looking into buying a pet from a breeder.

I totally understand there are some of you out there who may be glued to the idea of adopting a pedigree pet. I’m 100% supportive of this choice, too (#adoptANDshop). BUT, I ask that you please please do your research before investing in buying a pet from a breeder. Make sure the breeder has tested their animals for any genetic diseases which may be inherited by offspring. You will need to be adamant about asking the breeder key questions such as when they breed their dogs, how they wean their puppies, and what illnesses or disease have past offspring had. (Stay tuned for a more thorough post in the future on what to do before buying a dog from a breeder). Once you find a breeder who meets the requirements, I say you’re all good to go ahead and adopt your pet!

It’s also a good idea to consider the financial and time investment before you commit to adopting a pet for life. Once you commit to this decision, you need to make sure you obey local ordinances and licensing laws (vaccination requirements, if your dog requires a muzzle on walks, etc). Ensure your pet is properly identified with a microchip and name tag with your contact information in case they get lost. And unless you actually plan to breed your pet for showing purposes (or are a breeder), PLEASE limit further populations of strays and SPAY & NEUTER your pet.

2. Socialization should start ASAP!

A puppy’s prime socialization period can start as early as 3 weeks old and lasts up to 12-14 weeks old (that’s less than 4 months people!). This is the big reason I’m so hesitant to suggest you adopt a pet during quarantine (especially a puppy). So unless you can provide proper socialization to a new pet while still following social distancing guidelines, I’d say it’s best to wait.

Already, we are seeing so many 2020 puppies come into the vet clinic with little to no socialization, so they have major separation anxiety and/or are extremely frightened of a lot of normal things! This is not only something that leads to a fearful pet, but can also leads to other fearful pets & people if a dog is not well socialized.

It is VITAL that you help your pet get comfortable in new situations by exposing it safely to a variety of interactions with other animals, people, places and activities. Everyone is more comfortable when pets are well socialized! (And your vet clinic will be so thankful!)

3. Nutrition and exercise matter more than you may think. 

It is estimated that 52.7% of dogs and 57.9% cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Many people face the same issue, and the AVMA encourages pet owners to get regular exercise with their pets (great accountability!). This improves cardiovascular health, helps both pets and people maintain a healthy weight, supports good mental health for both owner & pet, and strengthens the human-animal bond. Your veterinarian can advise you on how much to feed your pet and whether the diet you’re providing is healthful – including both meals and treats!

These are the four pet food brands I recommend, as they are the only ones so far who have actual veterinary nutritionists formulating the diets: Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, Purina, and Just Food for Dogs.

4. Make sure you see your vet! 

I cannot stress this enough! Your pet will require regular treatments like anti-parasitic treatment and vaccines to prevent catching common infectious diseases. So please make sure you are adamantly giving your pet this treatments, at the bare minimum. Regular preventive care is critical to keep pets healthy and improve both quality & length of life. It also can save owners a great deal of money in the long run. Don’t wait to take your pet to the veterinarian only when it’s visibly sick or injured. If you’re already wondering whether or not your pet should see a vet, chances are you should bring them in. Pets often hide signs of illness, so regular check-ups are vital to catching health problems early. Early treatment means better health for your pet (and less money you will spend in the end 😉 )

5. Don’t forget about the travel! 

Traveling with pets requires advance planning and coordination to keep everybody safe. Whether you’re taking a short car trip or flying to another state or country, getting your pet safely to your destination requires special precautions. These range from proper restraints during travel to veterinary exams and travel certificates. Plan ahead, and know exactly what’s needed when you travel with pets of different species.

If you travel without your pet, make sure you choose someone you trust to watch them, or bring them to a well-run quality pet boarding facility. Ideally, you want to choose a pet sitter who has experience working with animals. Your pet [and you] will be even more comfortable while you are away if the pet sitter is someone who already knows your pet! Be sure to have a detailed list of instructions for the pet sitter, including the pet’s daily routine – feeding times, walks, etc. Also include your contact information on there as well as an emergency contact (let them know you’re leaving, too and have them check on your pet if needbe). Of course, don’t forget to include the veterinary clinic contact information in case there is an emergency. Which brings me to the next point….

6. Emergencies happen: Be prepared.

We never know when or where an emergency will happen. This is why I HIGHLY recommend investing in pet insurance if you adopt a puppy. If you adopt a pet with a previous health record, I suggest putting aside savings specifically as an emergency fund for your pet. This way if you have an unexpected vet bill, you don’t even need to second guess the investment.  As a pet owner, you also need to plan ahead, and include your pet(s) in your family’s emergency plan. Know what to do in case of an emergency, and how to properly identify your pets so your family can be reunited if you’re ever separated (which also ties in with point #1 explaining how important t is to make sure your pet has the right identification!).

7. Lastly, plan to give your pet a lifetime of love.

I hope you were already planning to do this! Nowadays we have access to better care for our pets, so they can live longer than they ever have before. And as pets get older, they need extra care and attention. Regular veterinary examinations can detect problems in older pets before they become advanced or life-threatening. They also can improve your pet’s chances for a longer and healthier life. Learn what’s “normal” and what may signal a reason for concern about an aging pet.

Hope this can help guide your pet adoption decision. And if you have a pet already, I hope it gave you recommendations you may not have thought of before.

Find out more at AVMA.org