Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family

Terry Johnson, CVT

AAHA.org

Thinking about adding a pet to your family? A pet can be a wonderful addition, whether you’re a single person looking for a best friend, part of a family looking for a furry kid, or a senior looking for companionship. Start your search by doing some research, planning ahead, and asking yourself some questions about what kind of pet will work best for your situation.

Making a lifetime commitment
Begin by asking this question: Is this a good time in my (or my family’s) life to get a pet? Before you commit to bringing a pet into your home, consider your future plans and make sure you are ready to care for a pet for the rest of his or her life. If you’re considering a dog or cat, this could be up to 20 years. A bird’s lifespan can range from 3 to 60 years, depending on the species.

Things to consider when choosing a pet

Cost – Be aware of the costs associated with different kinds of pets. Smaller doesn’t always equal less expensive. Setting up a budget to meet the needs of your pet, and planning for possible emergency expenses, will help you be financially prepared.

Activity level – Are you active and looking for a pet who can be active with you? Or do you just want a companion to spend time with at home? Ask yourself some questions about how much time and energy you have to devote to your pet each day. This is one of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a new pet.

Housing – All pets need safe, comfortable, and temperature-appropriate housing, which, for almost every species, will include being inside your home for at least part of the time. Where will your pet sleep during the winter? Are you willing to have a dedicated place in your home for her? Where will she be while you are at work or traveling?

Diet – Beyond your love, what you feed your pet will have the biggest effect on his quality of life.  Feed him a high-quality diet consisting of species-appropriate foods to meet his unique needs. It is also important to be aware of what your pet should not eat and what can be toxic and/or fatal.

General care – Keeping your pet clean and comfortable will require some commitment on your part.  Know and understand the special grooming requirements that different pets have, such as grooming, baths, nail trims, exercise, attention needs, and more.

Veterinary care – Plan on (and budget for) visiting your veterinarian at least annually for preventive care visits to keep your pet happy and healthy. Your veterinary health care team is a great resource when you’re considering a pet. They know and understand the unique health, breed, and behavior aspects of many species and can provide valuable insight and information. Also, consider pet insurance if you’re thinking about a dog or cat.

Training – You’ll find that committing to training your pet is well-worth the time and money. Whether you choose a group setting, individual training, or book training, a well-trained pet will lead to a much happier relationship for both of you.

Finding the perfect match
Once you’ve thought about these things and have begun to determine what kind of pet you’re looking for, consider adopting from a shelter. The ASPCA created a unique program to help people who are interested in adopting find the perfect pet for them. Originally developed for the Kansas Humane Society, the Meet Your Match (MYM) Canine-ality™, Puppy-ality™, and Feline-ality™ are fun, color-coded programs designed to increase the likelihood that puppies, as well as dogs and cats six months and older, are matched with compatible people.

The MYM method evaluates an animal’s behavior and interests and matches them to a person’s, or family’s, preferences. The program includes two parts: an assessment the shelter staff uses to evaluate puppies, dogs, and cats; and a survey the prospective adopter completes. After the assessment and survey are complete, both animals and prospective adopters are placed into one of three color categories: purple, orange, or green. Each of these categories are then divided into three additional categories.

The Puppy-ality assessment surveys a puppy’s:

Comfort level in a new environment
Social responses
Interest in play
Ease of handling
Tendency to guard food

The Canine-ality assessment focuses on a dog’s:

Friendliness and sociability
Playfulness
Energy level and ability to focus
Motivation (food, people, toys, internal motivations, etc.)
“People manners”

The Feline-ality assessment focuses on a cat’s:

Enjoyment of being pet and held
Playfulness
Responses to new people and things
The people version of the survey focuses on the individual’s or family’s lifestyles, helps narrow the options, and provides some information on what to expect once they’ve chosen a pet. After completing the survey, potential adoptors are given a color-coded guest pass and instructions to look for color-coded cage cards.

Shelters using the MYM programs have seen increases in adoptions and decreases in return rates.  Everyone wants to be successful matching the right pet with the right person. Asking questions, doing some homework before you begin your search, and using tools like the MYM program can make the process a fun and positive win-win experience for all.

 

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Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats tackles obesity in pets

By Kate Spencer

It’s a battle for so many of us, and it’s affecting more and more people every year: the battle of the bulge. And now, many of us are finding that our pets are facing weight issues as well. While obesity is on the rise for both humans and their pets, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) hopes to do something about the problem (for pets, anyway).

Why did AAHA develop the Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats?
AAHA developed the weight management guidelines to better combat the rise in pet obesity. Just like with people, maintaining an optimal weight for our pets contributes to a healthier life. This means our pets have more energy, live longer, and participate more fully in the activities they enjoy with you. The guidelines are a resource for veterinarians to raise awareness, educate pet owners, and make it easier to address weight management with patients.

Does my veterinarian follow the weight management guidelines?
Ask him or her! Most AAHA-accredited veterinary hospitals use AAHA’s guidelines when treating pets. AAHA guidelines are designed by experts for use by veterinary professionals—they are recognized as the cutting edge of veterinary medicine, keeping veterinary professionals up to date with the latest practices.

How do the weight management guidelines impact me and my pet?
Your veterinarian may follow the weight management guidelines when treating your pet. This means your veterinarian will likely rely on you to take an active role in helping to keep your pet at a healthy weight. Weight management can be very challenging for both veterinarians and clients because it is such a complex condition, which requires individualized and lifelong treatment. There is no simple cause or straight-forward treatment, so it is a situation where veterinarians and pet owners have to work together.

My pet isn’t fat—do I need to worry about his weight?
Actually, up to 59 percent of dogs and cats are overweight, making it the most common nutritional disorder identified in veterinary practice. Your pet may be overweight, but you may not realize it. In one study of pet owners with dogs clinically defined as “overweight,” 30 percent of pet owners thought that their dogs were at an acceptable weight. Carrying a few extra pounds may not sound like a big deal, but it has been shown to be associated with skin and respiratory disorders, as well as renal dysfunction. It also increases the risk of orthopedic disease, some types of cancer, and metabolic and endocrine disorders, such as diabetes.

What can I do to help control my pet’s weight?
Weight management starts with you! The guidelines offer suggestions to help both pet owners and veterinarians manage pets’ weight:

• Ask your veterinarian for a nutritional recommendation on what type of food is best for your pet given his lifestage and lifestyle considerations.
• Use interactive rewards (such as chasing a ball, tugging with a toy, etc.) rather than food rewards when training your pet.
• Your veterinarian should evaluate your pet’s body condition score (BCS) and recommend feeding adjustments as appropriate to your pet’s BCS.
• Maintain exercise and activity for your pet.
• Understand the limitations of pet food labels and feeding recommendations.
• Weight management is a key part of your pet’s health. Ask your veterinarian how you can work together to keep your pet healthy.