PET OWNERSHIP

PET OWNERSHIP

Tips for success

How to care for a pet:

Dogs take a lot of time: “The expression is a tired dog is a happy dog,” he said, so walk a dog every day or it will find destructive things to do with its energy. Cats require much less time from their owners.

Nutrition: Don’t feed pets junk food or food from the table because that leads to overweight animals, which leads to problems such as diabetes and heart problems.

Dry vs. canned food: Recent studies show that cats get too many carbohydrates from eating only dry food. A mixture of canned and dry food is better.

Health: Dogs need to be brought to a veterinarian once per year for a checkup, bathed or groomed monthly, and teeth brushed twice a week. Heart worm and flea protection should be used.

Costs: Treating a dog’s broken leg can cost $500 to $1,500; treating a dog’s back injury can cost $2,000 to $2,500.

Inside vs. outside: Dogs are “pack animals” and need interaction (which generally comes from being inside with people) to be happy. Outdoor cats live an average of three years; indoor cats, 13 years.

Source: Dr. Sam Costello, Howland veterinarian