Have you been thinking about getting a cat or a dog? Are you currently doing research to find out what sort of things might be needed for you to bring home a furry friend? Owning a cat or a dog can be both fun and rewarding, but it can also be a lot of work at times. This definitely doesn't mean that you shouldn't get a pet, but you need to be aware of your responsibilities in regards to pet ownership. Some of the most important things that need to be done should be accomplished before you ever even bring your new pet home. A few of these items include the following.
1. Find a good vet: A good vet clinic is going to be useful for everything from vaccinations to dealing with sudden illnesses. If your preferred vet clinic doesn't take in patients after hours, you'll need to also locate an emergency vet to use. Cats and dogs obviously aren't going to get sick or injured on some sort of schedule, and the last thing that you'll want to do when they're in need of medical attention is to try to figure out which vet you should use. Finding a vet before you actually need one will save a lot of time and stress in the long run.
2. Check your plants: A lot of common houseplants can be hazardous to either cats or dogs if they are eaten. In some cases, the plants may only need to be chewed on and not actually consumed in any large quantity in order to be a hazard. To prevent frantic trips to your chosen vet clinic, make sure to check to see if your plants are ones that are toxic. If they are, you'll either need to get rid of the plants or make sure that they are in an inaccessible location before you bring your new furry family member home.
3. Baby-proof your home: Even if you're planning to get an older cat or dog, it's a good idea to at least partially baby-proof your home until you know their personality and temperament. For instance, some cats or dogs might consider power strips to be good targets for urination. If they are not fully housebroken or litter box trained, they could seriously injure themselves and cause damage to your electronics by urinating on unattended power strips.
Power cords should also be put out of the way for a similar reason - to prevent them being chewed on and causing an electric shock. Another good reason to ensure that cords are out of the way is that a playful pet may stumble into a cord and get briefly tangled in their excitement, causing the attached item to fall and potentially result in both injury and damage to the item in question.
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