How To Choose The Right Pet For Your Family

Introducing a furry friend into your home can be an incredibly exciting time, but it’s important that you make an informed decision about the right pet for your family. Among other factors, your family size, housing situation and amount of time you’ll be able to dedicate to your pet will impact this choice. In this article, we’ll be going over some questions to consider if you’re thinking about getting a new pet.

 

What type of pet should you get?

Are you a cat or a dog person? Or are you someone who likes both, or neither? These are important questions to ask yourself before choosing a new pet. In general, dogs will require a considerable time investment as they need to be taken for walks, trained properly and prefer not to be left alone for long periods of time. In contrast, cats are much more independent, but will still require lots of love and affection. If you’re time poor and looking for something more low maintenance, a rabbit or guinea pig can be a great place to start as they don’t require a lot of space and are relatively quiet whilst still being incredibly affectionate pets and full of personality.

What kind of pet will best suit your lifestyle?

Aside from time commitment, different types of animals have different lifestyle needs and you need to thoroughly research these before you make any final decisions. For example, dog breeds like a kelpies, Labradors and border collies need an outdoor space to run around and exercise. Breeds like these are also highly intelligent and energetic, so they’ll need toys to amuse them and you’ll need to schedule in regular play time to ensure they get the mental stimulation they need. By contrast, dog breeds like Boston terriers, pugs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Shih Tzu are well suited to apartment life or small space living, as they tend to prefer the quiet life indoors and are quite content as long as you take them on daily walks. However, it’s important to remember that many lap dog breeds like Shih Tzu, Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers require daily brushing and regular trips to the groomer so you’ll need to become handy with a brush and deshedding comb.

Where should you get your new pet from?

Once you’ve decided what kind of pet to get, you then need to consider where you’ll buy that pet. If you’re sold on one particular breed or another, it’s best to do your research to find an ethical breeder. The best place to source an ethical breeder is through a registered breeding club which exists for both dogs and cats in Victoria.

As an alternative, mixed breed dogs or cats are generally much less prone to illnesses or genetic diseases, and can be a great option for many families. The RSPCA and other local rescue shelters are some places where you can find mixed breed pets. In doing so, you’ll most likely be saving that animal’s life, and supporting those organisations to continue their work. But a word of caution- visiting rescue shelters can be an overwhelming experience, especially for children, so make sure you’re prepared before you go.

To make the best decision, you must consider factors such as lifestyle, environment, temperament and other social needs. It may sound obvious, when you’re bringing a new pet into your home, it’s a long lasting commitment. If you’re unsure, reach out to an animal welfare organisation or your local vet, as they’ll be able to give you the most relevant and comprehensive information.

If you want some professional advice in choosing the right pet for your family, the team at Vets on Balwyn are more than happy to help. With a comprehensive knowledge of all kinds of domestic pets, we are well placed to advise you on the right fur, scale or feather baby to add to your family. Get in touch with us today by calling 03 9857 8100.

 

Dr Kevin’s advice on bunnies as pets

Rabbits make great pets. They are lovable, inquisitive creatures that are full of personality. Rabbits are a good alternative to cats and dogs but what else should you know when you’re considering a bunny buddy?

Rabbits can live outside in a run or as house trained indoor companions that can even sit with you on the sofa. Your pet bunny can also be trained to use a litter tray!

Rabbits are excellent for those who maintain a busy schedule throughout the day, but it’s important to remember that bunnies thrive on companionship so if you are not around much they would love another rabbit to hang out with. In fact, rabbits that live in pairs actually live longer.

In regards to health, most of the problems we see with bunnies are associated with their diet. It is really important that they are fed a diet full of hay, grass and leafy greens (seeds and pellets are treats only). Give us a call when you are thinking about getting your bunny and we can organize a health check and a discussion about diet, vaccinations and general care.

Via:: Dr Kevin Pet Advice

The “Hay & Veggies” diet for your rabbits

Did you know about the “Hay & Veggies” diet?

Offer an unlimited amount of fresh grass, grass hay and weeds to your rabbit.

The “Hay and Veggies” diet consists of lots of hay, fresh grass, weeds and fibrous grasses, plus a large and varied selection of greens and vegetables every single day. This is undoubtedly the most natural way to feed your bunny and is highly recommended.

Examples of green foods (offer in large quantities)

Broccoli (leaves and top)

Brussel Sprouts

Spinach

Celery (leaves are good)

Dandelion greens (and flower)

Herbs

Swiss chard (any colour)

Leafy green lettuce (NOT iceberg)

Parsley

Carrot/Beet Tops

Water cress

Baby greens

Go with the seasons and offer a large variety of vegetables – especially leafy green items. Do not be tempted to offer only the favourite veggies!

Follow the same guidelines as listed for selecting and using green foods with the exception of the amount. Only offer a small amount (up to a handful) of any combination of the foods below. You will note that these are mostly fruits:

Kiwi Fruit

Peach

Capsicum

Raspberries

Cherries

Strawberries

Pear

Blueberries

Apple

Peas in the pod

Melon

Mango

Blackberries

Cranberries

Edible flowers from the garden such as roses, nasturtiums, day lilies, pansies and snap dragons. We do NOT recommend feeding bananas and grapes as some bunnies become addicted to these foods! Avocado is best NOT fed at all as some toxicities have been reported.

Forbidden Food for Rabbits

Never feed any commercial rabbit treats or high carbohydrate snacks that include those found in the following list;

Dried Beans

Cereals

Breads

Oats

Seeds

Refined Sugar

Chocolate

Dried Corn

Cake

Nuts

Dried Peas

Wheat…….or any other grains

Via:: Dr Kevin Pet Advice