According to AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), there are 76,811,305 dogs, 58,385,725 cats, 7,538,000 birds, and 1,914,394 horses in the United States.
Animals are great companions in life, they crave our attention and they deserve it too. When properly cared for, an animal can be a cherished member of your family and bring you joy for years to come.
We’ve prepared this guide to make sure your furry friend is well taken care of, read on as we share seven key things every pet owner should know.
Seven Ways to Take Care of Animals
Here are the top ways to take care of animals:
- Give them love and affection and they will return the same
Animals are God’s creatures, and they have their own unique personalities, even though they may be unable to speak. However, they can communicate with us in other ways, such as through their eyes and body language.
If you love your animal and treat him or her with respect and care, your animal will return the same to you.
You need to spend time with them, even if it is just playing around with them for a while. They enjoy being loved as much as we do, if not more so.
You must pay attention to any changes in their behavior, eating patterns, or health issues so that you can seek the necessary medical treatment for them before the problem gets worse.
- If they have a wound, make sure you clean it up
If your animal has a wound, make sure you clean it up. With some help from a veterinarian, you can ensure that the wound heals properly with minimal scarring and discomfort for the animal. If a wound is not cared for properly, the infection can set in and result in further complications.
Clean the wound regularly until it is healed. Use warm water and mild soap; do not use hydrogen peroxide or betadine, as these can cause damage to the tissue surrounding the wound. Dry the area thoroughly after cleaning.
Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound once or twice a day until it is healed. Most over-the-counter antibiotic ointments are safe for animals when applied topically to wounds; check with a veterinarian before using any antibiotic ointment on an animal’s eye or inside its nasal passages or ears.
Cover the wound with gauze and wrap it with vet wrap to keep it clean and free of dirt while it heals. Do not use bandages on wounds underneath paws where they may be chewed off by an animal that licks at its paws frequently.
If your dog is chewing at its bandage or licking at its paws, put an Elizabethan collar, also called a cone collar, around its neck to keep it from the wound.
- Make sure they have enough food and water
To ensure that you are meeting your animal’s nutritional needs, it is important to understand what food your pet requires. The simplest way that you can do this is by reading the package label of the pet food that you choose. You will find a lot of great information on the label.
Most animals need at least four hours to digest their food. But large dogs may need up to eight hours while smaller dogs and cats may be fine with just four hours. You should make sure that your pet has enough food and water before you leave them alone for an extended period of time.
- Take them for a walk if they need to go outside
If your pet has to go outside to relieve themselves, take them out and wait with them until they are finished. Give them positive reinforcement, praise, and a treat when they are done.
Use a leash when you take your pet for a walk. This will prevent them from running away or getting lost. Training your pet to walk on a leash will also be beneficial for both of you.
If your animal does not like to go outside, then do not force it to be outside. If it does not want to go outside, put it in a safe place so that it does not hurt itself or others.
- Brush their fur to keep them clean and healthy
A good brushing is an excellent way to bond with your pet and make sure he or she stays clean and healthy. Brush the fur of your animals to keep them clean and healthy.
Brushing can clean the fur of loose hair and dirt. It also can help distribute the natural oils in your pet’s coat to keep it shiny and healthy-looking. Brushing is especially important for animals with long hair. If you don’t brush it often, the hair can become matted or tangled.
How much brushing you need to do depends on your pet’s hair type. Long-haired pets need daily brushing, while short-haired ones need only occasional brushing.
- Play with them when they want to play so they can be happy
You want your pets to be happy, right? Well, they can’t be happy if you don’t play with them.
Pets need attention and love, and sometimes they get bored. If you play with your pet when he wants to play, he will be happy and so will you.
You can tell when an animal wants to play because the animal will do certain things. Cats and dogs like to chase after things. If there is a ball or piece of string around, then the animal might try to get it.
Or if the animal sees that you have a ball or something else that it likes, it might try to get your attention by running around in front of you or jumping up on you so that you will notice it and then play with it.
Animals also like to have their tummies rubbed, especially dogs. If the pet is lying down and shows its belly to you, that means the pet wants its tummy rubbed.
- Sleep next to them when they need some comfort or warmth from you
When you are sleeping next to your animals, it can really help them with the comfort and warmth that they need from you. You can also do this with your dog or cat when they are feeling sick.
When you have a lonely pet, it helps a lot to have a sleepover together. Your animal will be able to feel the comfort and warmth of your body while they sleep next to you.
When your pet has an illness, it can be very comforting for them to know that someone is there watching over them. You may want to put blankets and pillows over their cage so they don’t feel like they’re alone in the dark at night time or if there’s not enough light coming through windows during daytime hours for them to see their surroundings clearly.