Choosing the Right Dog for Your Family and Lifestyle

When you’ve made the decision to adopt a dog, finding one isn’t just as simple as walking into your local animal shelter and picking out the cutest smiling face. While your first impression and the feeling that you get when you interact with a canine for the first time is very important, you may also want to consider a few points beforehand to make an informed decision. Here are a few tips to get started.

Use online resources. According to Petfinder.com, it’s extremely beneficial to research rescue groups and animal shelters in your area. Pay careful attention to the descriptions of the dogs themselves – if the facility tends to use the same language over and over again, it probably means that they don’t know much about the animal

Checking to see if they have a Facebook page can be helpful when searching for success stories from the facility in question. This is also a good time to look into return policies, pet adoption procedures and other important information that will factor into your decision

Consider your lifestyle. If you come from an extremely active family, a working dog like a Labrador or a Golden Retriever will likely perfectly fit into your humble abode. If you’re a bit more laid-back, a smaller dog or an older canine may be more akin to your speed of living

Whatever the case may be, don’t get tied up into preconceived notions about breeds until you see the dog in action. Keep an open mind when meeting canines to find the right energy level and temperament for your family. Kaboose.com has a quiz that could be helpful when trying to determine for the right kind of dog for your family

Think about the dog’s age. Choosing between a younger and a full-grown dog is another major decision. While puppies are incredibly cute and irresistible, they are also a much bigger undertaking compared to adult canines in terms of behavioral training, house-breaking and socialization, reports the American Kennel Club

Adopting an adult dog can prove to be a great alternative to raising a puppy. Many shelter and rescue dogs are well-trained and simply just need a home. Some also tend to have minor behavior problems and often require continued puppy education in adulthood. Others have more significant problems such as fearfulness which can require months and months of dedicated rehabilitation. Be honest with yourself and consider how much responsibility you want to take on beforehand. Each dog is unique

This content is provided by the pet wellness experts at Hartz. We know that adopting a dog or cat is a huge commitment, so we’re here to help you feel confident and become the best pet parent you can be
Did you go through a selection process when deciding which pet to give a forever home? What’s something you wish you knew before making the big decision?

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Health Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

The spaying and neutering campaigns have been a consistent force in American life for decades in an effort to reduce the pet population. However, one of the many side effects of avoiding this standard practice could possibly put your canine at risk for myriad health problems. If you’ve recently adopted a dog and have been mulling over your options in terms of spaying and neutering, the following health problems could convince you to bring your pet into the vet for the procedure.

Male dogs can begin to experience a wealth of potential problems relating to their reproductive systems. According to the Dayton Daily News, un-neutered dogs can develop enlarged prostates that can cause difficulty during bathroom trips. This can also lead to infections and potential cancers and tumors that could be mitigated with a neutering procedure. Worse yet, un-neutered dogs have a tendency to mark their territory often, and tend to be more aggressive than their neutered counterparts.

Female dogs are also far more susceptible to certain cancers if they are not spayed during their lifetimes. According to PetFinder.com, females also experience heat cycles where they can urinate more frequently and howl for a period of four to five days. Mammary tumors can develop if a canine is allowed to reach her first heat cycle, and these cancers can spread throughout the body if they are left unchecked. Un-spayed females can also develop an emergency condition called pyometra, a uterine infection that could be potentially deadly. This can lead to all sorts of problems around your home and can lead to its fair share of messes as well.

Ultimately, the sooner you bring your canine into the vet to get spayed or neutered, the sooner you can decrease your companion’s risk for numerous cancers and other potentially deadly disorders. It can help you avoid many of the messy problems that are associated with your canine’s regular reproductive cycles and help curb much of the aggression that is associated with them. A spaying and neutering procedure is actually quite easy, and your pet will be back in tip-top shape in a week or so. This is one of the best investments you can make to improve pet wellness, and you can prevent a variety of disorders that could cause your canine extreme discomfort down the road.

Fixatfour says roughly 50% of all animals born are accidents. Spaying or neutering your pet at 4 months can prevent those accidents and help save millions of dogs and cats being killed in shelters each year. Check out their great shareable posters and web banners that can help spread this important message.

Still not convinced or have a friend you just can’t get to budge on this matter? Then head over to the ASPCA’s website to see their top 10 persuasive reasons to spay or neuter. Worried about the cost? Most cities have a low-cost program you can take advantage of. The ASPCA also has a locater for these services in your area.

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Keeping Your Cat Indoors During Summer

While it may be tempting to let your feline roam in the great outdoors and enjoy everything the warm weather has to offer, you may be putting your feline at great risk. Traditionally, most cat owners would let their feline venture around the neighborhood during the day and let their feline in at night, but a majority of veterinarians and pet wellness experts believe this is doing your cat a disservice. If you don’t know which decision to make, the following reasons may convince you to keep your cat indoors where he’s safe and sound all year long


Parasites


While indoor cats are still susceptible to parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes, they are far less likely to run into an infested animal or carry one of these insects inside when they are indoors 24/7, reports the AmericanHumane.org. Worse yet, your feline could also contract diseases like feline leukemia, infectious peritonitis, distemper and a variety of other potentially life-threatening ailments if he comes in contact with another animal


Safety concerns


While passing cars may seem like the most obvious threat to your feline, there are a variety of lesser-known concerns that you may not have thought of. If you live in a heavily-wooded area, large animals like coyotes, raccoons, foxes and badgers could cause your feline serious trouble. Even if you live in an urban area, the threat of loose dogs or less-than-friendly feral cats could be another potential danger for your feline


Outdoor toxins


The summer weather comes with its own share of concerns for dog and cat owners alike. Many homeowners are putting down fertilizers and other chemicals that could be potentially poisonous for your cat. Additionally, foreign substances like antifreeze, motor oil and other harsh substances could be ingested and could also prove to be fatal

When you really get down to it, there’s no real reason to let your feline roam around outside when he has everything he needs indoors. The Humane Society of the United States suggests starting young with your indoor cat and give him plenty of stimulating toys and furniture to help him get used to his new confines. Keeping your feline indoors is one of the best ways to ensure cat wellness throughout your feline’s life, and you may just be lengthening his life span in the process

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