Prepare your house for your pet's arrival. A special place should be designated for it to eat, sleep, and eliminate. Obtain any necessary accessories (eg, collar, leash, ID tag, crate, cage, aquarium and dishes) before you bring your pet home. For most pets, you will need to pet-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home to avoid accidents. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be kept out of reach. Open windows should be screened.
Roaming pets are prime candidates for fights with other animals, traffic accidents, and communicable diseases from other animals. Their life span can be expected to be considerably shorter as a result.
Most pets are strictly indoor pets and are perfectly content, as long as they have access to food and fresh water at all times. AVMA strongly recommends that for a healthier, happier pet you consider keeping your pets indoors only. If your pet must go outside, make sure you know where it is at all times, that the pet is old enough to manage on its own, that it is identified in some fashion (microchip ID or breakaway collar and tag), current on vaccinations, and not outdoors in extremely cold, hot, or inclement weather.
If you don't want your pet in certain areas of the house, start training it immediately to avoid those areas. When choosing where your pet will sleep, keep in mind some pets are nocturnal animals and will be active at night. Placing soft bedding materials in secluded corners will help your pet to feel at home.
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August Newsletter: How Spaying or Neutering Your Pet Can Prevent Health Problems
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Do you know how spaying and neutering can protect your pet's health?
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August Newsletter: How Your Veterinarian Can Help with Pet Separation Anxiety
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Does your pet hate being alone? A visit to the veterinarian could help.
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July Newsletter: The Benefits of Daycare Services for Your Pet
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Is daycare right for your pet?
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July Newsletter: Do Pocket Pets Need Regular Exams?
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How often should you take your pocket pet to the veterinarian?
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June Newsletter: How X-Rays Can Help Detect Early Stages of Dental Diseases
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Could X-rays protect your pet oral health?
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June Newsletter: How Often Should Cats Be Vaccinated?
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Do you know how often your cat needs to visit the veterinarian for vaccinations?
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May Newsletter: How to Keep Your Cat at a Healthy Weight
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Do you know how to help you cat maintain the ideal weight?
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May Newsletter: Pets Have Allergies too!
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Wondering why your pet is constantly scratching, biting or licking its skin?
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April Newsletter: Tips on Keeping Your Cat Calm through the Night
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Is your cat disturbing your sleep? Check out help your kitty stay calm.
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April Newsletter: Signs Your Dog May Have Bloat
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Do you know the signs that may mean your dog has bloat?
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March Newsletter: Care Tips for Your Pocket Pets
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Do you follow these pocket pet care guidelines?
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March Newsletter: First Time Pet Owner? Here's What You Need to Know
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Bring a pet home soon? Take a look a few things you should know.
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February Newsletter: Weird Things Your Cat Does and What They Mean
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Looking for an explanation for your cat's strange behaviors?
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February Newsletter: Where to Start When Training Your Puppy
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Is your puppy ready to be trained?
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January Newsletter: National Bird Day
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Got any plans for National Bird Day?
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January Newsletter: Don't Forget to Vaccinate Your Pets this Year
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Is pet vaccinated?
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