After You Bring Home Your Newly Adopted Pet

If you just adopted a cat or dog from a local shelter you are likely somewhat overwhelmed. Adding a new furry member to your family is intensely exciting. Not only do you have an adorable new pet, but you have successfully helped to give an animal in need a new home rather than supporting breeders or pet stores. Getting an animal from a shelter is a great way to get a sense of its personality before bringing it home. This is by far the best way to get a delightful companion. Some breeders use uncouth methods while pet store often get their dogs from horrific, inhumane puppy mills.

But now that you have made a commendable choice by adopting, you should know that shelter pets often have certain needs that differ from those that are bought.

Your Adopted Pet's Special Needs

Perhaps the most obvious difference between a shelter pet and others is that they have an unknown history. Your new pet may have been abused or suffered from poor nutrition for years. This does NOT mean that your pet is defective or in anyway inferior to new, pure bred puppies, it simply means that it may need a bit of extra attention when adapting to its new surroundings.

You can help the transition go smoother by doing the following:

o Providing your pet with healthy food and even vitamin supplements that will help it to get into top physical form faster.

o Showering it with affection. Your pet needs to know that you are a kind owner and that it is safe.

o Providing proper training. As important as it is to show your pet abundant affection, it also needs to know that you are in charge. Gently teaching your animal to obey you will actually help to make it feel more at ease.

The First Trip to the Vet

Despite the fact that the shelter you got you animal from likely fixed it and had a vet examine it briefly, it still needs to go to the vet as soon as you bring it home. Many animals contract diseases at shelters because of the closeness of so many other animals. Respiratory illnesses are particularly common among adopted dogs and cats.

For more information on your newly adopted pet and its first vet visit, visit the website of Austin Veterinarian Clinics.

Joseph Devine