Are you thinking about getting a pet for Christmas? If so, here's a few things to think about before you bring them home.
First, you want to prepare your family. While the idea of surprising your loved ones on Christmas morning sounds wonderful, it doesn't always work out for the best. It's important to do your research before bringing home a pet. Will you be getting a dog? A cat? A rabbit? There are many options; each with their own individual needs. The more prepared you are to meet the needs of your new pet, the easier it will be to handle the responsibility. Often times it can be more fun that way too! It's something the entire family can do together and be a part of from the beginning.
Second, you'll need to consider costs. What kind of pet can you afford? If you're planning on getting a puppy or kitten, you need to know that the first year of life can be the most expensive. Like babies, puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines for their first set of vaccines. They will need to go to the Veterinarian every 3-4 weeks between 8 weeks and 24 weeks. They will also need to be de-wormed, have flea and tick treatment applied, and dogs will need heart worm medication as well as heart worm testing. At six months getting your dog or cat spayed or neutered is strongly recommended.
Should you choose to adopt a pet from a shelter, most of these things will already be done. Shelters will often spay and neuter, vaccinate, and de-worm all of their patients. Remember when you are paying for the adoption fee, you are paying for a lot more than just the pet.
Finally, you'll need to "pet proof" your home. Make sure there is nothing that can be easily chewed or swallowed laying on the floor. Keep breakable objects up high, keep doors closed that you do not want pets going through. Sometimes getting baby gates to block off certain areas of the house can be really helpful.
If you do decide to bring home a brand new puppy or kitten for Christmas, it can still be a wonderful and rewarding experience! Just make sure you do your research, you prepare the family and the household, and you know you've budgeted accordingly. If you have questions about adoption, or purchasing a furry family member, one of our trained staff would be happy to help! At Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod we want every pet and owner to have an excellent experience together and we will do whatever we can to help make that happen. From all of us at VACC, Happy Holidays to you, your family, and your pet!
