Most people consider their pets to be a part of the family. Our furry friends can take up a large part of our hearts and so we should always strive to make them feel at home, loved, and protected. It’s because of this that they should be properly taken care of with suitable hygiene, diets, shelter, and medical care.
Here are five ways to keep your pets protected.
1. Get them pet insurance coverage
Like us humans, animals can get sick unexpectedly, which can cause us to incur high medical costs. These costs can be from surgery, medical prescriptions, and regular checkups with our primary health care provider. Likewise, pets have their own doctors, or veterinarians, and need to undergo certain procedures to live a good life. For instance, they need to get their vaccines and surgeries. It’s because of this that the health care industry has opted to give pet owners peace of mind by creating a new sector—pet insurance.
Pet insurance coverage is much like ours. Take PetSecure Canada, for example. They have four different PetSecure plans—Secure One through Four—that will be applied to your pet based on its breed, weight, age, and pre-existing conditions. All of their plans cover up to 80 percent of your vet bills, including exam fees and regular dental care, and will cover over $1,000 per accident or illness and treatments. Moreover, if you have three or more pets under the same policy, you will get a 10 percent discount under PetSecure’s loyalty program.
2. Buy proper leashes and carriers
Also, you will want to keep your dogs leashed and your cats secured inside their Petco cat carrier when they’re on the road or in public. This carrier serves as a temporary transportation method if you’re taking your cat to the vet or any other short trip as long as they’re under 25 lbs. Once the carrier is adequately locked, the cat won’t be able to break free. This will help you keep your pets under control as well as protect them from other pets and animals that may get aggressive with them. Keeping your cat under control can help prevent them from escaping or hurting themselves.
3. Tag your pets with a chip
Another measure you can take to protect your pets is to tag them with a chip so if they ever get lost and someone takes them to the veterinarian to scan them, they can return them to you. Each microchip has a unique ID number to help identify your pet in any vets’ database. The injection procedure may cause discomfort to your pet, but it will be over momentarily. After the procedure, they will not feel any aching. Some shelters chip animals at a discount, and most vets will do it for a moderate price as well.
4. Take them to the vet
Moreover, taking your pet to the vet for regular visits can benefit them just as visiting the doctor benefits us. By regularly taking your pet to their veterinarian, you can prevent further development of any underlying health issue your pet may be facing at the moment. It’s sometimes hard to know for certain if your pet is 100 percent healthy, and sometimes only a vet can determine that with lab tests and bodily fluid samples.
5. Learn pet first aid
Lastly, your pet can suffer from emergencies just as we do. They can choke on toys or food, they can sneakily eat ingredients that can harm them, or they can hurt their legs and develop a limp. For these occasions, it’s important you know how to provide first aid help such as doing a pet version of a Heimlich maneuver.
These tips will help you take better care of your current or future pets for a happier life.