Declawing is BARBARIC and should be outlawed. I had a cat that was declawed and when I found out more about the procedure, I was horrified. It is absolute torture for the cat, and leaves them in pain and pretty much defenseless their entire lives. I won't even see a vet that offers that procedure.
Years ago, my brother had a cat that was especially destructive with her nails. So, not knowing what it really was, my mom asked the vet to declaw her. The vet asked if she was sure she wanted to do it, and my mom said yes. In hindsight, my mom said that it did kind of seem like the vet would have preferred not to have done it, but she didn't explain why or even try to talk my mom out of it. My mom was so mad later on, after we watched a documentary about it. The vet should have explained. And really, it took a long time before that cat got over being declawed...she walked kinda funny, like she was uncomfortable or in pain. 😭
@@pwchio3025 I kind of do, because she went ahead and did it. She didn't tell my mom it's an amputation - if she had, that wouldn't have happened. It was a long time ago and that kind of information was not just freely available everywhere. That cat is long gone of course but my mom still feels bad about it.
My pet peeve is people who believe that "cats aren't a lot of work" because you don't have to take them outside multiple times a day to poop and pee like you would with a dog. Cats still require you to play with them. They also thrive on outdoor stimulation. Mine was leash trained, and I took her outside every day unless it was raining or snowing, in which case she didn't want to go.
Problem is my neighbors too lazy to have litter box do they allow it outdoors ..it comes in my yard to do some of its business. I have pit bill . Have to say they know it O have beware of fog..if my fog finally does grab it.. oh well.. they should be concerned fir the cats safety We are on Very busy street..they just don't care bout that poor cat!!!
There is so true though. I wouldn't even say they are 'less work than dogs' its just a different KIND of work. We have two cats. . .I can, technically, get away with not playing excessive with them as they are past kittern years (mostly) and play with each other. However. . .they are fed on a meal schedule 3x a day, litter is scooped once a day (all three boxes). My boys are chatty and VERY present meaning they want attention frequently and WILL find a way to get that attention. We go, for semi-regularly outdoor time in the backyard at least every few days. . .meaning harnesses go on and they amble around the yard for at LEAST half an hour. Ideally we'll have a catio eventually, as well as a catwalk around the main living area/bedrooms. Its just a different sort of time investment.
Agree, but the dog owners who think it's fine to just "let the dog out" instead of *walking* it AT LEAST twice a day are just as bad. Dogs require the stimulation that comes from sniffing on walks. Even "exercising" your dog in the yard is not the same.
@@lizzy-wx4rx 100% agree. My mom has 3 dogs and she thinks that they get plenty of exercise because she has a large yard. I take them for a walk on my own when I come to visit her and they LOVE it. I wish I could convince her to do it herself. :(
#7 is right on the money. Our senior cats get complete blood panels twice a year. Despite seeming perfectly healthy, normal, and bright, one of our guys suddenly has basically no platelets. Our vet, an experienced feline specialist, is pretty much stumped at this point, despite our running every test that could possibly tell us anything. Despite not having a diagnosis, we at least know now to keep an extra vigilant eye on him and bring him in to be seen a little more frequently.
7. We changed vet as I was not satisfied with the previous one. The new one immediately asked if we had the "senior test" for my 12yrs old cat. I said.. what? They told me it's really recommended, blood pressure, blood sugar, liver, whoknows what else. That was part of their normal senior cat annual exam. - And that's how we learnt my cat has diabetes. She didn't have symptoms at all. So we were extremely lucky that we changed vet.
@@nicolevanherwynen4798we had a cat with terrible arthritis pain and we only noticed because she'd suddenly started walking with her back and low. Now she gets the arthritis shots and gabapentin on rough days
For the non-Americans out there (as myself), kibble means dried food or pellets, bully sticks are compounds made from some usually cheap source of protein like a bull's penis, and rawhides are dry hard pieces of animal skin given to animals for chewing. I'd add to that list plastic toys & fragile bones like chicken & fish. Dogs can reduce to nothing most plastic toys and it's not true their stomach will dissolve all and any piece of bone they swallow. Not to mention that sharp edges and fine fishbones can easily insert themselves in the throat and mouth.
Good recommendations, thank you. My dog and I were attacked at an off leash dog park, requiring ER visit, so no more of that! Fortunately, owner of attack dog was responsible in several ways: sent proof of dog’s vaccinations, bought muzzle and doing training with her dog, and is paying the vet bill. And yes, I was glad to have pet insurance!
ALL of these!! I have a pit bull and three cats, all fixed, and oh my gosh... the cats have all kinds of enrichment toys, but the one seriously prefers literally climbing my walls at corners. I had to put up carpet squares where he likes to launch and hang to save my walls. my pit - I got her expecting a high energy breed to walk daily and get me some extra exercise. HA!! I landed myself with a couch potato who has zoomies in the yard and does all the grass roobs a few times a day and that's all she cares about. So yeah, she has a restricted diet so she doesn't get fat. And especially, THANK YOU for mentioning not to declaw! It amazes me how many vets will still do it and leave the poor animal in absolute agony. My three have all their claws. If I was that worried, I would have them in claw caps - but I'd rather have their claws natural and worry about nice furniture later on. (They are two full sibling littermates at 9, and a stray that was dumped in my yard when he was about 2 months old - he is now four. The dog just turned five. BEST buddies ever!)
A lot of people don't know about rawhide. I had a friend who got a new dog and gave him rawhide. He cut his mouth. Luckily she was paying attention and took it from him before he did serious damage. We were talking and she had no idea it was potentially harmful.
I've never owned a dog, but I saw a dog cut its mouth really badly on rawhide once. Poor baby. I have to imagine that's a pretty common injury, they don't seem very safe.
I have told my daughter about the retractable leash repeatedly! I told her a 5 foot leash (for her Carin Terrier) gives the control you need to keep him safe and he behaves so much better! So she brought ME a 5 foot leash for when I walk him. SMH 🤦
Declawing a Cat or cropping dogs ear or docking tails is illegal in Australia the only place where I heard about people declawing their cats is the US, I was horrified the first time I heard about it in my early 20’s on about my 4th trip there, I’ve had about 20 trips to the US and I can’t believe vet’s would even do that procedure.
It makes me so sad that docking tails or cropping ears are part of the required breed standards in some breeds. Corgis have beautiful tails and it's so upsetting that reputable breeders need to dock them just to be certified
The good news is even in places where it is not illegal vets are refusing to do it. Not all though. We adopted two 6 year old litter mates as their owner died. She had all four feet done on the both of them. There is definitely a difference in how our not declawed cats aged and their gait versus Bella and Jake. Those two every year you can see how painful walking is.
Be very cautious with pet insurance, especially as to what age the cover changes. We didn't realise that after a certain age, the cover became almost useless. When I realised and called the company, they admitted themselves that it made more sense to put money aside instead, because the cover was so limited. But unless you ask them, they won't tell you and will let you keep paying for barely worth having cover. Read your terms and conditions really well and call the companies and ask them and don't let them fob you off.
@@snowletsh5759 Petplan. I would hope that by this point, four years after the fact, that they have changed their policies to make it more inclusive for more elderly pets.
@@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim The internet hasn't always been around. The option to have your cat declawed came about before the internet. If you live in a rural area the likelihood of the library having a book on the topic you're looking for is slim to none. Unfortunately, not all veterinarians explain procedures well nor the pros and cons to the pet owners.
@@VioletWings1353 I grew up rural - nobody’s gonna pay to declaw a cat - nor pay to make ANY animal defenseless, for that matter. I call BS. nice try though 👍 and we had plenty of books in our library, too. got any other excuses? let’s hear ‘em!
My husband and I were fully prepared when we adopted our first cat. We now have four cats and they have health care! We also now live in Their home; not ours. We proudly call ourselves well train humans. They are on prescription medication and food; Three different types of food. I am a quilter and I make sure that there are no pins, tiny fabric scraps, or bits of thread anywhere where they can get at them. The only thing on our floors are the cat toys and litter boxes. P.S. cat toys hurt just as much as kid toys at 3am on a blind stumble to the bathroom.🤣
And, we cut all four paws of claws ourselves. No one should Ever consider declawing a cat! That’s just sick. If you feel the need to declaw then cat isn’t for you!
@@TarahMatson-zz2hj Imagine a cage-style plastic ball that has a little bell inside it, making the ball noisy and metallic flashy. Now make that plastic into something that holds form while cats are playing with it, but squishes flat if you’re the one stepping on it… and then bounces back into shape. A DELIGHTFUL find. 😂
Goes with #14. Watch for poisonous plants and other household items. I did't realize daffodils on top of a chest were poisonous until I saw my cat chewing on the leaves.
I also adopt don’t shop, I’m on my 5th rescue dog now, I’ve had 2 German Shepherd’s, one was a 6yr old puppy mill who was dumped, she lived until she was 18 in good health, I had her on pain relief and arthritis injections since she was 8, and kept her mobility and muscle tone up as she got older. 1 American Staffy, a Bull Arab who was 9yrs & 4 months when I got him, and my current fella is a medium height dog but he was between 6. & 9yrs when I adopted him extremely abused covered in scars, he is such a beautiful dog he has taken a lot of time to build his self esteem and trust up and occasionally he will still get a fright if I move to quickly, but all the slow gentle work is worth it to see him happy and loving his life, he sticks pretty close to me, he only ever barks if someone comes up the driveway.
There's nothing wrong with buying from a reputable breeder. Meet the parents of the puppy and see where it lives. Not everyone wants a pit bull. And, yes, Staffies are pit bulls
My last cat was kind of a cuddly stuffed animal that always wanted to take naps with me and be in my arms. My current cat wants to run around and play all the time and you can play with him for an hour and a half straight and get him all tired out and he's ready again to play in 15 minutes. Not much of a cuddler either. Night and day! LOL. This is the most active cat I have ever had. My old cat had congestive heart failure. He always had a bad heart so he didn't seem any different for a long time. I do wish I would have taken him to the vet more often, because maybe we could have found a way to keep him alive a little longer. He seemed fine, but he was hiding that he wasn't fine.
@@YSLRD I can't have another pet right now, but it is my goal to make this happen when I am able to move! My kitty has a couple of old kitties and a dog that he can play with, but I think he would really prefer another energetic kitty like him.
Yeah cats aren't solitary animals. Getting another cat is always better, our shelter never adopts out single cats unless the cat is antisocial and only human socialisef
I once adopted a declawed cat from a high kill shelter. It ended up that she would not use the litter box. I found out that this can happen with declawed cats- the clay litter can hurt their feet. So these people declawed her, then dumped her at the shelter when she wouldn’t use the litter box as a result of being declawed.
This is so true! Doing rescue, I've talked to a lot of pet owners, good and bad. I heard of one vet who talked a cat owner into declawing, then talked them into euth'ing the cat when it became a biter. (Without claws, the cat escalated from annoyed straight to chomp!)
Definitely research the breed of dog! I have seen so many people get a Labrador and not realize how energetic they truly are. They need a bare minimum of 1 hour of running, not a walk, running every day. I have also seen people who are homebodies and couch potatoes get dogs that want to hunt and run. It doesn't work out well.
Yes. I'm a single apartment dweller trying to get into long-distance trucking, and I plan to adopt a dog as a co-pilot. With those major limitations, you bet I'll be looking for not just an appropriate breed but the right individual.
Absolutely research the dog breed! Both my dogs are rescues free off of kijiji, and the younger one (2 years old) is an Alaskan Malamute, gorgeous dog, super stubborn and intelligent and mega derpy, he is my soulmate.. to put it in the most accurate way, his previous owner was a morbidly obese pre-op trans man who did not have good hygiene, and lived on a single floor 2 bedroom bungalow on a main street of a town. I get it, my husky is positively beautiful, but he also needs to be worked and have the space to run and go wild with his zoomies
My cat hated any and all kinds of wet food since she was a kitten. It took us 4 years to find a brand she somewhat eats and even then she was super picky with flavors
@FuzzyElf you know what? Fair But She didn't even touch chicken (don't cats love chicken?). The only flavors she eats are duck, rabbit, "fish" (whatever that's supposed to mean) and salmon (it's funny, she'll eat salmon and "fish" but not tuna). The duck one doesn't even come out in a spayed option but we said screw it
A cat I had was like that. But all food. 😅Only Whiskers brand gravy pouches, and only salmon and chicken flavor. I ended up just making her own food out of boiled chicken (this was before raw diets had become a thing, might also be worth a try.) and covered it in said gravy. Even then she would mostly just lick it off the chunks of chicken but at least a few would get eaten. I was like "baby, you have to eat something gravy doesn't count, there's no reason for you to be anoxic" 😅. Lived 15 years with me like that and I didn't get her as a kitten so I have no idea why she developed a preference like that.
@mom.left.me.at.michaels9951 my mother did once follow a... chicken broth (? I think it was broth) recipe but she did NOT want it. She has also tried giving some bits of raw chicken and mince (maybe some other meats as well? I don't remember) but the only thing she very enthusiastically ate was the raw salmon. One problem with that: salmon costs like 25€ per kg 😬😬 Girly has an expensive taste
#1 is so true, in one year our Clumber had to stay at the vet for pancreatitis 3 times and our Cavalier had bone cancer and had to have his leg amputated. We maxed our cards and used a line of credit. Upside they lived.
My Dad adopted a Border Collie. He knew exactly what he was in for and took him on two, two hour hikes a day. He’s 14 now so he gets 2 45 minute walks a day no more hiking up big hills. They are such a high energy breed and people need to understand that when they adopt one. They are also extremely smart, I believe they are smartest breed of dog. They need tons of stimulation and love as well.
My parents had a Border Collie that they never took out for walks. I took her for walks and retaught her all of her commands in French. I'm a jerk. I'm glad your dad did good by his good boy.
Pet insurance is fantastic, but since most are reimbursement based, it can only do so much if you're short on money in a crisis. My roommate's cat passed away while we were trying to apply for financial aid at the emergency vet to pursue treatments we couldn't afford. After that night, I told myself I never wanted another cat-- and maybe not even a pet in general. That didn't work out, and now I have a cat of my own for the first time. At some point, it dawned on me: "Do you HAVE to be in an emergency situation to apply for CareCredit??" No! You don't! I got approved for a $1500 limit card on my lunch break, right then and there! I really would urge any and everyone with a pet to consider applying for a CareCredit card when your finances are good and your pet is healthy. Having those funds readily available in a crucial moment could save your pet's life.
I never thought about it, but that is a good idea if you don't have extra funds available quickly. That way you don't have to stress about it and your pet.
You can also do what we did, set aside money for future visits on a regular basis, into an account that you do not regularly access, even just a few dollars a paycheck will add up. Just figure out how much you think you need to set aside over the year and divide it by your number of paychecks. If that number is too high then get the card for up front costs, with care credit, you have 6 months to pay it off interest free. That way, you know you have immediate funds if needed.
@@TheBaumcm That's definitely the ideal! But I know how quickly the unexpected can happen, so even if I built up a fund, it would be a relief to know I have that backup. A couple of years ago my car kicked the bucket and I had to dump everything I had (+ a good chunk of credit) into a down payment for getting a new one, since I work in the next city over. Less than 6 months later I sprained my ankle. If not for the car, I probably would have been fine, but those medical bills buried me. The idea I could be injured and need whatever savings I had, only to have some emergency happen with my cat before I could amass more.... Eugh.
I completely agree! Also if you have a significant other get them to apply for it too. Definitely still get pet insurance though! CareCredit is great, and it's easy to pay off once insurance reimburses you those thousands of dollars (Speaking as someone who recently had to pay way too close to $10,000 for my cat's heart failure [my kitty's doing well now])
Vet tech here, #9. No one told me this. I am now at 8 years old doing this with my cystitis cat and it has been so much work. But being on a high moisture diet has kept us from having a stress cystitis flare for over a year. I’m no longer running full work ups every few months for bloody urine. This cat is also a bottle fed calico so she requires sedation for everything. Being able to feed wet food and various texture led food now provides me the ability to medicate her if necessary. I was smart enough to train my other cat to eat pill pockets so if I have to give medication I don’t have to pill her, but again no one told me to do that and I feel like they should have. I wish we spent more time talking about variety and exposure to various foods and the importance of moisture based foods for hydration and bladder health. I work in ER so this is now a conversation frequently had with cat owners as we see a lot of urinary and kidney disease.
Training to eat pill pockets... that's a good idea. If pill pockets become their usual treat then they won't be as averse to eating them when they have pills inside.
Just found your channel and subscribed! I would add to the list of people not trained in veterinary medicine..... Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists. I'm an RN and I know what I don't know.
Physician here. One day my cat was giving his distress call and I thought he was having GI issues. I palpated his stomach, he did not guard, jump, or cry, so I thought he was fairly ok and off to the vet we went. I reported my exam findings to the vet and she just looked at me like 'oh honey.' She then informed me cats don't guard on exam and I felt very sheepish.
A pharmacist told my client it was ok to give a portion of her prescription non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to her dog. While it's true dogs can take that particular drug, the dose was way too high and caused irreversible kidney failure.
Those 3:00AM zoomies are a big part of why we got two cats, not just one. They wear each other out just playing. We also have a catio with levels and toys and a bird feeder outside of it (no, the birds can't fly in, don't worry). I didn't know that about giving kittens different types of food though. Dang.
Regarding the researching - I have a very uncommon lifestyle. I travel a lot (spend maybe 2-3 months in one place, then change) and I also work a lot from home. So I needed a dog that was small, both comfortable with changing environments often, and also could be happy chilling at home by my side. Every single article seemed to point to one breed I had never heard off before : the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I also researched breeders and found the best ethical kennel in my country, spoke with the breeder a few times before making the decision, and moved on only because the way they treat the puppies and the fact they provide medical and genetical testing for the parents, and full health checks for the puppies. (he came even with a full ophthalmological report!) when the puppy that was assigned to me was born, I bought a damn book on the breed also to try and be as prepared as possible. Not that anything is a warranty of course but without research I wouldn't even have known of this breed!
Cavaliers are the best! Rescued one from a puppy mill situation so he was a little off breed, less social, and had several health issues but he loved his family.
How did it work out? Asking because I'm trying to get into long-distance trucking and will adopt a co-pilot when I do, and, like you, every article is pointing towards CKCSs.
I vote to adopt the individual m. Lots of older dogs get passed up in the shelters-could prob find many like that who don’t need a lot of activity, would enjoy the changes of scenery and just happy to be along for the ride with their forever person.
@@angelaonthego the issue with shelter dogs is that is hard to know their history or what may trigger their anxiety - yes, some may be very happy, but others may be extremely stressed when put on a carrier. I actually considered that for a long time as well, but I didn’t want to risk making the poor guy/gal miserable. It’s just my choice of course!
@@sturmovik1274 we haven’t gotten on a plane together yet, but so far he has handled train and car travel perfectly fine, as well as change of scenery. He’s super well behaved (at least for now, I’m told the rebellion stage starts at 4 months lol)
I find it hilarious that in spite of being several times larger, a dog will practically stand at attention and salute when their feline housemate enters the room. The cat gives them a knowing side glance as if to say, "Glad to see you still remember what my claws can do to that sensitive nose of yours."
I would add don't skip dental exams and cleanings especially for cats. They truly are masters at hiding their pain. I had one of my cats in for a routine dental cleaning and x-rays and they found a bunch of bad teeth. She didn't show any signs of pain and was eating normally. She ended up having FIVE teeth removed! Imagine having that many teeth hurting you with no access to pain relievers and not showing any outward signs of pain. I don't think many of us could do that. Also, I have never and would never declaw a cat but I do adopt already declawed cats from rescues and shelters. My first cat was declawed before I got him and I learned a lot from him. A lot of declawed cats develop behavioral and litter box issues because of the pain they endure and then their horrible owners drop them off at the shelter. I adopt these precious babies and give them all the love, care, and patience they need to live a happy life. It breaks my heart knowing what they went through and what they live with but at least I can rest easy knowing that I'm doing everything in my power to give them a good life. I hope that one day there will be no declawed cats anywhere but until then I will likely continue to rescue them and give them the best life I possibly can.
So many people around my city let their dogs and cats roam. 🙄 it sucks for dog walkers cause you never know how the dog is going to react when walking by.
For Kibble Loving Cats, if you want/need to get them off it, try freeze dried raw. It's better ingredient wise and often has a similar enough texture they might except it. Go slowly however by mixing in a little of the freeze dried raw and lowering the amount of kibble at a time.
The biggest issue with that though is price point. I see so many people crying about the price of cat food when they maybe pay $20 a month for the worst bags of kibble you can imagine. . .then you also have to convince them that Freeze Dried Raw is actually better. . .because the general cat community HATES anything not kibble or specific wet food branding.
Loved this and thanks for the advice to expose a cat to different food textures as a kitten. Never heard that before and obviously never thought of it.
This can come in real handy should a brand be altered or discontinued. Cats will starve themselves if they aren’t used to a different food. My IBD cat however can’t have the food rotation anymore. He is now on Cat Chow Gentle dry food and a variety of wet food.
@@a_lethe_ion Rescues can become hoarding situations very fast. 60 is too many for a home or single person/family to care for. If all those litters are unplanned, which they would have to be for a legit rescue, that's a lot of new cats being introduced... You'd need a big facility with staff and a lot of rooms to keep everyone separate to avoid disease communication and to look after the inevitable sick kittens. 60 cats in a home is a hoard until proven otherwise.
@@barbarianvee well if its like a professionak rescue like they happen here as a nonprofit, that works but they have a full house with cats in each rooms and they spay them
At 62 years of age, I concur with every point you made. I’ve had so many cats in my lifetime. Indoor only. Indy/ outdoors. Lots of personality. I’ve never declawed. I had a “pure bred” schnauzer from a pet store who lived to 14. Healthy till the end. A pure bred schnauzer who was a hot mess. For the last nine years I’ve had a mixed breed jrt/beagle/bassett. She is healthy, happy and a great friend. A year ago I bought a pure bred golden. She is a sweet dog. I researched the breed characteristics. Due to her size and my age I I’ve invested in a lot of training. She is e wonderful dog not because she is purebred but because she has good genes and I’ve spent hours training her. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Side note, pet insurance is only really beneficial if you have a puppy or kitten. They don’t cover much of your expenses if you have an adult and you are better off setting up your own insurance system by setting aside a regular amount of money into an untouchable fund.
Definitely do your research with pet insurance. I don't think any of them cover pre-existing conditions, but it was still worth it for us. We got insurance *after* my kitty has a bladder blockage early in life knowing that it wouldn't cover any of his special food or if anything else related to his blockage. I'm so fucking glad we did because insurance reimbursed us 90% of his $8,000+ hospital bill for heart failure 7 years after
This is what we found also when we adopted adult rescue dogs. We determined yearly costs and budgeted accordingly. Costs obviously rise as the animal ages. No complaints after 30 years of owning dogs.
My pet insurance saved me when my dog was diagnosed with cancer. He was 14. They paid for tests, biopsy, medication, euthanasia and cremation. Total cost was over $4,000! They reimbursed me 90%. And this was the second pet we lost within 30 days. This wasn’t in our budget. But put cost on a credit card and paid it once insurance reimbursed us. Insurance made it easy to do what vet recommended. It reimburses for dental health. Our vet found a tumor on dental X-ray. Extraction was covered. I wouldn’t have pets without it
Mine covers everything, paid 17 pounds a month (same as a phone bill) and basically ended up paying 60 for it after insurance gave me my money back, glad I squirrelled rainy day savings
Not all pet insurance is the same. It’s good to shop around and ask about what exactly they cover before you sign up. But yes having a dedicated savings fund for your pet can also be a viable option.
My sister is a vet. I agree with almost everything in this video. The reason why I have variations on some points is that I live in an extremely rural area in Europe. Declawing is illegal here. Insurance and regular blood panels as well as yearly checkups: of course! I have my dogs and cat checked twice a year. Retractable leashes: no. Nope. No way. Unless the alternative is no leash at all. But I’d rather have a piece of rope than a retractable leash. Any piece of rope. Front yard: I’d rephrase that into never letting your dog off-leash in an area that is not properly fenced. Train them to do off-leash work just in case your dog escapes in order to increase your chances of getting them back on a leash, but never trust them not to succumb to their instincts, to panic, to make a decision that makes sense to them but not to humans. Outside cats: the set of predators is very different where I live. There is little to no traffic where I live. My cat gets to roam the garden several times a day in the company of your dogs and then gets called in along with them. They hunt for rodents together. The size of our yard is also a factor. In a less rural area, she’d be having a catio. Be prepared for ANY type of animal companion you get. Not just the breed of dog. Research their needs not just based on cat/dog/reptile/amphibian/bird/rodent/whatever but also the breed’s needs. It’s plain common sense. Animals run on an entirely different schedule than humans. Some are nocturnal. Some are not. Some are twilight/dawn hunters. Some will behave in a way entirely atypical of their breed. Some have studied the rulebook and apply it to a tee. Be prepared for a stickler and to cater to its needs, but be prepared to get the odd one out… and to cater to its needs. One of my sister’s favourites that wasn’t mentioned in tis video, but an important one: Never, EVER expect your new pet to be a carbon copy of the one you have/had because of its breed or simply because it looks similar. You’re still dealing with an individual. Both she and I have lost count of how often we’ve heard “BUT IT’S A (insert breed)!” A few examples: Portuguese water dog who hates water Afghan hound wo dislikes running and has NO prey drive. At all. ADHD Labrador retriever. Cane Corso that likes EVERYBODY and doesn’t guard. Cat snuggling up with mice/birds. Cat that bathes with its owner. Couch potato Border Collie. Guard Guinea Pig (squeaks at doorbells and intruders… and attacks). You have no idea what we’ve seen or heard over the last 30-ish years. Some of it funny, like the dogs who beg their owners to be let out in the yard in the middle of the night for a midnight snack (apple fallen off the tree). Some are downright tragic, like people asking to euthanise a perfectly healthy, happy pet because it “just isn’t like our previous one, (insert name).”
I agree with the puppy mill one 100%. In the early 80's when I was young and didn't know any better, I got a part-time job at one of these stores at a mall. I thought it would be fun to play with puppies all day, and what could be cooler than to work at a mall? I can't tell you how many times I went home crying because animals were returned with kennel cough, pneumonia, Parvo, distemper, etc. They were just left in the back room and given minimal food and water until they died--no meds or vet care. The manager asked everyone NOT to tell potential customers where the puppies came from and just gloss over the puppy mill issue. I didn't work there very long.
Your suggestions are gold! I agree even though I'm not a vet professional, just someone who has owned a lot of pets and learned the hard way. We are addicted to French Bulldogs and have owned multiples for over 20 years, way before they exploded on the scene. We always dealt with reputable breeders in the past but the price has gone up from $1000 when we first purchased a pup years ago to over $10,000 now. It's absolutely ridiculous. I know they have notoriously small litters and all the expenses of breeding since we bred our one female. But they have very distinct needs and health challenges that many new owners are either unaware of or cannot afford. That is a big reason we now do FB rescue. To adopt, you must have had owned a FB prior to rescue. I know how adorable they are and how so many ppl want them, I know how easy it is to get addicted to them-our first Frenchie turned into 2, then, 3, then 4, then 5. But like doc says--know your breed and definitely get pet insurance.
That’s like Sphynx cats. They are adorable little clowns, and really popular right now. But they need special care, and they are very prone to hereditary heart disease. Right now there’s no cure- it can only be managed.
I wonder about these breeds with faces that are so pushed in. I have heard that it can be hard for them to breathe. I always had dogs with regular faces - and loved them all - so I don’t really understand why breeders came up with idea in the first place.
@maeandbob of course, you must take precautions with bulldogs and any brachycephalic breed (the term for "pushed" in faces) as they do not well tolerate heat and humidity. This is another reason why the "backyard breeder" trend of the Frenchies in general is so catastrophic. So much can go wrong if the breeder lets even one thing slip. I cannot tell you the number of times I have cautioned potential owners who desperately desire a Frenchie to adopt and not to try to cut corners and use such breeders. There are usually many tears, much cost and heartbreak at the end of trying to save money. And what looked like a great deal for an adorable puppy ends in a protracted and painful death for the poor puppy. Of course, I understand why, but I tell such new owners there is a huge learning curve to breeding and/or owning a French Bulldog who will prosper and live a long, happy life. The novice breeder most likely will also try to cut corners as breeding Frenchies is an expensive, labor-intensive undertaking. Pregnancy itself is not accomplished by the "coupling" process but rather via artificial insemination. It is critical to choose a healthy sire (the stud fee can go as high as $10,000) breeding, purebred registration, color, age are part of it but a genetic profile is paramount. So let's say the bitch goes into heat and the insemination is successful. Now the real fun begins. There's diet changes, regular hormones testing and ultrasounds. Cap that off with a C-section as the French Bulldog has very narrow hindquarters and the puppies have notoriously large skulls. I'm not even going into the aftercare of the puppies and mother but you can see how a lot can go wrong and why the cost is so high coupled with an insatiable appetite for this breed. As overwhelming as it all sounds, I can tell you that if you spoke with 100 ppl who have owned a responsibly bred Frenchie I'd bet all 100 ppl would tell you they would do it again. I have owned many dogs, many different breeds from German Shepherds, Labradors, Spaniels, Beagles to Irish Wolfhounds and I will tell you I have never owned such amazing dogs. My Wolfhounds were very special but these Frenchies are something else--funny, loyal, faithful, loving, fiercely protective, stubborn, inquisitive, mischievous and just a small bundle of joy all rolled into a dog who thinks it's a lion, a land shark and a couch potato. Once you own one, you never won't own one again. They are that special. So yes, care and precautions but it's all well worth it. Sorry, this ran longer than I planned, but talking about Frenchies is just the same as talking about our kids.
@@mapleext Because it's difficult to make an animal so unnatural and poorly conformed but still live, so when you do it you get prestige and win awards and can charge a lot of money for babies. As soon as we stop purpose breeding, what more is there to breed for than some "look" that's difficult to achieve? And what's more difficult than something that makes it hard for the animal to give birth or breath or not injure their eyes? Some people also find "monkey" flat faces attractive b/c they subconsciously see an infant primate and it gets their little primate brain going. Personally, I'm not particularly into infant primates and I like animals that look like what they're supposed to look like. I don't get the Frenchie allure, they're sad and pretty gross. Ppl could get all that personality into something that can function like an animal rather than a genetic disaster. We have dogs dying in droves in shelters and people want to put all their energy and resources into producing more of these little experiments instead of saving any of these perfectly good dogs, and the messy ones too. Just b/c of "obsession".
@@CynVee I've worked with a Frenchie, really sweet dog. Would never own one. Genetic disasters, produced with disgusting breeding practices. For...what again? A dog that looks like a monkey? Get a human child if you want to look at the flat face of an animal that needs you in order to live. I don't see any of the attributes you list being exclusive to Frenchies or requiring of a face and body that doesn't allow the dog to be a dog. If you people actually cared about your breed, you'd only breed the dogs that can give birth, dogs that have faces where the eyes don't protrude, the breathing isn't obstructed, teeth are in normal alignment. Breeding more Frenchies is cruel and a waste of resources.
I hate reading people asking for advice on Facebook. Your tips make so muck sense! Thanks for this! Owning pets can be expensive and owners need to be prepared.
Sad reality about the #1 advice regarding “Get pet insurance!” is when animal rescuers (like myself) cannot obtain pet insurance if the animal is aged out of the policy age restrictions. At least it’s so up here in Canada. 🇨🇦
I'm in this situation with my 9 and 10yr old rabbits. No insurance company will touch them. My 5yr old too as he developed a head tilt before his insurance policy could be taken out (had it ready to go the night before, woke up to find him with a tilt! He was only about 12-13 weeks old and we'd just brought him home). Unfortunately nearly any condition he could have now would be blamed on his permanent head tilt so they'd never pay out. Also over here you can't get a policy that covers more than £2000 a year on rabbits. Considering I was quoted £3000 last year for palliative radiotherapy for my dear girl with metastatic thymoma that doesn't go far. I know a broken leg can be £3000+ too. I definitely recommend to anyone to get it where you can, and get a lifetime policy if possible _before_ your pet passes the maximum age. But it's sad there are some cases where pets are uninsurable. Very scary when bad things happen suddenly.
PLEASE do not underestimate the power of regular diagnostics for your pet! especially your senior pets!! a senior workup for my dog revealed a tumor in his lung & an ultrasound revealed a developing mucocele in his gallbladder. everything was caught early enough that surgery was fully curative of his cancer - his LUNG CANCER - and with a diet change and medication his gallbladder is improving and won’t need to be removed. his 13th birthday is approaching and if not for his gray face you’d never know, he still has the energy of a young dog, especially after removing his little lung meatball LMAO. if i weren’t a vet tech i would never have gotten those diagnostics done and he wouldn’t have made it. (medical context: lung cancer is not all that common in dogs, typically if there is a tumor in the lungs it has metastasized from somewhere else and there are multiple. find those on radiographs and typically you’re discussing days to weeks, if the owners are lucky. my dog ended up having a grade 2 adenosarcoma, removed with excellent margins, its been a year and every recheck there’s been no signs of recurrence. lung lobectomies are not common, especially not for the purpose of removing cancer, so i’m very grateful to the excellent surgeons i work with who fixed my boy. and gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is my least favorite surgery by far. dogs don’t tend to do well, and i’ve been diligent enough to never have one die on the table, but i’ve seen plenty not make it through recovery. i don’t know whether i could put my dog through that surgery, so hearing his gallbladder was improved was more of a relief than hearing his lungs look clear!)
I lost my dog a week after he turned 12 to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was sudden and unexpected. He never exhibited any symptoms. Dogs usually get DCM. So, it was a mystery. Definitely second getting a senior dog panel to check BP. He went in for a dental procedure, made it through the procedure, but didn't make it out of recovery. My vet and his staff did CPR for 15 minutes.
@@bunny_0288nope. i just got that one in a million (not actual odds) bad roll of the dice. like i said, primary lung cancer - so actually STARTING in the lung - is not common in dogs At All. both of my dogs surgeons have been vets for 50+ years and had never removed a lung tumor before. although, i will say, i adopted him when he was six years old - it is possible his previous owner was a smoker or had a family member who smoked. i hadn’t thought about that as a possibility. lung cancer is the most common cancer in humans for a reason, it seems reasonable that secondhand smoke could negatively affect dogs the same way it does us - don’t know if there’s research on that though.
I find that a lot of "medical professionals" take short cuts and it's important to also talk to other pet owners that have a pet going through the same issues your pet is going through
I'm an ethologist (specialist in animal behaviour) and it's so nice to find someone with much more experience agreeing with you. I currently work as a behavioural consultant at a vet clinic and retractable leashes are the bane of my existence. No, you cannot have your highly reactive medium dog on a retractable leash, Karen. Also #10. But then I'd most likely be out of a job.
Number 5 thank you. I see so many lost cat posters around town and I live near three big streets so my cats will definitely not be let out. But I still have to explain why they’re indoor cats and it sucks. Everyone is pretending you’re a bad owner if you don’t let your cat outside. My oldest cat doesn’t even want to go outside and the younger one is leash trained a bit and we train him to be carried around in those backpacks for animals so he can see different spots like a forest etc but I will never let him roam outside on his own.
I adopted a senior cat from an adoption org. It turned out ALL FOUR FEET were declawed! Who does this? It's not even legal where I live. There was no mention that he was declawed in his paperwork. The cat was originally from Quebec.
Lol, #10 (research the dog breed beforehand) resonated with me. I live a quiet, not super active lifestyle; "Ooooooooo, Belgian Malinois are gorgeous. I'd love one!." Don't worry, my brain then enters the chat & I turn my focus back to those sweet, cuddly Pugs. 🐶♥️
Lol. This was me and wanting a Bengal for a cat! It may happen eventually, but right now we happily have taken in two neighborhood strays who are quite enough
My three big cats actually broke every single cat tree I’ve gotten them that doesn’t have a metal frame. 😂 15 pounds, 13 pounds and 11 pounds. The big boy is lazier and less co ordinated but still young. The other two are 1/4th Maincoon and their parkour skills think nothing of jumping 7 ft from standing. 😂 The two barn cat babies are smaller but still keep up with their older friends. The old man doesn’t play anymore but he was the same. I have never met a cat that Doesn’t love to run like a madman. They’re like a furry freight train when they all get going.
Thank you for the great Contant! I definitely agree with the benefits of pet insurance but right now with the way the economy is paying for a monthly head insurance isn’t something I can really budget… Are there any good inexpensive pet insurance companies that I can research?my cat can definitely be picky when it comes to food but I would change her food up or buy her different kinds of food a lot when she was a kitten. I live in a rather large town and I don’t have room for a catatio but I definitely leave a window open for her so she could at least feel the fresh air and hear the birds she loves it! when my mother comes in to visit as she always hides treats around the living room for the cat to find I love to see how much fun they both have with it. Even though I have one cat I have two litter boxes and I cleaned them daily. I also try to brush her teeth at the very least three times a week and because a vet tech told me to try to take care of her teeth she has seen a lot of cardiac issues because of neglected teeth! I will buy a slip cover for my couch and chairs and put a scratch mat up on the door frames or other places near where the cat wants to scratch before I will ever declaw a cat!! She’s also been spayed since she is six months old. not only is it healthier for the cat but I don’t need all the feral Toms coming and spraying around my front door because they smell my unspayed female cat 😵💫
On the taking advice from non veterinarians/vet techs. Never listen to a veterinarian about reptiles or amphibians. Call the closest herpetology center or a breeder for your species. Same goes for birds, arachnids, and basically all exotics. Veterinarians (outside of the ones working in zoos) are useless with exotics 99% of the time. Also unless they are an equine veterinarian you the owner are more qualified with your equine's medical care than they are. Livestock veterinarians are not always or even usually qualified for equines so ask.
I don’t think this is necessarily true. Should you take an exotic or reptile to any vet clinic you pass on the street? Absolutely not. But part of finding a veterinarian for any pet you own is finding a veterinarian who is experienced in that animal! You shouldn’t ever buy a pet without having a reputable, experienced, and knowledgeable vet on that species/breed in the first place. Don’t go out and buy a conure if there aren’t any experienced avian vets in your area, basically, or you are 100% setting yourself and your pet up for failure. Looking for a vet who is specialized by an organization recognized by the AVMA (ex: specialized in reptiles and amphibians by the AVBP, & AAHA certified) is a great start, and I would argue that these vets who have been through extensive training in that specialty are almost ALWAYS going to be more knowledgeable than a breeder. There is also a big difference between exotic animal husbandry and exotic animal medical care. While consulting a breeder may be beneficial for husbandry, there are some things the average breeder or keeper just isn’t going to know how to do or have the capability of doing - such as administering inhalant anesthetic, giving specialized meds or complex pharmacology, advanced nursing, or taking diagnostic imaging, as those require specific medical training, supplies, and facilities. This also depends on your location (big cities seem to tend to have many more exotic vets compared to rural communities). It’s less about “vets aren’t as good as breeders/herp centers when it comes to exotics”, and more “find the right vet for your pet”. For the best result? Have an experienced vet AND experienced breeders/owners that you can rely on for husbandry and medical advice. Also - all certified vets are required to undergo fundamental training on dogs, cats, horses, cows, small ruminants, etc., and many exotics (reptiles, aquatics, etc). They are tested on this on their board exams (NAVLE). Saying that not all vets are qualified to work on livestock or horses is incorrect - that’s part of their schooling, training, and licensing! Not all vets are as experienced with them, and some may not have touched a large animal since vet school. But if they’re licensed, they have received those fundamental skills and knowledge in their career. Saying that an owner is better equipped to handle their equine than a licensed vet is dangerous. If you don’t like how your vet treats your horse, find a different or more experienced vet - but NEVER think that you can completely take that job over if you are not a medical professional. Horses need annual medical care by a professional like any other pet, and horse owners are not able to provide every facet of that care.
Equines are a sub specialty. I say this because normal veterinarians can't tell the difference between a python and an anaconda. It has been proven by the amount of dead reptiles that you can not trust them. Your basic equine husbandry is more than a non equine specialized vet will know about horses. They can't tell the difference between a horse will a short mane and a mule. By the way normal veterinarians can't do anything you listed with exotics, equines, or livestock. Which is why they won't touch them if they are ethical. You can't use anesthesia on most reptiles because of how it interacts with their physiology. You can't expose ball pythons to cedar because it shuts down their respiratory system. I had to tell that to a vet who claimed she could do an exam on a snake but came in the room stinking of cedar essential oil. Veterinarians are generalists in cats, dogs, and rodents. They are not qualified on anything else which is why those are additional specialties and certifications. They can't even comment on kanine nutrition without a special certification in kanine nutrition. Don't lie and try to make the average veterinarians look better than what they are.
As a member of a large rabbit rescue for 10+ years, most of our staff knew way more than nearly all the vets in town. I had to tell my vet that no, he couldn't prescribe that medication for my house rabbit (twice) because it would kill my rabbit. He was an excellent vet for cats and dogs. Not every vet specializes in exotics. Before you adopt anything out of the average, find a support system. And the advice is still rock solid--we dealt with all kinds of things daily in the rescue, but we weren't vet trained. Always get a professional opinion. If your vet doesn't know, he will refer you to a specialist who does.
I’ve been permanently injured and my dog mortally injured after my dog was attacked at the dog park. The owner whose dog attacked mine was a serial dog attacker and knew exactly how to evade the law. If your dog gets injured or YOU get injured at a dog park good luck! I will never ever step foot near a dog park ever again.
My cat used to seem very healthy. Only she was drinking a lot. One day, someone told me that could be a bad sign so I told the vet about it, blood test, and she had a kidney issue. We found out about it early and used the best medecine available. Sadly her kidneys got worst with they years. But it got to show. Even if the cat looks healthy, something terrible might be brewing and regular test are not too much
Researching breeds important. Our Dogue de Bordeaux are perfect personality wise….life expectancy and cancer not so much. We’ve lost 5 in the last 2 years to cancer. Will move to a different breed once our others pass away. Just lost one a week ago at 6. Shed only just 3 months passed had annual bloods, dental etc. Vet even commented on how great her bloods were for her age and breed. Heart was strong throughout surgery. She was fine in the morning. Fine at lunch then suddenly went downhill fast. We rushed her to the vet thinking it was a snakebite as it’s that time of year here in Aus. Nope. She had a tumour on her heart that ruptured a vein on the surface of her heart. No wonder my vet calls the heartbreak breed
I have a neighbor who lets their cat free range outside. Thankfully, he gets along with my dog, so if I see him, I bring him to my yard, and then try to entice him into my house until I know his humans are home in the evening since I know they keep him inside at night.
@@EPalsson Don't know if this roses experience. But male cats have narrow urethras to begin with neutering can make it worse. Dry food creates crystals in the urine that can lead to painful and possibly deadly blockages. Learned that the hard way after a frantic pet ER run after the poor baby peed blood on the bed. Switched to wet food and it was never a problem again.
My rescue kitten I raised on good, low carbohydrate canned food after having a cat with diabetes. But after a while, the now grown cat decided one day that he won't touch canned food and wants only dry food. Unfortunately, it has caused him to gain a lot of weight, and he will bite me if he doesn't have food in his dish at all times. Activity - does moving from one sleeping place to another count?
@@EPalsson for whatever reason, he had repeated blood in his urine. Each time, the vet put him on antibiotics. I was researching everything I could find. Wet food was the answer I kept finding. Evidently he was developing a mucus plug in his urethra. I gave him a small syringe of apple cider vinegar, followed by water and put him on wet food. Problem was solved. And I recovered nicely from the vinegar/water attack 😆 But it worked. No issues in the past 2 1/2 years.
I'd modify the litterbox rule to 2 boxes for a single cat and then add one for every additional cat. My cat and experience of others shows that they like to choose and I've definitely noticed poop in one box and pee in the other so give them a choice!
All excellent! I’m going to look into pet insurance today! In my days of being the neighborhood safe house for all strays I would have 20-30 cats at a time and could not afford pet insurance for my personal pets. Now I have 6 that are mine and it’s time to look into insurance for them. I’ve had several Veterinary ER visits over the years which are always very expensive. Love my veterinarians and staff 😻
In the UK, declawing has been illegal for a very long time. About time our frienda across the pond caught up! 😁 my demon baby 9 week old kitten is making her way around her new world successfully only because she has full use of her demon claws. If furniture is more important to a person, perhaps consider a different pet. But there are ways to prevent scratching, pheromone sprays i have found to be very effective at stopping a cat scratching at places you don't want them to and the provision of other scratching areas is vital
Made the mistake of using a retractable leash with my (then) 6 month old rescue GSD mix. I’m not sure how fast I was flying, but I do still have the finger injuries from the landing. Henry is now nearly 4. 😂
My concern for pet insurance is my concern for insurance in general. We're talking about a company whose entire point is to take your money and do their absolute best not to give you the benefits of the service you pay for. Because that increases their bottom line.
The general guideline here is insurance. Whether you get it from a company or you have a large savings account or investment portfolio dedicated for your pet, as long as you have *something*, that's the important takeaway. I agree with you about pet insurance companies, but the same can be said of any insurance companies. Yet no one skips homeowners or car or medical insurance for themselves for a good reason. Pets are like kids, parents should be responsible or not have them.
2:31 this is........something i'm starting to get worried about. my bonded pair of savannah sibs just turned 10 last year, and i thought the smaller of the two, roxy, was in adequate health. this january we just lost her to an inoperable tumor we couldn't even fully diagnose, half a year after her tenth birthday. i've always kept them indoors, so i expected them both to be decently hardy & around for a while, but i wasn't investing in that expectation properly - because they were my first pets ever. poor marco seems as needy and outspoken as ever, but he's so lonely now. yet i can't imagine he could get along with another cat, based on how he reacts to seeing neighborhood cats outside )':
also the pet insurance thing. we dumped so much more onto our debt just to find out it was too late for the very littlest member of our family, and that was devastating in its own regard
I've always had success adding kittens to even the most aggressive cats. They seem to instinctively know that a kitten poses no threat. The younger the better, but keep the kitten in a large dog crate for the first few weeks, it allows the kitten to learn good litter box habits while keeping them safe from the adult. Added bonus that they get used to each other without a negative interaction, you can always put the adult up for the kitten to have some cuddle and play time. I'm sorry about losing your girl, I just recently (and unexpectedly) lost my lynx point siamese, she was my best friend for the last 15 years. It had only been 5 months since her last exam/bloodwork and she seemed perfectly healthy until a week before she passed. Kidneys were enlarged and her lungs started to fill with fluid, they though maybe cancer. I hope you find a suitable buddy for your boy. Best wishes. ❤
You CAN introduce a new cat, especially a kitten, if you do it right. Watch Jackson Galaxy's videos on how to introduce two cats. We used his method to introduce a 10-year-old male to our 12-year-old male (yeah, it was a long shot), and it ALMOST worked. Our cat was curious about the new cat and never agressive - we were very surprised. The new cat was nervous at first but then started settling in. Unfortunately, as he relaxed, he got more and more dominant, eventually becoming aggressive towards the resident cat, who didn't defend himself but just started staying away from home. That was sad to watch, and after a month we had to give the new cat back to the previous owner. Sad it didn't work out but they found another home where that cat could rule the roost.
Great video! We adopted a 5month old and a 15 month old cat 5 months ago, and have been giving them various kinds of cat food. Interesting about feeding them kibble that’s different shapes and sizes.
I love the way you put that on number 9!! Lmao. Saying when cats get old and crotchety. Omg that's hilarious. Even more so at the accuracy of the statement. Lol
When people talk about declawing, with consent, I squeeze their finger at the knuckle to illustrate what it would be like to have that portion of their finger cut off. I think people hear "declaw" on only think fingernails.
The very first thing you list: can you please give recommendations of “good” insurance as we got insurance for our kitten right after she came to our family. They covered nothing and cost us tons, in addition to the bills. We cancelled. So now who do we go with??
Research different companies and their policies. It is too much to go into here and it varies so much depending on your budget, the kind of animal, conditions your animal already has and other things.
Thank you for No 4! When we talked to the rescue before taking our dog home they advised us not to use a retractable lead, because it’s really stressful for an already nervous dog. Sudden yanking increases anxiety in dogs and stops them from positively processing interactions with people and other dogs. You want your dog to have a choice if they want to approach another dog or say hello to a friendly human. I have seen so many people suddenly locking the lead and pulling their dog away when they were just being a dog. That dog will not learn how to handle those interactions.
I would never use a retractable leash for a dog. . .I do however use them for my cats. As we only wander the yard, and the four foot span does NOT give them enough to space to be happy sitting nearby out of reach on the other side of the step. It also gives them the freedom to bound a little bit through the grass while still being safe.
Excellent advice...15 things we have done and are doing. Our cat is 17 years old and our dog is 14, they have had regular vet visits their whole lives, which is why we figure they are as old as they are, and they are both in pretty good shape.
One thing I'd add on to the first one, go for a provider that will cover cureable pre-existing conditions. My cat has a history of claw infections and his ex-insurance provider wouldn't cover his latest infection even though it had been 6+ months since his last one. That left me out $700 that I did not have. His current insurance will cover these provided there is at least six months in between instances of it.
Number seven is so important. My cat has kidney disease and it is getting worse, but we were able to alter her diet and give her a much better quality of life for much longer. Jury is out on how much longer we can go, since she is so old now. But cats are so good at adjusting the way they are living to feel and show less pain that some of those chronic illnesses can get very, very bad before you are aware of them.
One of the best ways I've found to let my cats out? A covered playpen. It's mesh, and I have it on my apartment porch, so they can watch the nearby birds in the bird feeder! My cats are strange - my middle child LIVES for kibble, but when it comes to wet food, she and my youngest prefer *wet* food... things that are basically almost soup, and any chunks are not eaten... its hard to find food like this - it's sold out everywhere in the brand they like at present! One I didn't see mentioned is that it's ESPECIALLY important not to feed your male cats a pure kibble diet. This eventually leads to severe urinary issues that will kill them... cats as a wild creature would get most moisture from eating prey... so they need it in their food! Clean water is still important, but moisture in good is also important! I like to also use freeze dried raw food that we bring to dust in a blender, then add water/wet food broth to it, to make our own wet food. Our cats' coats have never been healthier - the raw food has really paid off in their energy levels, and the softness and shine of their coats.
So true. Get pet insurance for sure. It doesn’t take seeing too many vet bills go into the double digits to make that real clear for you. Also always ask for a copy of vet records and bloodwork! Emergencies usually happen when the main vet is closed. You having documentation could be super helpful to the ER team.
About litter boxes......it depends on the cats! They'll decide what they want. We have 3. We have 2 litter boxes. All 3 prefer 1 particular box. Occaisionally, one will use the other box.Sometimes an entire month goes by w/out the unpopular box used. None of them are going outside the box, ever. CLEARLY, all 3 prefer the same box. I scoop the favorite box every morning & evening, w/out fail. There is no need for us to have 4 litter boxes.
Pet insurance, definitely. I do have a young pet who has a chronic health problem, and I have sticker shock every time I take him to the vets. Think of a number you might think would be reasonable cost for a procedure- then double, or triple it.
Great job, Dr. I'd like to see a video discouraging people from becoming vets when their main objective is personal wealth. We have a very fancy set of veterinary colleges here and it churns out too many vets who don't seem to have a clue about diagnostics or working with the human component.
I adopted a three year-old cat and took over the pet insurance from the precious owner. After the cat was injured a year later, I increased the insurance to the max. because I realized I would do anything for this awesome cat and I didn't want money to be a factor in his care -- only his well being. I buy the best wet cat food I can find and take him for a full check-up every year. So far he is still going strong at 12, knock on wood! 😺 Hope I never have occasion to max out the insurance, but it's reassuring to have.
Even my potato dumpling of a cat loves to play! We noticed she was engaged by her toys but gave up after a few minutes, and then she started limping after naps. We took her to our vet to have her screened for Arthritis and now she gets an injection once a month. Shes like a younger, spunkier dumpling now! She leaps and plays like crazy. Sadly insurance wont cover her because shes 11
1 Reason I wish you mentioned about not having an outdoor cat that isn't controlled. Disease and parasites. If they kill wild animals they are subject to a LOT more pathogens same with drinking water outside, also the cats aren't used to it and so the pathogens can make them extra sick.
As a seasoned and mature pet owner I already knew all of these. I always watch this type of video just to make sure that I am well informed where my pets are concerned.
@@lisakaye9340 I use Nationwide. I have no idea if they are more costly than others, but after a deductible, they reimburse 90%. It has saved my life when I had 2 very sick dogs. Just getting my dog's dental cleaning, and a few tooth extractions, paid for itself. I can't imagine having pets without it
Got my cats, brother and sister at seven months old. Their foster mom said their previous owner gave them up for being 'too much.' Are they special needs, I asked? She said no, they're just kittens. They wrecked my house when I brought them home but settled down once they got to be a year old and now our lifestyles mesh more. Plus because there's two of them they play with each other when they get the zoomies though they will still parkour across me from time to time.
My cat doesnt have 3am zoomies... she has her zoomies ar 6pm like a refined and elegant lady
Bwahahahhah I love this one
Mine is the same and I'm fairly sure it's because I played with her and then fed her around that time when she was a kitten.
How polite of her!
Too funny!
My cat and her 6 AM zoomies are a great alarm clock 🥲😂
My cat was a feral barn baby dumped on a doorstep. She is now a super spoiled little gremlin and I love her
The cat distribution system at work!
Declawing is BARBARIC and should be outlawed. I had a cat that was declawed and when I found out more about the procedure, I was horrified. It is absolute torture for the cat, and leaves them in pain and pretty much defenseless their entire lives. I won't even see a vet that offers that procedure.
It is outlawed in Australia, NZ, UK and most of Europe.
Years ago, my brother had a cat that was especially destructive with her nails. So, not knowing what it really was, my mom asked the vet to declaw her. The vet asked if she was sure she wanted to do it, and my mom said yes. In hindsight, my mom said that it did kind of seem like the vet would have preferred not to have done it, but she didn't explain why or even try to talk my mom out of it. My mom was so mad later on, after we watched a documentary about it. The vet should have explained. And really, it took a long time before that cat got over being declawed...she walked kinda funny, like she was uncomfortable or in pain. 😭
@@robinleafdon't just blame the vet
@@christinesmith3711Was gonna say that. ✅
@@pwchio3025 I kind of do, because she went ahead and did it. She didn't tell my mom it's an amputation - if she had, that wouldn't have happened. It was a long time ago and that kind of information was not just freely available everywhere. That cat is long gone of course but my mom still feels bad about it.
My pet peeve is people who believe that "cats aren't a lot of work" because you don't have to take them outside multiple times a day to poop and pee like you would with a dog. Cats still require you to play with them. They also thrive on outdoor stimulation. Mine was leash trained, and I took her outside every day unless it was raining or snowing, in which case she didn't want to go.
Problem is my neighbors too lazy to have litter box do they allow it outdoors ..it comes in my yard to do some of its business. I have pit bill
. Have to say they know it O have beware of fog..if my fog finally does grab it.. oh well.. they should be concerned fir the cats safety
We are on Very busy street..they just don't care bout that poor cat!!!
There is so true though. I wouldn't even say they are 'less work than dogs' its just a different KIND of work. We have two cats. . .I can, technically, get away with not playing excessive with them as they are past kittern years (mostly) and play with each other. However. . .they are fed on a meal schedule 3x a day, litter is scooped once a day (all three boxes). My boys are chatty and VERY present meaning they want attention frequently and WILL find a way to get that attention. We go, for semi-regularly outdoor time in the backyard at least every few days. . .meaning harnesses go on and they amble around the yard for at LEAST half an hour. Ideally we'll have a catio eventually, as well as a catwalk around the main living area/bedrooms. Its just a different sort of time investment.
@@joanne4120you are a terrible person and I’m not surprised you own a pitbull or as you say “pit bill”
Agree, but the dog owners who think it's fine to just "let the dog out" instead of *walking* it AT LEAST twice a day are just as bad. Dogs require the stimulation that comes from sniffing on walks. Even "exercising" your dog in the yard is not the same.
@@lizzy-wx4rx 100% agree. My mom has 3 dogs and she thinks that they get plenty of exercise because she has a large yard. I take them for a walk on my own when I come to visit her and they LOVE it. I wish I could convince her to do it herself. :(
#7 is right on the money. Our senior cats get complete blood panels twice a year. Despite seeming perfectly healthy, normal, and bright, one of our guys suddenly has basically no platelets. Our vet, an experienced feline specialist, is pretty much stumped at this point, despite our running every test that could possibly tell us anything. Despite not having a diagnosis, we at least know now to keep an extra vigilant eye on him and bring him in to be seen a little more frequently.
Geez, that's scary. I hope he stays healthy. Hugs to you both.
@@imzadi83fanvids7 Thank you so much! We're just watching and keeping our fingers crossed.
...ehhh. might be bone cancer or something else in a blood forming organ
@@a_lethe_ionthat would be why they had tests done that came back negative.
7. We changed vet as I was not satisfied with the previous one. The new one immediately asked if we had the "senior test" for my 12yrs old cat. I said.. what? They told me it's really recommended, blood pressure, blood sugar, liver, whoknows what else. That was part of their normal senior cat annual exam. - And that's how we learnt my cat has diabetes. She didn't have symptoms at all. So we were extremely lucky that we changed vet.
Cats can truly be on death's doorstep and they show no symptoms
@@nicolevanherwynen4798we had a cat with terrible arthritis pain and we only noticed because she'd suddenly started walking with her back and low. Now she gets the arthritis shots and gabapentin on rough days
No. 1. Find and establish a relationship with a veterinary clinic that is veterinarian owned rather than owned by a corporation.
For the non-Americans out there (as myself), kibble means dried food or pellets, bully sticks are compounds made from some usually cheap source of protein like a bull's penis, and rawhides are dry hard pieces of animal skin given to animals for chewing. I'd add to that list plastic toys & fragile bones like chicken & fish. Dogs can reduce to nothing most plastic toys and it's not true their stomach will dissolve all and any piece of bone they swallow. Not to mention that sharp edges and fine fishbones can easily insert themselves in the throat and mouth.
As you mention chicken, my mum has also said no chicken bones for cats either (more likely to be stolen than given)
No cooked one especially bc bird bones are VERY brittle so they can shatter into long splinters and get lodged somewhere
Im sorry a bull's WHAT?! 🤢
Good recommendations, thank you. My dog and I were attacked at an off leash dog park, requiring ER visit, so no more of that! Fortunately, owner of attack dog was responsible in several ways: sent proof of dog’s vaccinations, bought muzzle and doing training with her dog, and is paying the vet bill. And yes, I was glad to have pet insurance!
ALL of these!! I have a pit bull and three cats, all fixed, and oh my gosh...
the cats have all kinds of enrichment toys, but the one seriously prefers literally climbing my walls at corners. I had to put up carpet squares where he likes to launch and hang to save my walls.
my pit - I got her expecting a high energy breed to walk daily and get me some extra exercise. HA!! I landed myself with a couch potato who has zoomies in the yard and does all the grass roobs a few times a day and that's all she cares about. So yeah, she has a restricted diet so she doesn't get fat.
And especially, THANK YOU for mentioning not to declaw! It amazes me how many vets will still do it and leave the poor animal in absolute agony. My three have all their claws. If I was that worried, I would have them in claw caps - but I'd rather have their claws natural and worry about nice furniture later on. (They are two full sibling littermates at 9, and a stray that was dumped in my yard when he was about 2 months old - he is now four. The dog just turned five. BEST buddies ever!)
If you can put up a board next to the carpet so your cat has a perch.
I clean the sandbox at least twice a day. If possible, I do lunchtime cleaning too. It's really important they feel it's clean and comfortable.
A lot of people don't know about rawhide. I had a friend who got a new dog and gave him rawhide. He cut his mouth. Luckily she was paying attention and took it from him before he did serious damage. We were talking and she had no idea it was potentially harmful.
I've never owned a dog, but I saw a dog cut its mouth really badly on rawhide once. Poor baby. I have to imagine that's a pretty common injury, they don't seem very safe.
I have told my daughter about the retractable leash repeatedly! I told her a 5 foot leash (for her Carin Terrier) gives the control you need to keep him safe and he behaves so much better! So she brought ME a 5 foot leash for when I walk him. SMH 🤦
Declawing a Cat or cropping dogs ear or docking tails is illegal in Australia the only place where I heard about people declawing their cats is the US, I was horrified the first time I heard about it in my early 20’s on about my 4th trip there, I’ve had about 20 trips to the US and I can’t believe vet’s would even do that procedure.
So glad they are banned in Australia!
It makes me so sad that docking tails or cropping ears are part of the required breed standards in some breeds. Corgis have beautiful tails and it's so upsetting that reputable breeders need to dock them just to be certified
The good news is even in places where it is not illegal vets are refusing to do it. Not all though. We adopted two 6 year old litter mates as their owner died. She had all four feet done on the both of them. There is definitely a difference in how our not declawed cats aged and their gait versus Bella and Jake. Those two every year you can see how painful walking is.
It‘s illegal in Germany as well. It‘s so cruel!
@@FragileLikeNitro good on you for adopting them. So sad what was done to them.
Be very cautious with pet insurance, especially as to what age the cover changes. We didn't realise that after a certain age, the cover became almost useless. When I realised and called the company, they admitted themselves that it made more sense to put money aside instead, because the cover was so limited. But unless you ask them, they won't tell you and will let you keep paying for barely worth having cover. Read your terms and conditions really well and call the companies and ask them and don't let them fob you off.
What company was that?
@@snowletsh5759 Petplan. I would hope that by this point, four years after the fact, that they have changed their policies to make it more inclusive for more elderly pets.
@@EnglishVirgo Nope. It barely makes sense with young pets, but definitely not for older ones.
I had two cats declawed before I found out how cruel it was. Never declawed again.
My grandma did that and the cat was never the same afterward :(
nobody told you?? not even the vet? not internet nor books????
@@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim The internet hasn't always been around. The option to have your cat declawed came about before the internet. If you live in a rural area the likelihood of the library having a book on the topic you're looking for is slim to none. Unfortunately, not all veterinarians explain procedures well nor the pros and cons to the pet owners.
@@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim No one ever told me. The vet did what I asked.
@@VioletWings1353 I grew up rural - nobody’s gonna pay to declaw a cat - nor pay to make ANY animal defenseless, for that matter. I call BS. nice try though 👍
and we had plenty of books in our library, too. got any other excuses? let’s hear ‘em!
My husband and I were fully prepared when we adopted our first cat. We now have four cats and they have health care! We also now live in Their home; not ours. We proudly call ourselves well train humans. They are on prescription medication and food; Three different types of food. I am a quilter and I make sure that there are no pins, tiny fabric scraps, or bits of thread anywhere where they can get at them. The only thing on our floors are the cat toys and litter boxes. P.S. cat toys hurt just as much as kid toys at 3am on a blind stumble to the bathroom.🤣
And, we cut all four paws of claws ourselves. No one should Ever consider declawing a cat! That’s just sick. If you feel the need to declaw then cat isn’t for you!
I salute you guys as excellent pet paren...i mean cat slaves. 😉
Stick to the soft toys. 😂
I see by your comment that you have been owned by a cat🤣
@@TarahMatson-zz2hj Imagine a cage-style plastic ball that has a little bell inside it, making the ball noisy and metallic flashy. Now make that plastic into something that holds form while cats are playing with it, but squishes flat if you’re the one stepping on it… and then bounces back into shape. A DELIGHTFUL find. 😂
Goes with #14. Watch for poisonous plants and other household items. I did't realize daffodils on top of a chest were poisonous until I saw my cat chewing on the leaves.
Lilies are toxic to cats...every part is poisonous.
I also adopt don’t shop, I’m on my 5th rescue dog now, I’ve had 2 German Shepherd’s, one was a 6yr old puppy mill who was dumped, she lived until she was 18 in good health, I had her on pain relief and arthritis injections since she was 8, and kept her mobility and muscle tone up as she got older. 1 American Staffy, a Bull Arab who was 9yrs & 4 months when I got him, and my current fella is a medium height dog but he was between 6. & 9yrs when I adopted him extremely abused covered in scars, he is such a beautiful dog he has taken a lot of time to build his self esteem and trust up and occasionally he will still get a fright if I move to quickly, but all the slow gentle work is worth it to see him happy and loving his life, he sticks pretty close to me, he only ever barks if someone comes up the driveway.
There's nothing wrong with buying from a reputable breeder. Meet the parents of the puppy and see where it lives. Not everyone wants a pit bull. And, yes, Staffies are pit bulls
My last cat was kind of a cuddly stuffed animal that always wanted to take naps with me and be in my arms. My current cat wants to run around and play all the time and you can play with him for an hour and a half straight and get him all tired out and he's ready again to play in 15 minutes. Not much of a cuddler either. Night and day! LOL. This is the most active cat I have ever had.
My old cat had congestive heart failure. He always had a bad heart so he didn't seem any different for a long time. I do wish I would have taken him to the vet more often, because maybe we could have found a way to keep him alive a little longer. He seemed fine, but he was hiding that he wasn't fine.
Maybe you need to add a kitten.
@@YSLRD I can't have another pet right now, but it is my goal to make this happen when I am able to move! My kitty has a couple of old kitties and a dog that he can play with, but I think he would really prefer another energetic kitty like him.
Yeah cats aren't solitary animals. Getting another cat is always better, our shelter never adopts out single cats unless the cat is antisocial and only human socialisef
I once adopted a declawed cat from a high kill shelter. It ended up that she would not use the litter box. I found out that this can happen with declawed cats- the clay litter can hurt their feet. So these people declawed her, then dumped her at the shelter when she wouldn’t use the litter box as a result of being declawed.
This is so true! Doing rescue, I've talked to a lot of pet owners, good and bad. I heard of one vet who talked a cat owner into declawing, then talked them into euth'ing the cat when it became a biter. (Without claws, the cat escalated from annoyed straight to chomp!)
@@sailincat2822And Bonus, the veterinarian got paid to do the declaw and the euthanasia.🤮
Greedy and despicable!
Definitely research the breed of dog! I have seen so many people get a Labrador and not realize how energetic they truly are. They need a bare minimum of 1 hour of running, not a walk, running every day. I have also seen people who are homebodies and couch potatoes get dogs that want to hunt and run. It doesn't work out well.
Yes!! I’ve had Pugs for most of my life - perfect balance of a “lazy” & a “not so lazy” dog - (regardless of their reputation)
Yes. I'm a single apartment dweller trying to get into long-distance trucking, and I plan to adopt a dog as a co-pilot. With those major limitations, you bet I'll be looking for not just an appropriate breed but the right individual.
Absolutely research the dog breed! Both my dogs are rescues free off of kijiji, and the younger one (2 years old) is an Alaskan Malamute, gorgeous dog, super stubborn and intelligent and mega derpy, he is my soulmate.. to put it in the most accurate way, his previous owner was a morbidly obese pre-op trans man who did not have good hygiene, and lived on a single floor 2 bedroom bungalow on a main street of a town. I get it, my husky is positively beautiful, but he also needs to be worked and have the space to run and go wild with his zoomies
My cat hated any and all kinds of wet food since she was a kitten. It took us 4 years to find a brand she somewhat eats and even then she was super picky with flavors
Your cat: "Picky"!? Do you eat stuff you don't like? Harrumph!
:D
@FuzzyElf you know what? Fair
But
She didn't even touch chicken (don't cats love chicken?). The only flavors she eats are duck, rabbit, "fish" (whatever that's supposed to mean) and salmon (it's funny, she'll eat salmon and "fish" but not tuna). The duck one doesn't even come out in a spayed option but we said screw it
A cat I had was like that. But all food. 😅Only Whiskers brand gravy pouches, and only salmon and chicken flavor. I ended up just making her own food out of boiled chicken (this was before raw diets had become a thing, might also be worth a try.) and covered it in said gravy. Even then she would mostly just lick it off the chunks of chicken but at least a few would get eaten. I was like "baby, you have to eat something gravy doesn't count, there's no reason for you to be anoxic" 😅. Lived 15 years with me like that and I didn't get her as a kitten so I have no idea why she developed a preference like that.
@mom.left.me.at.michaels9951 my mother did once follow a... chicken broth (? I think it was broth) recipe but she did NOT want it. She has also tried giving some bits of raw chicken and mince (maybe some other meats as well? I don't remember) but the only thing she very enthusiastically ate was the raw salmon. One problem with that: salmon costs like 25€ per kg 😬😬
Girly has an expensive taste
Yeah, my cat always throws up wet food. She only eats kibble now.
#1 is so true, in one year our Clumber had to stay at the vet for pancreatitis 3 times and our Cavalier had bone cancer and had to have his leg amputated. We maxed our cards and used a line of credit. Upside they lived.
My Dad adopted a Border Collie. He knew exactly what he was in for and took him on two, two hour hikes a day. He’s 14 now so he gets 2 45 minute walks a day no more hiking up big hills. They are such a high energy breed and people need to understand that when they adopt one. They are also extremely smart, I believe they are smartest breed of dog. They need tons of stimulation and love as well.
My parents had a Border Collie that they never took out for walks. I took her for walks and retaught her all of her commands in French. I'm a jerk.
I'm glad your dad did good by his good boy.
Pet insurance is fantastic, but since most are reimbursement based, it can only do so much if you're short on money in a crisis.
My roommate's cat passed away while we were trying to apply for financial aid at the emergency vet to pursue treatments we couldn't afford. After that night, I told myself I never wanted another cat-- and maybe not even a pet in general. That didn't work out, and now I have a cat of my own for the first time. At some point, it dawned on me: "Do you HAVE to be in an emergency situation to apply for CareCredit??" No! You don't! I got approved for a $1500 limit card on my lunch break, right then and there!
I really would urge any and everyone with a pet to consider applying for a CareCredit card when your finances are good and your pet is healthy. Having those funds readily available in a crucial moment could save your pet's life.
I never thought about it, but that is a good idea if you don't have extra funds available quickly. That way you don't have to stress about it and your pet.
Well done!!✨💛💫
You can also do what we did, set aside money for future visits on a regular basis, into an account that you do not regularly access, even just a few dollars a paycheck will add up. Just figure out how much you think you need to set aside over the year and divide it by your number of paychecks. If that number is too high then get the card for up front costs, with care credit, you have 6 months to pay it off interest free. That way, you know you have immediate funds if needed.
@@TheBaumcm That's definitely the ideal! But I know how quickly the unexpected can happen, so even if I built up a fund, it would be a relief to know I have that backup.
A couple of years ago my car kicked the bucket and I had to dump everything I had (+ a good chunk of credit) into a down payment for getting a new one, since I work in the next city over. Less than 6 months later I sprained my ankle. If not for the car, I probably would have been fine, but those medical bills buried me. The idea I could be injured and need whatever savings I had, only to have some emergency happen with my cat before I could amass more.... Eugh.
I completely agree! Also if you have a significant other get them to apply for it too. Definitely still get pet insurance though! CareCredit is great, and it's easy to pay off once insurance reimburses you those thousands of dollars
(Speaking as someone who recently had to pay way too close to $10,000 for my cat's heart failure [my kitty's doing well now])
Vet tech here, #9. No one told me this. I am now at 8 years old doing this with my cystitis cat and it has been so much work. But being on a high moisture diet has kept us from having a stress cystitis flare for over a year. I’m no longer running full work ups every few months for bloody urine. This cat is also a bottle fed calico so she requires sedation for everything. Being able to feed wet food and various texture led food now provides me the ability to medicate her if necessary. I was smart enough to train my other cat to eat pill pockets so if I have to give medication I don’t have to pill her, but again no one told me to do that and I feel like they should have. I wish we spent more time talking about variety and exposure to various foods and the importance of moisture based foods for hydration and bladder health. I work in ER so this is now a conversation frequently had with cat owners as we see a lot of urinary and kidney disease.
Training to eat pill pockets... that's a good idea. If pill pockets become their usual treat then they won't be as averse to eating them when they have pills inside.
Just found your channel and subscribed!
I would add to the list of people not trained in veterinary medicine..... Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists.
I'm an RN and I know what I don't know.
Physician here. One day my cat was giving his distress call and I thought he was having GI issues. I palpated his stomach, he did not guard, jump, or cry, so I thought he was fairly ok and off to the vet we went. I reported my exam findings to the vet and she just looked at me like 'oh honey.' She then informed me cats don't guard on exam and I felt very sheepish.
A pharmacist told my client it was ok to give a portion of her prescription non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication to her dog. While it's true dogs can take that particular drug, the dose was way too high and caused irreversible kidney failure.
Those 3:00AM zoomies are a big part of why we got two cats, not just one. They wear each other out just playing. We also have a catio with levels and toys and a bird feeder outside of it (no, the birds can't fly in, don't worry). I didn't know that about giving kittens different types of food though. Dang.
Regarding the researching - I have a very uncommon lifestyle. I travel a lot (spend maybe 2-3 months in one place, then change) and I also work a lot from home. So I needed a dog that was small, both comfortable with changing environments often, and also could be happy chilling at home by my side. Every single article seemed to point to one breed I had never heard off before : the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I also researched breeders and found the best ethical kennel in my country, spoke with the breeder a few times before making the decision, and moved on only because the way they treat the puppies and the fact they provide medical and genetical testing for the parents, and full health checks for the puppies. (he came even with a full ophthalmological report!) when the puppy that was assigned to me was born, I bought a damn book on the breed also to try and be as prepared as possible. Not that anything is a warranty of course but without research I wouldn't even have known of this breed!
Cavaliers are the best! Rescued one from a puppy mill situation so he was a little off breed, less social, and had several health issues but he loved his family.
How did it work out? Asking because I'm trying to get into long-distance trucking and will adopt a co-pilot when I do, and, like you, every article is pointing towards CKCSs.
I vote to adopt the individual m. Lots of older dogs get passed up in the shelters-could prob find many like that who don’t need a lot of activity, would enjoy the changes of scenery and just happy to be along for the ride with their forever person.
@@angelaonthego the issue with shelter dogs is that is hard to know their history or what may trigger their anxiety - yes, some may be very happy, but others may be extremely stressed when put on a carrier. I actually considered that for a long time as well, but I didn’t want to risk making the poor guy/gal miserable. It’s just my choice of course!
@@sturmovik1274 we haven’t gotten on a plane together yet, but so far he has handled train and car travel perfectly fine, as well as change of scenery. He’s super well behaved (at least for now, I’m told the rebellion stage starts at 4 months lol)
I have only had dogs snd knew most of these but I did learn a knew thing regarding never using retractable leashes.
Also, get your pet chipped.
All 15 tips are so helpful!
Having claws has helped our cats become good friends with our dogs. A hiss and a swipe sets the ground rules quickly. 🤣
I find it hilarious that in spite of being several times larger, a dog will practically stand at attention and salute when their feline housemate enters the room. The cat gives them a knowing side glance as if to say, "Glad to see you still remember what my claws can do to that sensitive nose of yours."
I would add don't skip dental exams and cleanings especially for cats. They truly are masters at hiding their pain. I had one of my cats in for a routine dental cleaning and x-rays and they found a bunch of bad teeth. She didn't show any signs of pain and was eating normally. She ended up having FIVE teeth removed! Imagine having that many teeth hurting you with no access to pain relievers and not showing any outward signs of pain. I don't think many of us could do that.
Also, I have never and would never declaw a cat but I do adopt already declawed cats from rescues and shelters. My first cat was declawed before I got him and I learned a lot from him. A lot of declawed cats develop behavioral and litter box issues because of the pain they endure and then their horrible owners drop them off at the shelter. I adopt these precious babies and give them all the love, care, and patience they need to live a happy life. It breaks my heart knowing what they went through and what they live with but at least I can rest easy knowing that I'm doing everything in my power to give them a good life. I hope that one day there will be no declawed cats anywhere but until then I will likely continue to rescue them and give them the best life I possibly can.
So many people around my city let their dogs and cats roam. 🙄 it sucks for dog walkers cause you never know how the dog is going to react when walking by.
Train your dogs better at least.
You general, not you specifically
For Kibble Loving Cats, if you want/need to get them off it, try freeze dried raw. It's better ingredient wise and often has a similar enough texture they might except it. Go slowly however by mixing in a little of the freeze dried raw and lowering the amount of kibble at a time.
The biggest issue with that though is price point. I see so many people crying about the price of cat food when they maybe pay $20 a month for the worst bags of kibble you can imagine. . .then you also have to convince them that Freeze Dried Raw is actually better. . .because the general cat community HATES anything not kibble or specific wet food branding.
Loved this and thanks for the advice to expose a cat to different food textures as a kitten. Never heard that before and obviously never thought of it.
This can come in real handy should a brand be altered or discontinued. Cats will starve themselves if they aren’t used to a different food. My IBD cat however can’t have the food rotation anymore. He is now on Cat Chow Gentle dry food and a variety of wet food.
Heard a lady on the radio said she had 60 cats. Most of them mommas with kittens.
Aint no way there’s enough litterboxes in that house…
Sounds like pet hoarding rather than animal lover.
Or a rich person who rescues?
@@a_lethe_ion Rescues can become hoarding situations very fast. 60 is too many for a home or single person/family to care for. If all those litters are unplanned, which they would have to be for a legit rescue, that's a lot of new cats being introduced... You'd need a big facility with staff and a lot of rooms to keep everyone separate to avoid disease communication and to look after the inevitable sick kittens. 60 cats in a home is a hoard until proven otherwise.
@@barbarianvee well if its like a professionak rescue like they happen here as a nonprofit, that works but they have a full house with cats in each rooms and they spay them
At 62 years of age, I concur with every point you made. I’ve had so many cats in my lifetime. Indoor only. Indy/ outdoors. Lots of personality. I’ve never declawed. I had a “pure bred” schnauzer from a pet store who lived to 14. Healthy till the end. A pure bred schnauzer who was a hot mess. For the last nine years I’ve had a mixed breed jrt/beagle/bassett. She is healthy, happy and a great friend. A year ago I bought a pure bred golden. She is a sweet dog. I researched the breed characteristics. Due to her size and my age I
I’ve invested in a lot of training. She is e wonderful dog not because she is purebred but because she has good genes and I’ve spent hours training her. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Side note, pet insurance is only really beneficial if you have a puppy or kitten. They don’t cover much of your expenses if you have an adult and you are better off setting up your own insurance system by setting aside a regular amount of money into an untouchable fund.
Definitely do your research with pet insurance. I don't think any of them cover pre-existing conditions, but it was still worth it for us. We got insurance *after* my kitty has a bladder blockage early in life knowing that it wouldn't cover any of his special food or if anything else related to his blockage. I'm so fucking glad we did because insurance reimbursed us 90% of his $8,000+ hospital bill for heart failure 7 years after
This is what we found also when we adopted adult rescue dogs. We determined yearly costs and budgeted accordingly. Costs obviously rise as the animal ages. No complaints after 30 years of owning dogs.
My pet insurance saved me when my dog was diagnosed with cancer. He was 14. They paid for tests, biopsy, medication, euthanasia and cremation. Total cost was over $4,000! They reimbursed me 90%. And this was the second pet we lost within 30 days. This wasn’t in our budget. But put cost on a credit card and paid it once insurance reimbursed us. Insurance made it easy to do what vet recommended. It reimburses for dental health. Our vet found a tumor on dental X-ray. Extraction was covered. I wouldn’t have pets without it
Mine covers everything, paid 17 pounds a month (same as a phone bill) and basically ended up paying 60 for it after insurance gave me my money back, glad I squirrelled rainy day savings
Not all pet insurance is the same. It’s good to shop around and ask about what exactly they cover before you sign up. But yes having a dedicated savings fund for your pet can also be a viable option.
Thank you for these. They are all so important and people need to know them. This was a real public service!
My sister is a vet. I agree with almost everything in this video. The reason why I have variations on some points is that I live in an extremely rural area in Europe.
Declawing is illegal here.
Insurance and regular blood panels as well as yearly checkups: of course! I have my dogs and cat checked twice a year.
Retractable leashes: no. Nope. No way. Unless the alternative is no leash at all. But I’d rather have a piece of rope than a retractable leash. Any piece of rope.
Front yard: I’d rephrase that into never letting your dog off-leash in an area that is not properly fenced. Train them to do off-leash work just in case your dog escapes in order to increase your chances of getting them back on a leash, but never trust them not to succumb to their instincts, to panic, to make a decision that makes sense to them but not to humans.
Outside cats: the set of predators is very different where I live. There is little to no traffic where I live. My cat gets to roam the garden several times a day in the company of your dogs and then gets called in along with them. They hunt for rodents together. The size of our yard is also a factor. In a less rural area, she’d be having a catio.
Be prepared for ANY type of animal companion you get. Not just the breed of dog. Research their needs not just based on cat/dog/reptile/amphibian/bird/rodent/whatever but also the breed’s needs. It’s plain common sense.
Animals run on an entirely different schedule than humans. Some are nocturnal. Some are not. Some are twilight/dawn hunters. Some will behave in a way entirely atypical of their breed. Some have studied the rulebook and apply it to a tee. Be prepared for a stickler and to cater to its needs, but be prepared to get the odd one out… and to cater to its needs.
One of my sister’s favourites that wasn’t mentioned in tis video, but an important one: Never, EVER expect your new pet to be a carbon copy of the one you have/had because of its breed or simply because it looks similar. You’re still dealing with an individual. Both she and I have lost count of how often we’ve heard “BUT IT’S A (insert breed)!” A few examples:
Portuguese water dog who hates water
Afghan hound wo dislikes running and has NO prey drive. At all.
ADHD Labrador retriever.
Cane Corso that likes EVERYBODY and doesn’t guard.
Cat snuggling up with mice/birds.
Cat that bathes with its owner.
Couch potato Border Collie.
Guard Guinea Pig (squeaks at doorbells and intruders… and attacks).
You have no idea what we’ve seen or heard over the last 30-ish years. Some of it funny, like the dogs who beg their owners to be let out in the yard in the middle of the night for a midnight snack (apple fallen off the tree). Some are downright tragic, like people asking to euthanise a perfectly healthy, happy pet because it “just isn’t like our previous one, (insert name).”
I agree with the puppy mill one 100%. In the early 80's when I was young and didn't know any better, I got a part-time job at one of these stores at a mall. I thought it would be fun to play with puppies all day, and what could be cooler than to work at a mall? I can't tell you how many times I went home crying because animals were returned with kennel cough, pneumonia, Parvo, distemper, etc. They were just left in the back room and given minimal food and water until they died--no meds or vet care. The manager asked everyone NOT to tell potential customers where the puppies came from and just gloss over the puppy mill issue. I didn't work there very long.
Your suggestions are gold! I agree even though I'm not a vet professional, just someone who has owned a lot of pets and learned the hard way. We are addicted to French Bulldogs and have owned multiples for over 20 years, way before they exploded on the scene. We always dealt with reputable breeders in the past but the price has gone up from $1000 when we first purchased a pup years ago to over $10,000 now. It's absolutely ridiculous. I know they have notoriously small litters and all the expenses of breeding since we bred our one female. But they have very distinct needs and health challenges that many new owners are either unaware of or cannot afford. That is a big reason we now do FB rescue. To adopt, you must have had owned a FB prior to rescue. I know how adorable they are and how so many ppl want them, I know how easy it is to get addicted to them-our first Frenchie turned into 2, then, 3, then 4, then 5. But like doc says--know your breed and definitely get pet insurance.
That’s like Sphynx cats. They are adorable little clowns, and really popular right now. But they need special care, and they are very prone to hereditary heart disease. Right now there’s no cure- it can only be managed.
I wonder about these breeds with faces that are so pushed in. I have heard that it can be hard for them to breathe. I always had dogs with regular faces - and loved them all - so I don’t really understand why breeders came up with idea in the first place.
@maeandbob of course, you must take precautions with bulldogs and any brachycephalic breed (the term for "pushed" in faces) as they do not well tolerate heat and humidity. This is another reason why the "backyard breeder" trend of the Frenchies in general is so catastrophic. So much can go wrong if the breeder lets even one thing slip. I cannot tell you the number of times I have cautioned potential owners who desperately desire a Frenchie to adopt and not to try to cut corners and use such breeders. There are usually many tears, much cost and heartbreak at the end of trying to save money. And what looked like a great deal for an adorable puppy ends in a protracted and painful death for the poor puppy. Of course, I understand why, but I tell such new owners there is a huge learning curve to breeding and/or owning a French Bulldog who will prosper and live a long, happy life. The novice breeder most likely will also try to cut corners as breeding Frenchies is an expensive, labor-intensive undertaking. Pregnancy itself is not accomplished by the "coupling" process but rather via artificial insemination. It is critical to choose a healthy sire (the stud fee can go as high as $10,000) breeding, purebred registration, color, age are part of it but a genetic profile is paramount. So let's say the bitch goes into heat and the insemination is successful. Now the real fun begins. There's diet changes, regular hormones testing and ultrasounds. Cap that off with a C-section as the French Bulldog has very narrow hindquarters and the puppies have notoriously large skulls. I'm not even going into the aftercare of the puppies and mother but you can see how a lot can go wrong and why the cost is so high coupled with an insatiable appetite for this breed. As overwhelming as it all sounds, I can tell you that if you spoke with 100 ppl who have owned a responsibly bred Frenchie I'd bet all 100 ppl would tell you they would do it again. I have owned many dogs, many different breeds from German Shepherds, Labradors, Spaniels, Beagles to Irish Wolfhounds and I will tell you I have never owned such amazing dogs. My Wolfhounds were very special but these Frenchies are something else--funny, loyal, faithful, loving, fiercely protective, stubborn, inquisitive, mischievous and just a small bundle of joy all rolled into a dog who thinks it's a lion, a land shark and a couch potato. Once you own one, you never won't own one again. They are that special. So yes, care and precautions but it's all well worth it. Sorry, this ran longer than I planned, but talking about Frenchies is just the same as talking about our kids.
@@mapleext Because it's difficult to make an animal so unnatural and poorly conformed but still live, so when you do it you get prestige and win awards and can charge a lot of money for babies. As soon as we stop purpose breeding, what more is there to breed for than some "look" that's difficult to achieve? And what's more difficult than something that makes it hard for the animal to give birth or breath or not injure their eyes? Some people also find "monkey" flat faces attractive b/c they subconsciously see an infant primate and it gets their little primate brain going. Personally, I'm not particularly into infant primates and I like animals that look like what they're supposed to look like. I don't get the Frenchie allure, they're sad and pretty gross. Ppl could get all that personality into something that can function like an animal rather than a genetic disaster. We have dogs dying in droves in shelters and people want to put all their energy and resources into producing more of these little experiments instead of saving any of these perfectly good dogs, and the messy ones too. Just b/c of "obsession".
@@CynVee I've worked with a Frenchie, really sweet dog. Would never own one. Genetic disasters, produced with disgusting breeding practices. For...what again? A dog that looks like a monkey? Get a human child if you want to look at the flat face of an animal that needs you in order to live. I don't see any of the attributes you list being exclusive to Frenchies or requiring of a face and body that doesn't allow the dog to be a dog. If you people actually cared about your breed, you'd only breed the dogs that can give birth, dogs that have faces where the eyes don't protrude, the breathing isn't obstructed, teeth are in normal alignment. Breeding more Frenchies is cruel and a waste of resources.
I hate reading people asking for advice on Facebook. Your tips make so muck sense! Thanks for this! Owning pets can be expensive and owners need to be prepared.
Sad reality about the #1 advice regarding “Get pet insurance!”
is when animal rescuers (like myself) cannot obtain pet insurance if the animal is aged out of the policy age restrictions. At least it’s so up here in Canada. 🇨🇦
Or when you get strays that are already sick
I'm in this situation with my 9 and 10yr old rabbits. No insurance company will touch them. My 5yr old too as he developed a head tilt before his insurance policy could be taken out (had it ready to go the night before, woke up to find him with a tilt! He was only about 12-13 weeks old and we'd just brought him home). Unfortunately nearly any condition he could have now would be blamed on his permanent head tilt so they'd never pay out.
Also over here you can't get a policy that covers more than £2000 a year on rabbits. Considering I was quoted £3000 last year for palliative radiotherapy for my dear girl with metastatic thymoma that doesn't go far. I know a broken leg can be £3000+ too.
I definitely recommend to anyone to get it where you can, and get a lifetime policy if possible _before_ your pet passes the maximum age. But it's sad there are some cases where pets are uninsurable. Very scary when bad things happen suddenly.
PLEASE do not underestimate the power of regular diagnostics for your pet! especially your senior pets!! a senior workup for my dog revealed a tumor in his lung & an ultrasound revealed a developing mucocele in his gallbladder. everything was caught early enough that surgery was fully curative of his cancer - his LUNG CANCER - and with a diet change and medication his gallbladder is improving and won’t need to be removed. his 13th birthday is approaching and if not for his gray face you’d never know, he still has the energy of a young dog, especially after removing his little lung meatball LMAO. if i weren’t a vet tech i would never have gotten those diagnostics done and he wouldn’t have made it.
(medical context: lung cancer is not all that common in dogs, typically if there is a tumor in the lungs it has metastasized from somewhere else and there are multiple. find those on radiographs and typically you’re discussing days to weeks, if the owners are lucky. my dog ended up having a grade 2 adenosarcoma, removed with excellent margins, its been a year and every recheck there’s been no signs of recurrence. lung lobectomies are not common, especially not for the purpose of removing cancer, so i’m very grateful to the excellent surgeons i work with who fixed my boy. and gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is my least favorite surgery by far. dogs don’t tend to do well, and i’ve been diligent enough to never have one die on the table, but i’ve seen plenty not make it through recovery. i don’t know whether i could put my dog through that surgery, so hearing his gallbladder was improved was more of a relief than hearing his lungs look clear!)
Out of curiosity are you or someone in your home a smoker? I've just never heard of a dog getting lung cancer before.
I lost my dog a week after he turned 12 to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was sudden and unexpected. He never exhibited any symptoms. Dogs usually get DCM. So, it was a mystery. Definitely second getting a senior dog panel to check BP.
He went in for a dental procedure, made it through the procedure, but didn't make it out of recovery. My vet and his staff did CPR for 15 minutes.
@@bunny_0288nope. i just got that one in a million (not actual odds) bad roll of the dice. like i said, primary lung cancer - so actually STARTING in the lung - is not common in dogs At All. both of my dogs surgeons have been vets for 50+ years and had never removed a lung tumor before.
although, i will say, i adopted him when he was six years old - it is possible his previous owner was a smoker or had a family member who smoked. i hadn’t thought about that as a possibility. lung cancer is the most common cancer in humans for a reason, it seems reasonable that secondhand smoke could negatively affect dogs the same way it does us - don’t know if there’s research on that though.
@@KitBlueMediaso sorry for your loss. it’s always devastating to lose a patient like that, i can’t even imagine what it felt like on your end.
As a former Veterinary Tech who worked at an Animal Emergency Clinic for a number of years as a 2nd full time job, I totally agree with all of these!
I find that a lot of "medical professionals" take short cuts and it's important to also talk to other pet owners that have a pet going through the same issues your pet is going through
I'm an ethologist (specialist in animal behaviour) and it's so nice to find someone with much more experience agreeing with you.
I currently work as a behavioural consultant at a vet clinic and retractable leashes are the bane of my existence. No, you cannot have your highly reactive medium dog on a retractable leash, Karen.
Also #10. But then I'd most likely be out of a job.
Number 5 thank you. I see so many lost cat posters around town and I live near three big streets so my cats will definitely not be let out. But I still have to explain why they’re indoor cats and it sucks. Everyone is pretending you’re a bad owner if you don’t let your cat outside. My oldest cat doesn’t even want to go outside and the younger one is leash trained a bit and we train him to be carried around in those backpacks for animals so he can see different spots like a forest etc but I will never let him roam outside on his own.
I really appreciate how straight to the point you are!
I adopted a senior cat from an adoption org. It turned out ALL FOUR FEET were declawed! Who does this? It's not even legal where I live.
There was no mention that he was declawed in his paperwork. The cat was originally from Quebec.
Truly disgusting! It's illegal here, too.
I knew rawhide was bad, didn't realize bully sticks were also. My dog's love those. 😬
Lol, #10 (research the dog breed beforehand) resonated with me. I live a quiet, not super active lifestyle; "Ooooooooo, Belgian Malinois are gorgeous. I'd love one!."
Don't worry, my brain then enters the chat & I turn my focus back to those sweet, cuddly Pugs. 🐶♥️
You know a rescue greyhound they don’t require much exercise, they like one walk and then they’re huge couch potatoes, that sleep in ridiculous poses.
Lol. This was me and wanting a Bengal for a cat! It may happen eventually, but right now we happily have taken in two neighborhood strays who are quite enough
My three big cats actually broke every single cat tree I’ve gotten them that doesn’t have a metal frame. 😂 15 pounds, 13 pounds and 11 pounds. The big boy is lazier and less co ordinated but still young. The other two are 1/4th Maincoon and their parkour skills think nothing of jumping 7 ft from standing. 😂
The two barn cat babies are smaller but still keep up with their older friends.
The old man doesn’t play anymore but he was the same.
I have never met a cat that Doesn’t love to run like a madman.
They’re like a furry freight train when they all get going.
Thank you for the great Contant! I definitely agree with the benefits of pet insurance but right now with the way the economy is paying for a monthly head insurance isn’t something I can really budget… Are there any good inexpensive pet insurance companies that I can research?my cat can definitely be picky when it comes to food but I would change her food up or buy her different kinds of food a lot when she was a kitten. I live in a rather large town and I don’t have room for a catatio but I definitely leave a window open for her so she could at least feel the fresh air and hear the birds she loves it! when my mother comes in to visit as she always hides treats around the living room for the cat to find I love to see how much fun they both have with it. Even though I have one cat I have two litter boxes and I cleaned them daily. I also try to brush her teeth at the very least three times a week and because a vet tech told me to try to take care of her teeth she has seen a lot of cardiac issues because of neglected teeth! I will buy a slip cover for my couch and chairs and put a scratch mat up on the door frames or other places near where the cat wants to scratch before I will ever declaw a cat!! She’s also been spayed since she is six months old. not only is it healthier for the cat but I don’t need all the feral Toms coming and spraying around my front door because they smell my unspayed female cat 😵💫
As an animal physiologist, i agree 110% w everything you say!
Thank you for the excellent advices .
For Number 8, "Adopt & Don't Shop" I agree with you.
On the taking advice from non veterinarians/vet techs. Never listen to a veterinarian about reptiles or amphibians. Call the closest herpetology center or a breeder for your species. Same goes for birds, arachnids, and basically all exotics. Veterinarians (outside of the ones working in zoos) are useless with exotics 99% of the time. Also unless they are an equine veterinarian you the owner are more qualified with your equine's medical care than they are. Livestock veterinarians are not always or even usually qualified for equines so ask.
I don’t think this is necessarily true. Should you take an exotic or reptile to any vet clinic you pass on the street? Absolutely not. But part of finding a veterinarian for any pet you own is finding a veterinarian who is experienced in that animal! You shouldn’t ever buy a pet without having a reputable, experienced, and knowledgeable vet on that species/breed in the first place. Don’t go out and buy a conure if there aren’t any experienced avian vets in your area, basically, or you are 100% setting yourself and your pet up for failure. Looking for a vet who is specialized by an organization recognized by the AVMA (ex: specialized in reptiles and amphibians by the AVBP, & AAHA certified) is a great start, and I would argue that these vets who have been through extensive training in that specialty are almost ALWAYS going to be more knowledgeable than a breeder.
There is also a big difference between exotic animal husbandry and exotic animal medical care. While consulting a breeder may be beneficial for husbandry, there are some things the average breeder or keeper just isn’t going to know how to do or have the capability of doing - such as administering inhalant anesthetic, giving specialized meds or complex pharmacology, advanced nursing, or taking diagnostic imaging, as those require specific medical training, supplies, and facilities. This also depends on your location (big cities seem to tend to have many more exotic vets compared to rural communities).
It’s less about “vets aren’t as good as breeders/herp centers when it comes to exotics”, and more “find the right vet for your pet”. For the best result? Have an experienced vet AND experienced breeders/owners that you can rely on for husbandry and medical advice.
Also - all certified vets are required to undergo fundamental training on dogs, cats, horses, cows, small ruminants, etc., and many exotics (reptiles, aquatics, etc). They are tested on this on their board exams (NAVLE). Saying that not all vets are qualified to work on livestock or horses is incorrect - that’s part of their schooling, training, and licensing! Not all vets are as experienced with them, and some may not have touched a large animal since vet school. But if they’re licensed, they have received those fundamental skills and knowledge in their career. Saying that an owner is better equipped to handle their equine than a licensed vet is dangerous. If you don’t like how your vet treats your horse, find a different or more experienced vet - but NEVER think that you can completely take that job over if you are not a medical professional. Horses need annual medical care by a professional like any other pet, and horse owners are not able to provide every facet of that care.
Yeah, that's vet arrogance on full display. Breeders and trainers can be great resources.
Equines are a sub specialty. I say this because normal veterinarians can't tell the difference between a python and an anaconda. It has been proven by the amount of dead reptiles that you can not trust them. Your basic equine husbandry is more than a non equine specialized vet will know about horses. They can't tell the difference between a horse will a short mane and a mule. By the way normal veterinarians can't do anything you listed with exotics, equines, or livestock. Which is why they won't touch them if they are ethical. You can't use anesthesia on most reptiles because of how it interacts with their physiology. You can't expose ball pythons to cedar because it shuts down their respiratory system. I had to tell that to a vet who claimed she could do an exam on a snake but came in the room stinking of cedar essential oil. Veterinarians are generalists in cats, dogs, and rodents. They are not qualified on anything else which is why those are additional specialties and certifications. They can't even comment on kanine nutrition without a special certification in kanine nutrition. Don't lie and try to make the average veterinarians look better than what they are.
As a member of a large rabbit rescue for 10+ years, most of our staff knew way more than nearly all the vets in town. I had to tell my vet that no, he couldn't prescribe that medication for my house rabbit (twice) because it would kill my rabbit. He was an excellent vet for cats and dogs. Not every vet specializes in exotics. Before you adopt anything out of the average, find a support system. And the advice is still rock solid--we dealt with all kinds of things daily in the rescue, but we weren't vet trained. Always get a professional opinion. If your vet doesn't know, he will refer you to a specialist who does.
Number 3 should not be a preference, but a rule. Don’t hack off your cat’s fingertips, so happy that practice is illegal in my country.
I’ve been permanently injured and my dog mortally injured after my dog was attacked at the dog park. The owner whose dog attacked mine was a serial dog attacker and knew exactly how to evade the law. If your dog gets injured or YOU get injured at a dog park good luck! I will never ever step foot near a dog park ever again.
My cat used to seem very healthy. Only she was drinking a lot. One day, someone told me that could be a bad sign so I told the vet about it, blood test, and she had a kidney issue.
We found out about it early and used the best medecine available. Sadly her kidneys got worst with they years. But it got to show. Even if the cat looks healthy, something terrible might be brewing and regular test are not too much
Researching breeds important. Our Dogue de Bordeaux are perfect personality wise….life expectancy and cancer not so much. We’ve lost 5 in the last 2 years to cancer. Will move to a different breed once our others pass away. Just lost one a week ago at 6. Shed only just 3 months passed had annual bloods, dental etc. Vet even commented on how great her bloods were for her age and breed. Heart was strong throughout surgery. She was fine in the morning. Fine at lunch then suddenly went downhill fast. We rushed her to the vet thinking it was a snakebite as it’s that time of year here in Aus. Nope. She had a tumour on her heart that ruptured a vein on the surface of her heart. No wonder my vet calls the heartbreak breed
I have a neighbor who lets their cat free range outside. Thankfully, he gets along with my dog, so if I see him, I bring him to my yard, and then try to entice him into my house until I know his humans are home in the evening since I know they keep him inside at night.
Wet food has made a huge difference in my male cats.
What difference? Tell us more.
@@EPalsson Don't know if this roses experience. But male cats have narrow urethras to begin with neutering can make it worse. Dry food creates crystals in the urine that can lead to painful and possibly deadly blockages. Learned that the hard way after a frantic pet ER run after the poor baby peed blood on the bed. Switched to wet food and it was never a problem again.
My rescue kitten I raised on good, low carbohydrate canned food after having a cat with diabetes. But after a while, the now grown cat decided one day that he won't touch canned food and wants only dry food. Unfortunately, it has caused him to gain a lot of weight, and he will bite me if he doesn't have food in his dish at all times. Activity - does moving from one sleeping place to another count?
@@EPalsson for whatever reason, he had repeated blood in his urine. Each time, the vet put him on antibiotics. I was researching everything I could find. Wet food was the answer I kept finding. Evidently he was developing a mucus plug in his urethra. I gave him a small syringe of apple cider vinegar, followed by water and put him on wet food. Problem was solved. And I recovered nicely from the vinegar/water attack 😆 But it worked. No issues in the past 2 1/2 years.
@@rosewood9839 That is excellent information, thank you so much!
I'd modify the litterbox rule to 2 boxes for a single cat and then add one for every additional cat. My cat and experience of others shows that they like to choose and I've definitely noticed poop in one box and pee in the other so give them a choice!
All excellent! I’m going to look into pet insurance today! In my days of being the neighborhood safe house for all strays I would have 20-30 cats at a time and could not afford pet insurance for my personal pets. Now I have 6 that are mine and it’s time to look into insurance for them. I’ve had several Veterinary ER visits over the years which are always very expensive. Love my veterinarians and staff 😻
In the UK, declawing has been illegal for a very long time. About time our frienda across the pond caught up! 😁 my demon baby 9 week old kitten is making her way around her new world successfully only because she has full use of her demon claws. If furniture is more important to a person, perhaps consider a different pet. But there are ways to prevent scratching, pheromone sprays i have found to be very effective at stopping a cat scratching at places you don't want them to and the provision of other scratching areas is vital
Made the mistake of using a retractable leash with my (then) 6 month old rescue GSD mix. I’m not sure how fast I was flying, but I do still have the finger injuries from the landing. Henry is now nearly 4. 😂
My concern for pet insurance is my concern for insurance in general.
We're talking about a company whose entire point is to take your money and do their absolute best not to give you the benefits of the service you pay for. Because that increases their bottom line.
The general guideline here is insurance. Whether you get it from a company or you have a large savings account or investment portfolio dedicated for your pet, as long as you have *something*, that's the important takeaway. I agree with you about pet insurance companies, but the same can be said of any insurance companies. Yet no one skips homeowners or car or medical insurance for themselves for a good reason. Pets are like kids, parents should be responsible or not have them.
2:31 this is........something i'm starting to get worried about. my bonded pair of savannah sibs just turned 10 last year, and i thought the smaller of the two, roxy, was in adequate health. this january we just lost her to an inoperable tumor we couldn't even fully diagnose, half a year after her tenth birthday. i've always kept them indoors, so i expected them both to be decently hardy & around for a while, but i wasn't investing in that expectation properly - because they were my first pets ever. poor marco seems as needy and outspoken as ever, but he's so lonely now. yet i can't imagine he could get along with another cat, based on how he reacts to seeing neighborhood cats outside )':
also the pet insurance thing. we dumped so much more onto our debt just to find out it was too late for the very littlest member of our family, and that was devastating in its own regard
god i miss her so fucking much
❤️❤️❤️
I've always had success adding kittens to even the most aggressive cats. They seem to instinctively know that a kitten poses no threat. The younger the better, but keep the kitten in a large dog crate for the first few weeks, it allows the kitten to learn good litter box habits while keeping them safe from the adult. Added bonus that they get used to each other without a negative interaction, you can always put the adult up for the kitten to have some cuddle and play time. I'm sorry about losing your girl, I just recently (and unexpectedly) lost my lynx point siamese, she was my best friend for the last 15 years. It had only been 5 months since her last exam/bloodwork and she seemed perfectly healthy until a week before she passed. Kidneys were enlarged and her lungs started to fill with fluid, they though maybe cancer. I hope you find a suitable buddy for your boy. Best wishes. ❤
You CAN introduce a new cat, especially a kitten, if you do it right. Watch Jackson Galaxy's videos on how to introduce two cats.
We used his method to introduce a 10-year-old male to our 12-year-old male (yeah, it was a long shot), and it ALMOST worked. Our cat was curious about the new cat and never agressive - we were very surprised. The new cat was nervous at first but then started settling in. Unfortunately, as he relaxed, he got more and more dominant, eventually becoming aggressive towards the resident cat, who didn't defend himself but just started staying away from home. That was sad to watch, and after a month we had to give the new cat back to the previous owner. Sad it didn't work out but they found another home where that cat could rule the roost.
I’d love to know the best alternatives to rawhide or bully chews. ❤😊
Great video! We adopted a 5month old and a 15 month old cat 5 months ago, and have been giving them various kinds of cat food. Interesting about feeding them kibble that’s different shapes and sizes.
I love the way you put that on number 9!! Lmao. Saying when cats get old and crotchety. Omg that's hilarious. Even more so at the accuracy of the statement. Lol
When people talk about declawing, with consent, I squeeze their finger at the knuckle to illustrate what it would be like to have that portion of their finger cut off. I think people hear "declaw" on only think fingernails.
Thank you Doctor, really great and honest advice for both - cat and dog owners.
The very first thing you list: can you please give recommendations of “good” insurance as we got insurance for our kitten right after she came to our family. They covered nothing and cost us tons, in addition to the bills. We cancelled. So now who do we go with??
Research different companies and their policies. It is too much to go into here and it varies so much depending on your budget, the kind of animal, conditions your animal already has and other things.
Thank you for No 4! When we talked to the rescue before taking our dog home they advised us not to use a retractable lead, because it’s really stressful for an already nervous dog. Sudden yanking increases anxiety in dogs and stops them from positively processing interactions with people and other dogs. You want your dog to have a choice if they want to approach another dog or say hello to a friendly human. I have seen so many people suddenly locking the lead and pulling their dog away when they were just being a dog. That dog will not learn how to handle those interactions.
I would never use a retractable leash for a dog. . .I do however use them for my cats. As we only wander the yard, and the four foot span does NOT give them enough to space to be happy sitting nearby out of reach on the other side of the step. It also gives them the freedom to bound a little bit through the grass while still being safe.
Excellent advice...15 things we have done and are doing. Our cat is 17 years old and our dog is 14, they have had regular vet visits their whole lives, which is why we figure they are as old as they are, and they are both in pretty good shape.
My sister had two cats that lived to 20. They both passed within a couple of weeks of each other. She misses them so much!
One thing I'd add on to the first one, go for a provider that will cover cureable pre-existing conditions.
My cat has a history of claw infections and his ex-insurance provider wouldn't cover his latest infection even though it had been 6+ months since his last one. That left me out $700 that I did not have. His current insurance will cover these provided there is at least six months in between instances of it.
Adopt! Lots of purebred dogs end up at my local rescue. There's lots of great mixed breeds too.
Number seven is so important. My cat has kidney disease and it is getting worse, but we were able to alter her diet and give her a much better quality of life for much longer. Jury is out on how much longer we can go, since she is so old now. But cats are so good at adjusting the way they are living to feel and show less pain that some of those chronic illnesses can get very, very bad before you are aware of them.
This is all excellent advice. I‘m horrified to learn about the possibility of declawing, that isn‘t legal here in Germany and shouldn‘t be anywhere.
One of the best ways I've found to let my cats out? A covered playpen. It's mesh, and I have it on my apartment porch, so they can watch the nearby birds in the bird feeder!
My cats are strange - my middle child LIVES for kibble, but when it comes to wet food, she and my youngest prefer *wet* food... things that are basically almost soup, and any chunks are not eaten... its hard to find food like this - it's sold out everywhere in the brand they like at present!
One I didn't see mentioned is that it's ESPECIALLY important not to feed your male cats a pure kibble diet. This eventually leads to severe urinary issues that will kill them... cats as a wild creature would get most moisture from eating prey... so they need it in their food! Clean water is still important, but moisture in good is also important! I like to also use freeze dried raw food that we bring to dust in a blender, then add water/wet food broth to it, to make our own wet food. Our cats' coats have never been healthier - the raw food has really paid off in their energy levels, and the softness and shine of their coats.
So true. Get pet insurance for sure. It doesn’t take seeing too many vet bills go into the double digits to make that real clear for you. Also always ask for a copy of vet records and bloodwork! Emergencies usually happen when the main vet is closed. You having documentation could be super helpful to the ER team.
About litter boxes......it depends on the cats! They'll decide what they want. We have 3. We have 2 litter boxes. All 3 prefer 1 particular box. Occaisionally, one will use the other box.Sometimes an entire month goes by w/out the unpopular box used. None of them are going outside the box, ever. CLEARLY, all 3 prefer the same box. I scoop the favorite box every morning & evening, w/out fail. There is no need for us to have 4 litter boxes.
Pet insurance, definitely. I do have a young pet who has a chronic health problem, and I have sticker shock every time I take him to the vets. Think of a number you might think would be reasonable cost for a procedure- then double, or triple it.
This was really informative, thank you! Also, the 3am zoomies are real.
Great job, Dr.
I'd like to see a video discouraging people from becoming vets when their main objective is personal wealth. We have a very fancy set of veterinary colleges here and it churns out too many vets who don't seem to have a clue about diagnostics or working with the human component.
I adopted a three year-old cat and took over the pet insurance from the precious owner. After the cat was injured a year later, I increased the insurance to the max. because I realized I would do anything for this awesome cat and I didn't want money to be a factor in his care -- only his well being. I buy the best wet cat food I can find and take him for a full check-up every year. So far he is still going strong at 12, knock on wood! 😺 Hope I never have occasion to max out the insurance, but it's reassuring to have.
Even my potato dumpling of a cat loves to play! We noticed she was engaged by her toys but gave up after a few minutes, and then she started limping after naps.
We took her to our vet to have her screened for Arthritis and now she gets an injection once a month. Shes like a younger, spunkier dumpling now! She leaps and plays like crazy. Sadly insurance wont cover her because shes 11
This should have at least a million views
I scoop the litter boxes twice a day because I am a crazy cat Mom. Thank you
1 Reason I wish you mentioned about not having an outdoor cat that isn't controlled. Disease and parasites. If they kill wild animals they are subject to a LOT more pathogens same with drinking water outside, also the cats aren't used to it and so the pathogens can make them extra sick.
As a seasoned and mature pet owner I already knew all of these. I always watch this type of video just to make sure that I am well informed where my pets are concerned.
I have 4 dogs and having pet insurance has saved me! Thanks for sharing this!
What kind?
@@chrismellon127I have Nationwide. No complaints so far
Yes, which insurance company? I have 4 dogs 🐕 seems cost prohibitive
@@lisakaye9340 I use Nationwide. I have no idea if they are more costly than others, but after a deductible, they reimburse 90%. It has saved my life when I had 2 very sick dogs. Just getting my dog's dental cleaning, and a few tooth extractions, paid for itself. I can't imagine having pets without it
Got my cats, brother and sister at seven months old. Their foster mom said their previous owner gave them up for being 'too much.' Are they special needs, I asked? She said no, they're just kittens. They wrecked my house when I brought them home but settled down once they got to be a year old and now our lifestyles mesh more. Plus because there's two of them they play with each other when they get the zoomies though they will still parkour across me from time to time.
this is all such good advice. i wish everyone thinking about getting a cat or dog would listen to your advice.