Tips for Adopting a Pet

Adopting a pet is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. You’re giving an animal a home and adding love and responsibility to your life. The first few days your pet spends with you are super important to helping him feel at home. Use these tips for adopting a pet to help welcome your new furry friend.

Before You Go to the Shelter:

• Consider Your Living Situation: You may love Mastiffs, but you shouldn’t try to adopt one if your live in a small apartment where he won’t have room to play.
• Get the Necessary Supplies: Don’t wait until you actually have your pet. Get his food, bed, and toys beforehand, so they’re already there when you bring him home.
• Contact a Vet: Most shelters require you to give them your vet’s information during the adoption process, so contact your vet or find a trustworthy one before you head to the shelter.
• Prep Your Home: Determine where your pet will spend most of his time and pet-proof your home — tape down wires, install baby gates, and move toxic items to higher-up areas.

When You Bring Your Pet Home:

• Give Your Pet Time to Adjust: He’ll be in a strange environment, so give him plenty of time to get comfortable. Also make sure your children know how to approach your pet without scaring him.
• Take Him to His Toilet Area: Once you’re home, take your pet outside or to the area where he should relieve himself. Spend some time here, so he learns what that area is for. But still be prepared for accidents — a new environment can throw off even the best housebroken pets.
• Start a schedule: Help your pet learn when dinner, potty, and playtime are. He’ll also need time to himself, so even if he whines when left alone, don’t give in too much. Instead reward him for good behavior like playing with a toy quietly.
• Recognize His Triggers: If you pet came from another home, he may know certain actions or objects to be scary or negative. Saying “come here” or having a newspaper could trigger prior treatment and have a bad effect on your pet. Figure out what might do that, and try to avoid it, or teach him not to be scared.

Over the Next Few Weeks:

• Get Your Pet Vaccinated: Make sure your pet is up to date with all his shots and medications.

If you’re adopting a pet, you’ll need a trustworthy vet like the ones at Berkeley Heights Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. We care for your pets as if they were our own, and even offer free vaccines or a free exam for new patients! Keep your pet healthy from day one, and call us at 908-464-0023 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Best Dog Breeds for Kids

Congratulations! After a lot of consideration, you’ve decided to get a dog to join your family. You’ve weighed all the pros and cons, doled out the responsibilities, and have already started picking out names for your future fido. But the one thing you haven’t decided is what kind of dog to get. If you’re looking for a dog that will be a good match for you kids, these breeds are generally a good choice.

Bull Dogs

If you’re looking for a patient dog who will be very affectionate toward your kids, the Bull Dog is your pup. With its sturdy build, this dog is perfect for kids who like to roughhouse, but it is also a low-energy and docile breed. It’s important to remember that since Bull Dogs have a compressed jaw, they’ll need some extra care to avoid dental and respiratory problems.

Bull Terriers

Contrary to popular belief that they’re aggressive animals, Bull Terriers are actually very friendly and loving dogs. Beyond that, they are also a good breed to choose if your children are bit rough during playtime. Bull Terriers are sometimes mischievous, so it’s best they’re in homes that provide them with plenty of stimulating activities and backyard space to play in.

Newfoundlands

There’s a reason these gentle giants are nicknamed  “Nature’s Babysitters.” Newfoundlands are considered one of the smartest breeds in the canine world and are very protective of the children in their lives. Easily trained and task-oriented, they should be in a home with a lot of space since they are large-sized pooches.

Golden Retriever

It’s probably no surprise that this breed made our list. Golden Retrievers are extremely loyal, patient, and smart, making them a great match for your kids. They love to play, especially retrieving games like fetch and frisbee (pun intended). With their obedient and loving nature, a Golden Retriever is sure to make a great addition to your family.

Remember:

Just because certain breeds didn’t make it to our list, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be wonderful matches for your family. Plenty of breeds are great family pets, even ones you may not ever have thought of, such as Dobermans and Pitbulls. What it comes down to is an individual dog’s connection with your family, as well as its energy level, size, and personal temperament. Never rule out a dog just because of its breed. All dogs just want to find a family to love that will love them back.

Once you have your new dog, you’ll need a trusted veterinarian to care for them — you’ll need Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital. We care for your pets as if they were our own, and even offer free vaccines or a free exam for new patients! Keep your dog healthy from day one, and call us at 908-464-0023 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Getting Your Pets Ready for Spring

Who let the dogs out?! Everyone — because there’s finally nice weather outside. You can now comfortably take your pet on endless walks, take them to play in the park, and simply let them run around in the yard without having to worry about them disappearing into a foot of snow. But with warm weather comes pests that emerge during the spring and summer months. Make sure your pet is ready to tackle spring with these tips.

Get Them Back on Heartworm Medication

Heartworms are the one of the biggest dangers for household pets. Mosquitoes carrying heartworm come around once the temperature hits 55/60 degrees, so your pets are at risk of contracting the harmful disease if they’re not on medication. With the peak of mosquito season right around the corner, make sure to head to your vet and pick up your pet’s heartworm meds.

Keep Up with Flea & Tick Prevention

While fleas aren’t around as much in the winter, they rear their ugly heads once spring rolls around. And once they’re on you pet, they’re hard to fully get rid of and can even make a jump onto humans. The same goes for ticks. Late April to June is tick breeding season, and since they can spread dangerous diseases,  it’s important to keep your pet on anti-flea and tick medication.

Watch Out for Allergies

Pets can suffer from allergies too. While they don’t get the sniffles like we do, they do get itchy. Keep an eye on your pet to see if they’re scratching their eyes or skin more than usual.

Get Your Pet Microchipped

Since they’ll be outside more often now, there’s a bigger risk of your pet getting lost. If that happens, you’ll have a better chance of finding them if they’re microchipped.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital wants to keep your pet healthy in spring and year-round. We treat your pet like one of our own and provide them with cutting-edge veterinary care such as vaccines, surgical procedures, dog and cat spays/neuters, as well as animal dentistry, microchips, and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 908-464-0023.

Ways to Celebrate National Pet Day

It’s National Pet Day! Today we celebrate our furry friends who become part of the family the day we bring them home. While it’s great to show your pets how special they are every day, today should be a day when you give them a little extra loving. Wondering how to do that? We’ve got some ideas.

Get Your Pet a Present

Take a trip to your local pet store, and let your pet pick out a special item. Whether it’s a toy, a snack, or a new pet sweater, treat them to a nice gift.

Visit the Park

A trip to the dog park is a super fun way to surprise your pup. You can even invite your pet’s friends and have a play date. If you have a cat, grab a harness and leash, and take them for a stroll in the sunshine.

Grab Some Goodies

While it’s not good to constantly be feeding your pet people food, today can be a kind of cheat day. Treat your dog to an ice cream cone or a spoonful of peanut butter. For your kitty, a little tuna fish or cooked meat is a safe and tasty treat.

Have a Photo Shoot

Is your pet the last one to shy away from the camera? Set up a backdrop, or put him in front of some pretty scenery, and have a photo shoot! If you pet isn’t one to sit still, take some candids of him playing in the yard.

Berkeley Heights Animal Hospital wants to keep your pet healthy, so he can celebrate many more National Pet Days to come. We treat your pet like one of our own and provide them with cutting-edge veterinary care such as vaccines, surgical procedures, dog and cat spays/neuters, and much more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 908-464-0023.