How can we avoid pain for our pets?
There are some things that responsible pet owners can do to avoid pain for their pets
This starts with providing a safe environment and continues with healthy maintenance measures and regular veterinary checks. Read more about:
A secure living environment -
things to avoid
- Power cords left lying around
- Tilted windows
- Providing food that is not species specific or that the animal has an allergy or intolerance to
- Leaving open bottles of cleaning agents
- Leaving hot stove plates unattended
- Unsecured balcony balustrades
- Having toxic plants within reach of the animal
Look at your house/apartment from the perspective of your pet and ask yourself what interests you and what could be dangerous for you as a dog, cat, hamster, etc.
Adequate nutrition - Issues to watch out for
- Dental problems
- Digestive disorders
- Bone frailty and fractures
- Urinary tract diseases
- Weight gain with physical consequences such as joint pain.
Follow the veterinarian nutrition instructions.
The right amount of exercise
- An optimum weight maintenance
- A good physical condition
- Healthy joints
- An optimally functioning digestive system and urinary tract health
Get helpful information about appropriate exercise from your vet and behavioral expert. Both experts will give you relevant tips according to the specific needs of your animal, taking into account species, breed, age, and previous health record.
Regular control / maintenance
Regular inspection and care help to detect changes in the animal in good time. This should include inspection and actions (make sure that you are trained by a vet) as for example
- Teeth (brushing teeth to avoid plaque formation)
- Claws (only with correct equipment and knowledge – to keep the claws from getting caught when they get too long)
- Nose (for the timely identification of changes that may indicate underlying pathological conditions)
- Eyes (for the perception of foreign bodies, injuries, or inflammation)
- Skin (for the detection of lumps or skin inflammation)
- Ears (regularly clean ears to avoid inflammation and ear mites)
Keep a diary and note any changes you notice in your animal. Record when you observed each change: detailed information is very helpful for the veterinarian during diagnosis.
Regular visits to the vet
Through extensive knowledge, experience and access to special equipment, veterinarians are better suited than owners to detect and treat medical conditions in animals. Bring your pet to the vet following a regular schedule agreed upon with the vet, and do not skip check-ups as this may lead to pathologies that are later more difficult to treat.
Correct handling of pets
Delicately built pets such as hamsters are at risk of suffering pain due to improper handling by children, e.g. by being grasped too firmly.