12 mistakes that shorten the life of our pets

Pet owners try their best to care for their pets. But sometimes, in an effort to please or pamper a pet, they make mistakes that can lead to serious consequences.

1. Feed cats meat and dry food at the same time

From the very beginning, you should decide what you will give your cat – dry food or natural food. If you feed both of them, it can negatively affect their digestive system. When choosing natural products, you need to consult your veterinarian about a specific menu. If you decide in favor of dry or canned food, carefully read the ingredients – it is advisable that the selected brand does not contain flavors, corn or GMOs. And don’t forget to change the water at least once a day.

2. Take to the veterinarian less than once a year

Visit your veterinary clinic regularly because this is the only way to avoid certain diseases or to detect and treat them in time. Cats need to be vaccinated against the most common infections for their own safety. During the first visit to the veterinarian, register the animal and receive a passport for him – the most important document in his life.

3. Leave the cat by the open window

Many cats follow their instinct and jump out of an open window, trying to catch the bird. Very few people land without injuring themselves. Most of them break their paws, spine and even die. And cats sometimes get stuck in a half-open window, seriously injuring their internal organs and spine. To avoid such tragedies, do not leave the window open, warns Bright Side.

4. Avoid sterilization out of pity

The owners often feel sorry for sterilizing their pets. However, this procedure is completely harmless and is performed under general anesthesia. It does not harm the health of animals that live happily after it. The only thing that needs to be monitored and monitored is being overweight: many cats become lazy and gain extra pounds. Sterilization can help deal with issues such as loud meows, unexpected pregnancies, and urine throughout the apartment. In addition, both cats and dogs after surgery are insured against various troubles such as inflammation of the uterus.

5. Do not comb hair or brush your teeth

Ideally, you should have your cat or dog’s mouth checked by a professional at least once a year, especially if the mouth smells bad. Any pet store sells special pet toothbrushes. You also need to know the rules for caring for a particular breed of hair: hairless cats should be washed more often, cats with short hair require minimal grooming, and cats with long hair need to be combed out frequently to avoid skin diseases and mats. In addition, once every six months, cats should be washed with a special antiparasitic shampoo. The same goes for dogs. Only wash them more often – they still happen on the street.

6. Give the dogs food from their table

The stomach and intestinal tract of humans and dogs are completely different, as are the digestive juices. Dogs’ digestive systems cannot handle most of what we eat. It is best to express your love for your dog by not sharing your meal, but by paying more attention to her diet. The right food for dogs should consist of foods that do not require cooking, mainly dairy products, raw meat and offal such as heart and kidneys, as well as vegetables and some unsweetened fruits.

7. Wash the dog, starting from the head

It is not recommended to wash the dogs on a schedule, it is better to do this when the dog gets dirty. For example, after walking in a dirty place. The head should be washed at the very end so that the dog does not freeze and tremble.

8. Do not give dogs enough time and love

Unlike independent cats, dogs are social animals. They are eager to communicate with you and other dogs. Like humans, they need social adaptation for proper character development. Otherwise, your pet may become overly fearful, aggressive, or naughty. But communication and enough time together outside the home will help him develop emotionally, physically and socially.

9. Do not check the collar before walking.

The main rule: your dog should be comfortable. When putting on the collar, use the following rule: two fingers should go between the neck and the collar for medium to large dogs (one finger for small dogs). If the collar is too tight, it can injure the dog, and if it is too loose, then your pet can take it off and run away from you. Remember to change the collar size as you grow and gain weight.

10. Leave the dog indoors for a long time

Dogs of all breeds and ages should spend sufficient time outdoors, be able to move around a lot, interact with other dogs and explore the world around them. If they lack physical activity, they will protest in their own way: either they will be bored, or be so overwhelmed with energy that they will start gnawing at your personal belongings and furniture. Abundant physical activity and discipline are essential for your pet’s health. Dogs often fall asleep immediately after a long walk.

11. Keeping parrots in a cage

The most common mistakes of parrot owners: keep them in a cage all the time, although they need physical activity and entertainment in the form of flying; give them only seeds, although in the wild parrots, in addition to seeds, eat fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and even twigs; do not know that parrots eat sand and chalk: since they do not have stomach acid to digest food, they need sand, and chalk is a source of calcium; do not pay enough attention to them, do not play with them, but talk only for the first week after purchase, although parrots are communicative creatures that need to play and communicate at least half an hour a day; get angry with them if they show aggression, although it is usually caused by illness or lack of attention; they treat themselves, although if any strange symptoms appear, you should immediately contact your veterinarian; they catch the bird with their hands, from which it experiences real stress; they put the cage in a room with a lot of steam (kitchen or bathroom), or in a room that people rarely visit.

12. Do not groom guinea pigs