You’re bringing home a new pet bird soon, and you can’t wait to welcome your feathery friend to your household! But becoming a pet owner is a big responsibility, and you’ll need to prepare accordingly. M&M Bird Toys explains how to choose a pet that will fit in with your household, manage your stress levels as you adjust to this lifestyle change, establish an exercise routine for your pet, and more.
Choose the Right Pet
You don’t want to own a pet you can’t take care of. If you live in a small space , a bird, cat or hamster might be the right choice for you. If you have a large yard and love the great outdoors, you could own a dog breed that loves lots of physical activity.
Prepare Your Home
Before you bring your new pet home, you’ll have to ensure that your property has been pet-proofed. The Rustic Brush states that you might need to install pet gates or childproof locks to keep your pet out of certain rooms. You should also make sure to keep any dangerous objects out of their reach.
Digitize Your Records
Even if you aren’t worried about your dog eating your homework, you’re probably still struggling to keep track of all the important paperwork that goes with our modern age. So why not reduce stress by digitizing your documents? There are online tools that can help you convert them to PDFs in a matter of seconds, making it far easier to seamlessly change your files to make them available and stay organized.
Keep Your Stress Levels Low
Bringing home a new pet is a bit stressful, but keep in mind that pets can pick up on your anxiety. If you’ll be bringing your pet out in public, they might act out due to nerves. By keeping your own stress levels in check, you’ll be able to help your pet acclimate more easily. For example, if you’re burnt out because you’ve been working long hours, it might be time to rethink your schedule so that you can relax and spend more time with your pet.
Find a Veterinarian
Finding a veterinarian for your pet can be challenging, as you’ll want to find someone whom you can truly trust. Rover recommends asking your loved ones if they’ve worked with vets they would recommend, scheduling a tour of any facilities that seem promising, and finding out which emergency services are available on-site. If you have an exotic pet, you may need to seek out a specialty vet.
Maintain an Exercise Routine
Maybe you’re bringing home an active dog breed that needs plenty of physical activity. You’ll need to take your dog for at least one walk per day. Some breeds might thrive with two or three daily walks! If you live in a car-dependent area, consider taking your dog to a community with a walk score of 70 or higher so that you can safely enjoy your daily walk.
Don’t forget that other pets need exercise, too! If you have a hamster or rodent, make sure to put some toys in their enclosure that will encourage physical activity. You can also set up a space for your cat to play.
Enroll in Pet Insurance
At some point, your pet might need expensive medical care. Covering pricey, surprise vet bills can be hard, so to protect your finances , consider enrolling your pet in an insurance plan. Look for policies that provide in-network coverage for your vet, and then evaluate the premiums and deductibles in comparison to the level of coverage under the policy. Take care of this task while your pet is young, as many policies do have enrollment age limits.
Owning a pet can change your life for the better. Whether you bring home a bird, dog, cat, or hamster, your pet can add so much joy to your days. With these tips, you’ll be able to get your home ready, avoid stressing over this routine change, and ensure your pet gets plenty of exercise.
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