Pet Ownership – The Ups And Downs Of Caring For Your Pets

There's been plenty of research on the benefits of owning a pet. It can be great for your physical and mental health. But when it comes to pet ownership, there are definitely some ups and downs. Our pets can bring us so much joy, and it's important that we do our best to take care of them to help them live their best, healthiest lives. And a big part of keeping them healthy is veterinary care. Routine check-ups and vaccines can ensure your pets are protected from dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases like parvo and heartworms. And protecting them from fleas and ticks can prevent other diseases and uncomfortable itching. Pet ownership is a great thing, but it can be expensive. While initial visits to the vet may seem pricey, the cost for treatment of diseases that could have been prevented will be even more expensive. On top of veterinary care, there's the cost of food, toys, treats, and additional expenses like boarding if you plan to go out of town. It's important to consider the cost of owning a pet before you commit. Unfortunately, too many pets wind up in shelters and with rescues due to unprepared pet owners. Another way to prevent more pets from winding up in shelters is spaying and neutering. Pet Ownership - The Importance Of Spaying And Neutering Your Pets Spaying and neutering your pets is an important part of responsible pet ownership. This can prevent unplanned litters, which can help reduce the problem of pet overpopulation. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized each year. By spaying or neutering your pets, you can prevent the birth of unwanted and neglected animals. In addition, many studies show that dogs and cats that are spayed or neutered often live longer because it can reduce some health issues. Spaying and neutering can also help with certain behavioral issues. When it comes to the right time to spay or neuter your pet, you should talk to your veterinarian. Some recommend it early, and some may recommend waiting a little longer. Some pet owners prefer to wait until a female pet has gone through their first heat. And some also want to wait until the pet is considered fully grown. My Recent Pet Ownership Decision For me, my oldest dog, Harley, was spayed when she was around 6 months old. At that point, she wasn't my dog, so I had no say in that. My youngest dog, Waylon, is almost 2 years old. He was rescued from my fiance's job site. While we did get him into the vet early on, it wasn't until just recently we got him neutered. When we first took Waylon to the vet, they informed us he had a "retained testicle," also known as a cryptorchid. The neutering process for this issue is a bit more involved, which also means more expensive. Around that same time, my lab's health had gone downhill and we'd lose him in the next few months. Shortly, after that, Harley started having seizures and we had to take care of that, which has been a very long journey. I finally said I needed to get Waylon taken care of. So we scheduled his surgery for Monday, June 24th. I dropped him off at 8 a.m. I was extremely nervous, mainly because I knew the surgery was a bit more invasive than a normal neuter. It didn't help that he has some anxiety too. By 12:30 p.m. I called to check in and they said I could pick him up by 2 p.m. He was a bit out of it and wasn't a fan of the donut I put on him in place of a cone of shame. But once he got home, he perked up a bit. Picked up my boy, put on the pink donut, and headed home. He was so ready to get home. Honestly, it amazes me how resilient dogs are. He's not supposed to run and jump too much, and definitely not supposed to lick at the incisions. But I have to tell you, the boy does not want to slow down. He was ready to play with his sister in the backyard and jump on the couch and bed. Thankfully, a friend told me about these "onesie" type things you can buy to cover them for recovery. And while he looked at me like I was crazy as I was putting it on him, I do think it's much more comfortable for him. And when he's more comfortable, that makes me happy. Isn't he adorable? I wish I'd bought a more colorful one now. He did whine a bit last night as we got ready for bed, but thankfully the meds kicked in and he slept through the night. And when the alarm went off this morning, you never could've guessed he'd had surgery! That butt was wiggling and ready to go on our walk. I'm just glad it's all over with and praying for a quick recovery. As hard as it is to watch him suffer, I know it's for the best in the long run. Having to put your pet through surgery is absolutely one of the hardest parts of pet ownership... that and having to make the decision when it's time for them to pass. While there are some downs to pet ownership, I will say that there are way more positives. There's not a single day that my two pups don't make me smile and laugh. They bring so much joy to my life, and I can't imagine life without them. And because their lives are so much shorter than ours, I say, SPOIL THEM! The love they give and the joy they bring is totally worth it. While her brother was at the vet, we went to get a Pup Cup so she could get a ride too. I think she was pretty happy about it!