| Pets and humans share one thing in common as | | | | The one thing many pet owners forget to do is |
| years go by and that is aging. The cat or dog | | | | clean the teeth, comb the hair, cut the nails and |
| may not run that fast anymore compared to | | | | check the ears for fleas. These things should be |
| how it was in its youth, which is a signal to tell us | | | | done weekly or once every two weeks. |
| that extra care must already be given. This is | | | | 5. The person should also check on the sleeping |
| because the immune system may not be that | | | | quarters of the cat or dog. The pet must never |
| strong anymore making these animals susceptible | | | | be allowed to sleep on the concrete floor since |
| to diseases. | | | | the temperature drops in the evening. The best |
| Here are some things people can do for the pet. | | | | thing to do will be to purchase a mattress. The |
| 1. The person should bring the cat or dog for | | | | more expensive kind will even have a heater that |
| checkup every six months or once a year. This is | | | | will be useful especially during the winter. |
| for the vet to conduct a full examination and give | | | | 6. The last thing is to make sure the pet takes its |
| the proper vaccination against a number of | | | | daily dose of food supplements. There are many |
| diseases. | | | | in the market and these can be purchased over |
| 2. Parents have always told the child that owning | | | | the counter without the need of getting a |
| a pet is a huge responsibility. This is not only in | | | | prescription from the vet. It is only when things |
| terms of taking it for a walk or giving it bath but | | | | get worse that the doctor will give something to |
| also making sure that the animal is properly fed. | | | | ease the pain. |
| The person should buy cat or dog food that is | | | | The average life span of most cats and dogs is |
| good quality and recommended by the vet | | | | between 10 to 15 years even if it has been |
| because this provides sustenance not always | | | | diagnosed with an illness. If nothing can be done to |
| seen when getting a generic version. | | | | remedy the situation, the best thing for the |
| 3. The cat or dog will get fat and have problems | | | | owner to do is put it to sleep. |
| such as diabetes because of lying around in the | | | | This stops the pain that is being experienced by |
| house. Physical activity must be encourage by | | | | the pet, which humans will never feel or |
| going for a walk in the park, playing a game of | | | | understand. There is no law prohibiting euthanasia |
| catch with a stick or a Frisbee and in the case of | | | | in animals compared to human patients that are |
| cats, giving a ball of yarn or a scratch pad. | | | | suffering and confined in the hospital. |
| As the pet ages, this should be done two or | | | | There is only so much people can do when the |
| three times a week instead of daily. The owner | | | | cat or dog is around. This is why we have to |
| should keep in mind that this can also stress the | | | | cherish every moment that he or she is among |
| animal. | | | | us because there will come a time that it won't |
| 4. It is a no brainer to give the dog or cat a bath. | | | | be around anymore. |