Pet Care

Pet ownership has many responsibilities but the rewards include companionship, affection and entertainment. No pet ownership should be embarked on without thinking through all the implications. To be a responsible pet owner requires the ability to provide for all your pet’s needs.

When selecting the pet that is right for you, you will need to take into account costs of buying and providing for your pet, time needed to provide care, the accommodation and environment suitable for the pet and making sure you comply with the relevant regulations in regards to keeping that pet.

Visit the select a pet website for more help at www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/choose-a-pet

It is beyond the scope of this site to go into detail on all different pets and their care, however some areas of pet care will be addressed here.

Dog care

The choice of a breed of dog can be very difficult, whether a purebred or cross breed. Take into account size, coat type, need for exercise, likely personality and health problems before deciding what breed is right for you.

Responsible pet care includes vaccination, desexing, microchipping, worming, flea control, possible tick and heartworm preventative, correct diet and coat care. Dogs need a suitable diet consisting of a well-balanced, preferably a high quality commercial food with additional products to care for teeth. We recommend feeding dry dog biscuits with occasional raw bones or dental chews as the main basis for a balanced diet.

Dogs require suitable bedding in an area protected from the weather; this can be inside or outside the house dependant on both the type of dog and your preference.

Dogs also need a dog proof yard and regular exercise.

Cat care

Cats needs are generally less demanding than dogs but they can live up to 15-20 years so are a longterm commitment. They can give years of companionship and enjoyment. Routine health care also includes vaccination, desexing, microchipping, worming, flea control, correct diet and coat care.

Cats need a high protein and fat diet so a well-balanced high quality commercial diet is recommended. We recommend using both dry cat food and wet cat food (tins, sachets or fresh meat). As the cat gets older we recommend they eat more wet food and less dry food. Try to avoid leaving dry food down all the time as this can lead to overeating and obesity.

Cats that are kept solely inside will need to be provided with a litter tray, an exercise area and a scratching post as a minimum. Cats that are allowed to go outside are more prone to injury and disease but they have more exercise and environmental enrichment. The use of an outside cat enclosure can provide a safe environment  and allow cats to exercise.

Rabbit care

Rabbit can make good pets but do require some care. They need protection from weather extremities and animal attack, they require some exercise out of their enclosure and their enclosure needs to have adequate ventilation and suitable bedding eg hay, they shouldn’t be kept on bear wire. They should be handled regularly and can be allowed inside in suitable areas or under supervision.

Rabbits should be vaccinated against calicivirus, desexed (females are prone to cancer of the uterus and males can become aggressive), teeth regularly checked and coat checked and kept clean.

Rabbits are true herbivores and  their diet needs to be high in fibre. A suitable diet consists mainly of pasture hay, with fresh grass, leafy vegetables and only a small amount of pellets. Allows provide plenty of water by the use of water bottles.

Ferret care

Ferrets are intelligent and inquisitive animals that can make good pets if they are handled and training correctly. They are similar in size to a small dog and have similar exercise requirements so being kept all day in a small cage would not be appropriate. Exercise out of the cage or living in a ferret-proof area is necessary to provide quality of life.

Ferrets need to be vaccinated against distemper and both sexes should be desexed. If female ferrets are not desexed they can come into heat and remain in heat until they are mated. Female ferrets who remain in heat development anaemia and if not treated they will die. Desexing ferrets can also reduce the musky smell they produce.

Ferrets are carnivores and need to be feed a high protein diet. Fresh red meat, raw bones including chicken wings and some dry cat food can provide an adequate diet.

Always provide fresh drinking water.

Rats and mice

Rats and mice can make great pets especially for children. Their average life is only 2 years so they are not as a long term commitment as a dog or cat. Daily handling from a young age will make them a better pet.

They need an enclosure which allows them room to exercise with adequate ventilation, plenty of hiding and play areas, protection from predators and protection from weather extremities. Bedding should be provided in the form of shredded newspaper, recycled paper pellets, hay or straw.

Rats and mice are omnivorous. Their diet should consist of good quality pelleted food, fresh vegetables including brocoli, chinesese vegetables, carrots and beans plus small quanties of fruit including apples pears and bananas. Always provide plenty of water using a water bottle and check daily.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs can also make good pets for children. They are social animals and do better in a group or with at least one other guinea pig although 2 male guinea pigs can fight. Daily handling from a young age will make a quieter and better pet.

Guinea pigs need to be protected from the heat and cold and their enclosure need to large enough for them to exercise and have several houses for them to hide in as they can be easily frightened. Suitable bedding includes recycled paper pellets, shredded newspaper and grass hay.

Guinea pigs are herbivores and require large amounts of fibre in their diets. They should be feed grass hay ad lib, fresh vegetables daily including broccoli, Asian vegetables, cabbage, spinach and dark leaved lettuce. They can also be given small quantities of good quality guinea pig pellets. Always provide plenty of water by using water bottles.

Bird Care

Birds can make excellent pets and they can provide years of enjoyment but care needs to be taken when choosing the right bird for you. Some birds live for a long time for example a cockatoo can live as long as a person so they are an extremely long-term commitment.

Some birds require large flight areas or time out of the cage or boredom and behavioural problems can arise. Certain birds are not suitable for inside housing but cope better in outside aviaries. Other birds like canaries don’t like handling but can live inside happily.

The enclosure needs to provide protection from the extremes of weather and of a suitable size, visit the RSPCA website for size recommendations. Perches need to be of a suitable size for the bird’s foot made out of wood with the use of nontoxic natural branches a better option. Behavioural enrichment by providing toys and activities will help make a happier and healthier pet.

Birds have a varied natural diet and different species require different foods. In general, an all seed diet is not adequate and can lead to health problems. For most caged birds a diet consisting of a balanced pelleted bird food with daily fresh vegetables and occasion fruit. Fresh clean water should always be provided.

Reptile care

A licence to keep reptiles as pets is needed in NSW, please consult website www.environment.nsw.gov.au for advice.

Reptiles can make interesting pets but require unique care. Reptiles commonly kept as pets include bearded dragons, bluetongue lizards, pythons and Cunningham skinks.

A suitable safe enclosure is needed to provide ventilation, correct temperatures, correct humidity, correct lighting to provide a  source of UVA and UVB radiation and large enough to allow space to move around and for exercise. The floor of the enclosure can composed of sand, smooth gravel, absorbent paper or leaf litter.

Reptiles shed their skin as they grow, they need rocks and hard surfaces to help them shed their old skin and sometimes need assistance to remove dead skin.

A reptile requires a varied diet and is dependant on the species. A diet consisting of mixed vegetables, fresh meat, live insects (mainly crickets and cockroaches), snails and mineral additives are some of the items commonly fed to bearded dragons and blue tongues.