Veterinarians Shared The Telltale Signs That Someone Isn’t A Good Pet Owner
Whether you’ve got a fluffy puppy or a scaly snake, vets have seen it all. They’ve also encountered every mistake in the book — and they’re not afraid to share them. From common slip-ups to rarer errors, you can’t get them past the professionals. Here’s a list of things to avoid as a pet owner, and they come straight from the horse’s mouth...
40. Giving your dog bones
Dogs love bones, right? Well, not everything they love is good for them, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in 2017. Veterinarian Carmela Stamper said, “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian… [or] a possible emergency surgery.” So look for a healthier alternative instead of animal bones.
39. Giving cats milk and tuna
Cats have a reputation as milk-lovers, but many of them are lactose-intolerant. That means their bodies can’t process the sugars properly, leading to digestive problems. Milk’s irrelevant to their diet, too, so it’s not really worth the risk. And forget about canned tuna, as it lacks some of the necessary nutrients that felines need. Too much could even give them mercury poisoning!
38. Sending your pet mixed messages
Dogs and cats thrive on schedule and repetition — it’s how they learn. So don’t feed a pet from the table one day, then tell them off for begging at dinnertime. They learned the behavior from you! If you want to train your furry friend, keep lessons consistent or they won’t understand what you want from them.
37. Ignoring your pet
What with work, family, and chores, you probably lead a busy life. But pets don’t have the same level of stimulus as people, so you’re their main source of… well, everything. Spend time with them when you can, because a bored pet might find other, potentially more destructive ways to entertain themselves.
