Top tips for new pet owners
Congratulations!!!!
Owning a new pet can be both an exciting and a daunting experience. We've compiled a few tips to help in those first few weeks and make the process of owning a new pet easier.
What will your pet need?
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Bowls for food and water
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Puppy/Kitten food
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Carrier/basket
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Cosy bed
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Blanket and bedding
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Toys
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Grooming accessories
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Collar with identity tag
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lead/harness
You might want to consider:
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Introductions to other pets
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Insurance
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Registering to a vet
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Primary course of vaccinations
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Changing the microchip details
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Flea and worming treatment
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Neutering
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Toilet Training
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are essential to protect your puppy/Kitten against disease.
Puppies are given some protection during their first few weeks through antibodies in their mother's milk. This protection fades after 4-6 weeks, making them vunerable.
Puppies need 2 vaccinations between 8 to 12 weeks of age. It is not advisable that they go out into public areas until they have completed their primary course of vaccinations (at least a week after final vaccination).
Regular Dog Vaccines prevent against:
-Canine Distemper (D)
-Canine Hepitistis (H)
-Canine Parvovirius (P)
-Leptospirosis (L)
-Kennel Cough (Intra-nasal)
Kittens need a vaccination at 8- 9 weeks of age and another vaccination at 12 weeks of age. It is advisable that during this time they are kept indoors until final vaccinations have been completed.
Regular cat vaccines prevent against:
-Feline Lukaemia
-Cat Flu (Feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus)
-Feline Enteritis
Putting your dog/cat into a cattery or kennels
Most Kennels and Catteries will require that your pet is fully vaccinated before their visit. Some kennels will insist that your dog is vaccinated against Kennel Cough in advance of their stay. It is always advisable to ask your kennel/cattery of their requirements in advance.
Regular Booster vaccinations should be completed each year to keep your pet protected.
Insurance
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance helps you cover the cost of veterinary treatment if your pet falls ill or gets injured. Most pet insurance providers will also usually pay out if your pet dies, is lost or stolen, harms someone or damages property.
Many insurance providers will work alongside vets an offer puppies and kittens an initial period of free cover (4 or 5 weeks free cover) when you have your first vet visit.
Which are the main types of insurance available?
Lifetime cover pet insurance.
As the name suggests, they'll pay out indefinitely for treatment over your pet's lifetime - subject to annual limits.
Lifetime policies can work in different ways.
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Annual policies pay up to a specific amount each year.
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Another type of Lifetime policy is per condition. This means, you'd get an annual limit for each condition.
Non-Lifetime cover pet insurance.
Non-lifetime cover excludes certain conditions after you hit your claims limit.
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