The truth is that we all love our pets and we would do anything to improve their health and make them happy, but sometimes our actions can be negative for them.

Of course we all make mistakes, but it is important to learn from them and listen to the suggestions of the veterinarian.

Some veterinarians explained on Reddit what we should do to improve the quality of life of our animals. So, read on to find out more!

Your pets should not eat as much as you do

We all know that it is quite difficult to eat ignoring your pet that permanently asks for food with those little puppy eyes, right? Dog owners should know that these creatures would eat all the food in the world at once, but animal experts recommend you feed them twice a day. So, do not let yourself be hypnotized by those cute eyes and try not to feed your pet too often because otherwise, it risks becoming obese.

Reddit user and veterinarian Seven_Dead_Horses said that “a lean pet will have a much better chance at remaining healthy. The majority of animals I see with lumps and bumps are overweight or not neutered or both.”

It is important to take care of your pets’ teeth

One of the biggest mistakes that we all make is to ignore the dental hygiene of our beloved animals. They need special care just like we do, so it is important to take this into consideration when you decide to adopt a pet.

Reddit user SeriesOfAdjectives explained that “One of the most common things we see, and a very serious issue at that, is dental disease in pets, and often the owner has no idea that their animal’s teeth are bad at all. Dental disease affects all body systems (bacteria and dental disease go hand in hand, and those bacteria end up all throughout the body, affecting organs such as the kidneys and the heart), not to mention it flipping hurts!! Some owners are under the impression that because their animal is still eating, that must mean that they do not have an oral health issue. The truth is you eat or starve. I like to tell people that the most common symptom you’ll see in dental disease (besides, of course, the yucky mouth itself) is no symptoms.”

User Seven_Dead_Horses also said that “Dental cleanings are important, pets usually need cleaning at or soon after 3 years of age, sometimes younger. A “teeth cleaning” at the groomer is not dental. I’m talking about an anesthetized prophylactic cleaning and polishing. Similar to what you get at your human dentist.”

Avoiding to neuter your pets can lead to health problems 

There are some people who refuse to neuter their pet and some of them think that it is important to let the animal give birth at least once before that process, but this is totally wrong! Neutering is important for keeping your pet healthy and safe. 

Reddit user explodingcranium2442 said that “No, Fifi does not need to have a litter, and it might actually endanger her health to do so (look up pyometra). There are too many unwanted dogs/cats in the world. Please don’t add to the burden.”

Well, Pyometra is a uterine infection and all female animals can develop it, whether we are talking about dogs and cats, or rabbits and rats. This disease appears when our pet goes into heat. You have to keep in mind that this infection can negatively affect their health and can also be fatal.

Waiting too long until you let your pet socialize

If you own a pet maybe you’ve already met people who told you to avoid letting it around other animals until it is vaccinated, isn’t it? Maybe they are right. One of the most important things when having a pet is to vaccinate it before the beginning of the socialization process. 

Reddit user cloud_watcher said that “They need to be around other dogs (and other people) in controlled situations: puppy socialization classes, friends houses, etc. Make sure the dogs they are around are healthy, vaccinated, and good with puppies and let them have positive experiences with other dogs and people. Every happy, positive interaction with something makes them less afraid. Every lack of exposure, or negative interaction, makes them more afraid.”

Do not keep your fish into small aquariums

The truth is that fish can’t be happy into small aquariums because they need more space to swim, numerous items to explore there and other decorations. So, if you decide to have a fish as a pet try to buy a bigger bowl, because otherwise, you may lose it faster than its normal life span. 

Reddit user and vet whereistherumgone said that “The idea that fish can be kept in bowls comes from the fact that people in eastern Asian countries like Japan would temporarily put their fish on display in bowls to show off to guests, and housed them in large ponds most of the time. Westerners assumed such small containers were suitable to house fish in and this is still wide-spread today.”

Play with the feet of your cat

If you want to adopt a feline, you have to know that to prevent your cat from behaving negatively, being agitated and other bad reactions when going to the vet or cosmetic it is important to try and play with their paws when they are young. So, if you want to trim their nails without scaring them, the solution is to play with their feet when they are kittens. 

“Play with your kittens’ feet. Seriously. Start as early as possible. This will help with nail trimmings!” vet and Reddit user explodingcranium2442 explained.

Adopting a pet without being able to take care of it

Having a pet involves many things, such as time, love, dedication and money. Before getting a pet you have to take into consideration the financial requirements because they need visits and regular medical check-ups, pet insurances or certain types of food. 

Reddit user and vet kahell said that “if you cannot afford basic veterinary care then you cannot afford a pet.” 

He also explained that “We are routinely presented with cases that could have been avoidable if you’d practiced the suggested preventative care, or brought your pet in for evaluation once the symptoms started rather than waiting 6 weeks until the animal is beyond help.”

Unfortunately, there are many people who decide to abandon their innocent and helpless pets or euthanize them because they do not have enough money for paying the medical check-ups. 

“Pets have bodies that fail in similar ways as people’s do – their teeth rot, their bones can break, they can get cancer. They get injured unexpectedly, just like we can. Fixing these illnesses and injuries is often possible, but it costs money,” veterinarians TheFeralBookworm explained on Reddit.

Not knowing that exotic pets need special care

We live in a world where some people buy exotic pets just to be ‘different’ than other individuals, without knowing the complex care of such an animal. There are also individuals who choose an exotic animal and thinking that they involve lower maintenance costs or that they are easier to take care of – and this is so sad… 

“People buy pocket pets/exotics thinking they will be super low key pets that are easy to maintain. I argue they are much harder because of the delicate balance you have to strike. They have specific hide box needs, humidity needs, special bedding, heating requirements, basking areas, and special diets. They take a lot more work than your normal cat or dog,” explained vet and Reddit user littlehamsterz.