#MiddleburyCT #Pets
DEAR PAW’S CORNER: This week, many Americans are celebrating their newest gift to the family: a cute puppy or kitten, duck or chicken, or pocket pets like hamsters and Guinea pigs. It’s also a time to form new resolutions in anticipation of the New Year.
I hope that new pet owners’ first resolution will be to establish a relationship with a veterinarian with expertise in their specific pet. Some pets need to start or continue a vaccination schedule so that they grow up healthy. Puppies are at risk of contracting parvo virus, for example, so bolstering their immune system is very important.
Your vet also can provide advice and tips for caring for pets. Guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits communicate happiness or distress in unique ways that a new owner may not be familiar with. Puppies are wiggly and energetic. Kittens are curious and fearless. Vets can help new owners navigate these waters and provide regular checkups to help keep pets healthy. – Dedicated Vet in Boston
DEAR DEDICATED: Thank you for sending this! Establishing a care routine with a veterinarian is so important. It should sit at the top of owners’ to-do lists, along with providing comfortable, warm bedding, a clean and safe environment and, especially for puppies, a daily training routine. Mark your calendar with key dates, including checkups with the vet, appointments with a trainer and regular resupplies of food, litter, bedding, and everything else your new pet needs.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and fun New Year with your pet!
Send your New Year pet pics to ask@pawscorner.com, and we may share them in a future column!
© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
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