Useful tips

Useful tips for caring for your four-legged friend

Welcoming a puppy

Firstly, congratulations on the arrival of a new four-legged friend in your family! We wish you the very best for this new adventure.

Deciding to share your life with another living being is a significant commitment that will affect your life for many years. It requires attention and respect for the needs of your new companion.

It’s advisable to wait until a puppy is at least eight weeks old before adopting. By this age, the puppy will have had essential time with its mother and siblings, allowing it to learn social skills and establish relationships with other members of the pack—crucial for its overall emotional stability.

The first few days in a new environment can be very overwhelming for your new friend (whether a puppy or an adult), so if possible, plan the arrival during a calm period of your week, when all members who will share in the joy of this experience are likely to be present, such as over the weekend.

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If you have children at home, try to manage their excitement so they don’t raise their voices too much or pass the puppy around excessively. Teach them to handle the puppy gently, giving it the time it needs to adjust.

Remember that puppies need to grow up in a stimulating environment with plenty of visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, along with many walks. Avoid adopting too early (or too late) and avoid forming overly close, dependent bonds with just one owner, as this can lead to behavioural issues manifesting as excessive vocalisation, inappropriate elimination, fear, and subsequent aggression towards newcomers.

Small behaviour tips

Cat
From the very first day, it's important to provide your cat with a central, protected area where it can rest peacefully, undisturbed by children, other family members, or any other household pets.

Cats are very clean animals, but they still need easy access to a designated area for their needs. This means having a litter tray in a quiet spot (away from their feeding area), which should be cleaned daily. If issues arise with inappropriate elimination in the house, consult your trusted vet.

In the wild, cats spend several hours playing and hunting, so these activities should also be provided in a domestic setting. Allocate time for play or, if this isn't possible, create a stimulating environment.
Dog
Remember that when a puppy joins your family, it will transfer its attachment from its mother to the person who most meets its basic needs (feeding, comfort, play), developing a close bond with a family member.
While this bond is helpful in the early stages, it should naturally decrease over time. Just as in the wild, the new arrival must learn to be independent. Initiatives should come from the owner rather than responding to every request from the puppy. The puppy needs to learn to handle solitude, a normal aspect of domestic life (an overly dependent puppy may develop separation anxiety).

Unlike cats, few dogs are naturally house-trained. It’s crucial to guide the puppy to the correct place at the right times, usually after meals, waking up, or after play. If the puppy eliminates inappropriately, remember that punishment can cause confusion. Instead, reward the puppy when it eliminates in the right place to encourage positive associations. Additionally, forcing dogs to eliminate indoors (on pads, newspapers, etc.) is 'unnatural' for them, as they don't usually soil their 'den' (which for them is their home).

Commands should be simple and consistent across all family members to avoid confusion (one word = one meaning). Start using a collar early so the dog gets used to wearing it, making the first walks easier for proper socialisation. When walking the dog on a lead, avoid pulling sharply; instead, gently guide the dog and keep its attention through verbal commands and rewards. If the dog shows fear towards places or people, try to ignore it or distract it with play (comforting with pets and reassurances can reinforce fear).

Feeding

For our pets to be healthy, their diet must be correct from the start: indeed, the choice of food during their first year is crucial for proper development.

Nutritional science has advanced significantly in recent years, providing foods that ensure the right balance of nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) with proven quality ingredients.

Moreover, the range of available products (both dry and wet) caters to all life stages and individual needs (physical conformation, work ability, breed), helping to prevent or delay certain conditions (obesity, calculi, diabetes, kidney failure, food intolerances).

Those who prefer a homemade diet must ensure it contains the correct nutrients in the right proportions, as unintentional errors in preparation and formulation can cause serious health issues for the animal.

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Our four-legged friends don’t need variety and can eat the same food for life. Sudden changes can even cause digestive problems or skin issues. If changes are necessary, consult your vet and remember to transition gradually over at least a week, mixing the new food with the old in increasing proportions each day.

Feeding pets from the table should be avoided both to safeguard their well-being and to maintain a proper balance in the household, preventing behavioural issues. Access to food affects the hierarchy, so it's advisable to feed your pet after the family meal to reinforce their subordinate role. Dogs typically need one or two meals a day (puppies up to five months old need four meals), while cats prefer to snack multiple times, at least three or four times a day.

Protecting your dog and cat's health: vet's advice

Our four-legged friends are excellent at hiding problems until they become severe, so it’s best to consult your vet whenever you notice changes in appetite or behaviour. It’s better to be cautious than to regret it later.

If your dog isn’t eating but remains alert and lively, avoid forcing or tempting it with different foods. Instead, try removing the bowl and offering it again at the next meal. If the lack of appetite persists, consult your vet.

In the case of vomiting or diarrhoea (which can have many causes), always consider the ejected material and the overall state of your pet. For vaccinated dogs or cats that remain lively and alert, a day of fasting—while ensuring access to water—might be sufficient. Otherwise, it’s advisable to consult your vet.

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If your pet starts coughing, it’s best to consult the vet promptly to differentiate between various forms: from infectious and inflammatory to bronchopulmonary and cardiac.

If your pet begins drinking excessively (polydipsia), urinating more than usual (polyuria), or appears particularly lethargic, it is advisable to take them to the vet for necessary checks, likely starting with blood tests.

Be vigilant about potential dangers surrounding your pets both at home (plants, cleaning products, balconies, toys) and outdoors (cars, scooters, insects, snakes, toxins, sunstroke), as well as in the car (heatstroke). In such cases, consult the nearest vet.

An important aspect of pet health involves possible sterilisation and castration.
These procedures can be carried out after six months of age (though sometimes earlier) and can protect pets from various issues. For example, in male cats, it reduces the risk of contracting infectious diseases (FIV and FeLV, respectively feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukaemia virus) and trauma from wandering, as unneutered male cats tend to roam further from home, increasing their risk of crossing busy roads. In female cats, sterilisation prevents the risk of mammary tumours.

In male dogs, castration reduces the risks of wandering, aggression, and severe prostate conditions. In female dogs, if not intended for breeding, it decreases the risk of ovarian diseases and significantly lowers the risk of mammary tumours.

The geriatric patient

The life expectancy of our pets has significantly increased in recent years, thanks to improvements in hygiene, better nutrition, and advancements in veterinary medicine.

As pets age, their bodies become less adept at coping with external stresses. Therefore, it's crucial to review the functions of various organs and implement preventive and therapeutic measures.

When is a pet considered elderly?

Life expectancy varies depending on the breed. Generally, a small dog is considered elderly around 11-12 years of age, a medium-sized dog around 9-10 years, and a large dog around 7-8 years. Cats are considered elderly around 11-12 years of age.

A visit to an elderly animal should be seen as a preventive measure. Keeping your pet in good condition with early diagnosis and treatment can help extend their life.

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The areas to consider include the oral cavity, gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, urogenital system, behavioural nervous system, and integumentary system

These checks involve a simple clinical examination, ideally every six months, blood and urine tests to monitor systems not visible externally (to detect early signs of disease), and, if needed, imaging diagnostics (X-rays, ultrasound) at the first signs of organ dysfunction.

Additionally, it's important to note that the effectiveness of the immune system decreases with age, making older pets more susceptible to external pathogens such as viral diseases. Therefore, like humans, annual vaccinations are necessary.

Finally, nutritional needs also change with age and underlying health conditions. It is advisable to consult with your vet regarding both the formulation and administration of your pet's diet.