What First-Time Pet Owners Should Know Before Bringing a Pet Home

Getting a new pet is an exciting time. It’s one of those decisions that really enriches your life moving forward. However, bringing a new pet home isn’t something that should be done on a whim; it is a huge decision you should think carefully about before committing, regardless of whether you’re getting a cat, dog, guinea pig, or pet snake.

There are some important things to know before you start cohabiting with a new pet in your home.

The following are some things that can help you out when things get a little messy or complicated, and if you have the details before you need them, it’ll make life so much easier.

Have the Number of an Emergency Vet

Let’s be honest: emergencies don’t happen neatly in office hours — for people or for pets. And this means that if your vet doesn’t accept out-of-hours or emergency calls, you need the number of a good emergency vet you can rely on.

Some emergency vets work on a mobile basis and can come to you, like Veteris’ 24-7 vet services; others require you to go to a clinic to be treated. But regardless of how you need to get the care, knowing who to call in an emergency is important.

And this is important for all pets: rabbits can go into gut stasis, birds can decline rapidly with respiratory issues, reptiles can deteriorate fast with temperature problems, and small animals often hide illness until they get to the point of no return.

Save the number, know the route, and be ready in case you need them.

Understand the Value of Good Insurance

Good pet insurance is more than just another monthly or annual payment you need to make. Vet care in the US is expensive, and good insurance can be an absolute lifesaver when your pet becomes unwell.

It’s really important you get insurance as soon as you bring the dog home, even if you’re not getting them from a breeder.

And the thing is, it’s not about finding the cheapest one. It’s about finding one that covers exactly what you need it to. It’s being able to claim for illnesses and injuries, not just emergencies.

It’s being covered for common breed ailments — especially if you’re adopting a pet with known health issues like French Bulldogs or Labradors, for example. And if you’re bringing home exotic pets, these often require specialist vet care, meaning it can be even more expensive, making good insurance more valuable.

Take your time reviewing the different policies, and ensure you know exactly what you’re covered for.

How to Meet Breed and Species Needs

This is really important before you bring any type of pet home. Not all pets need the same things, and you need to be able to meet the needs of whatever pet you bring home. Some are more demanding than others, i.e., training a puppy, but still, if you don’t know what they need or how to care for your pet, you’ll be in trouble fast.

Cats need vertical spaces, scratching options, and mental enrichment, while dogs need more stimulation based on their breed and genetic tendencies — for example, dogs from working breeds need more mental and physical stimulation, or they become destructive.

And rabbits need space to run safely and things to chew, as well as social interaction. There’s a lot to think about, and knowledge is power when it comes to pet ownership.