For many of us, life without pets is hard to imagine.
Many live alone, and their furry friend provides comfort they might not find anywhere else.
That’s why pets are often considered a great holiday gift, but Lori Heeren, Executive Director of Nevada SPCA, says people need to think long and hard before buying a pet.
“Unfortunately, about 70% of the pets that come into Nevada SPCA are surrendered by their owners,” Heeren told State of Nevada. “When people are on the move for the holidays, it is a real thing that when they travel, instead of getting boarding, sometimes they will give up the pet.”
Of the adopted pets, small dogs are often the most popular choice, but cats have also become an increasingly popular choice among people looking for a new companion.
Heeren said that one common mistake many new cat owners make is letting their feline friends go outside.
“There are just too many things that will happen to a cat outside,” said Heeren. “They can get hit by cars. There is a huge coyote problem in Southern Nevada. They come into our city and feed on small dogs, cats and other wildlife. Secondly, there is information that outdoor cats greatly reduce the songbird populations because there are so many cats in the wild. This further underscores why we need strong spaying and neutering opportunities and resources for these cats.”
Many shelter animals may also come with prior health conditions or psychological ticks. Shadi Ireifej, a board-certified veterinary surgeon and the owner and Chief Medical Officer of VetTriage.com, recommends pet owners concerned about their pet’s mental health contact an animal behavior specialist.
However, there are often some simple steps pet owners can take to improve their animal’s quality of life.
“Try to figure out environmentally what you can do to take the energy out of them,” he told a State of Nevada caller. “Whether you adopt another dog as a playmate, whether it be doggy daycare, maybe more strenuous activities beyond just chasing a ball like hiking would be good.”
New pet owners also need to think about their pet's diet. He also recommends avoiding grain-free diets, which many animal food brands have moved towards.
“Grain-free is a problem because some of these diets can predispose these dogs to a cardiac condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM,” he said. “We don't see this condition in dogs as often when fed a more maintenance diet. When fed a more maintenance diet. When they're fed something like this, they are missing the nutrients they need, and one of the organs that get hit is the heart.”
Guests: Shadi Ireifej, owner, VetTriage.com; Lori Heeren, executive director, Nevada SPCA
