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Caring for a Pet: An Overview
by Susan E. Davis
reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
The idea of a pet usually sounds like a good one; after all, most children love animals. Most young children, in fact, spend a good deal of time reading about animal characters, playing with stuffed or plastic animals, and interacting with pretend creatures of their own devices (like dinosaurs, make-believe dogs, and, in my daughter's case, "the baby pink kitty who lives in the sugar bowl.")
The reality of living with an animal is often much different than our fantasies. Pets require time, energy, space, and mental and emotional focus. Indeed, the sheer number of animals dumped by roadsides or at city shelters each year is testament to the fact that the gap between idea and reality can have disastrous results.
Just how much care your pet requires depends on several factors, including its species, its age, its health, and its individual personality. But there are a half-dozen chores that you can count on for just about every kind of pet that you'll bring into your home:- Food. Pets need food, of course, and they generally need food that is created specifically for them. That is, while Fido might enjoy a treat of your leftover steak and potatoes every once in a while, his primary diet should consist of a good commercial dog food formulated for his age and size.
The same is true with every other pet, whether it's a goldfish, a chameleon, a lovebird, or a hamster. Pet food can be expensive, especially if the pet is large, and it's also one more thing to have to keep stocked in your home. Running out of pet food can be just as dire as running out of milk.
- Water. All creatures need fresh, clean water. Making sure your pet's water bowl or bottle (or entire tank, in the case of fish) is full and clean is something you'll need to be aware of every day.
- Grooming. Most pets, except perhaps fish, require some kind of grooming help, whether it's brushing, nail clipping, or more involved chores such as giving baths, cleaning ears, or even brushing teeth. You can have professionals do some of this work--vet techs can clip nails, for instance, and professional groomers can give baths. But keeping up your animal's personal grooming also has to be done at home, because it's key to its good health. Furry animals (e.g., cats and rabbits) that lick themselves to keep clean need to be brushed regularly to avoid getting hairballs. And animals with toe nails need to have them clipped to avoid their breaking or ripping.
- Healthcare. Most pets will require some sort of healthcare during their life with you--whether it's ongoing care like regular vaccinations or acute care, such as when you rush your cat into the hospital because it was scratched by a raccoon. That care takes time and can also be expensive. And while you may think that you'll be able to simply let it pass away if it becomes sick, you risk forcing the animal to suffer without medical treatment. You also risk making your children miserable by not aiding their cherished friend.
- Exercise. Dogs need to be walked, cats need toys and interaction, mice need wheels, and rabbits need to be let out of their cages every day for exercise. Animals that are cooped up can get depressed, aggressive, and obese. That means someone must take daily responsibility for letting the animal play.
Depending on your child's age, he'll be able to take on some of these chores, and will be able to take on more of them as he gets older. But the responsibility for pet care ultimately lies with the parent, and, realistically, you shouldn't get an animal if you are dead set against at least helping out with its upkeep. Getting rid of a pet because a child hasn't taken full responsibility for it isn't fair to the animal or the child.
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Created February 14, 2001
Reviewed February 16, 2001
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