Striking the Perfect Balance Between Pets & Pull-out Couches
Hoping to buy that silk sofa for the living room, but know Rover will chew it apart? Trying to keep kitty from scratching your grandma’s antique rug? Look no further. Louisiana veterinarian Dr. Lynn Buzhardt, D.V.M. has tips that will help your furniture and your pets cohabitate peacefully.
“Animals are happy if they are happy with their own home space,” said Dr. Buzhardt. “They need a safe place. Cats are less likely to be confined” she said, “but dogs need more safety.”
So when bringing home your couch, how can you introduce it to your pet without any form of conflict? “Make it smell like the old couch,” said Dr. Buzhardt. “Put the old pillows on the new couch so your pet smells the familiar.” She also suggests choosing fabrics that are more forgiving, “Anything with sheen is no good. Also smooth fabrics like leather might suffer the scratches of your pet.”
But don’t just think of your valuables and their safety. Your pets are at risk in the home as well. “Assume you’re dealing with a two-year-old child. You have to be careful and watch where your dog can reach and limit that access,” said Dr. Buzhardt. “And not just his head,” she said “but his tail.
Those tails are powerful and can knock down things too!” Cats are at great risk, too. “Anything that dangles is bad for your cat. Venetian blinds, tassels, these are things that your pet can ingest causing harm to their GI tract,” said Dr. Buzhardt. “Some have to be surgically removed.”
Couches and delicate china are safe – but what about the hard wood floors, or the new carpet that you installed? “Surfaces that can be easily cleaned or mopped are the best,” said Dr. Buzhardt. “Wipe down surfaces frequently.” It’s okay to limit access to your pets. “Areas that are unsafe to your pets – keep them out,” said Dr. Buzhardt. You should also provide healthy alternatives to your pet so your furniture can last. “Dogs are chewers, and cats are scratchers. Get good toys for both of these.”
So sit pretty in your new, fashionably safe home. By following these tips, your home can maintain its classic unique-ness, without your pet adding their design ideas. “And remember, ” said Dr. Buzhardt, ” when you leave your pet alone, they are unsupervised, bored and always curious.”
Five Easy Steps
to Keeping Your Kitten Healthy
- Make sure your kitten is healthy from the start.
Schedule an appointment with your vet before bringing your kitten home. Have your vet check the eyes, ears, teeth and listen to the heart and lungs for murmurs. - Have your kitten tested for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.
The signs of these diseases, the most deadly to felines, are not easily detected. - Protect your kitten from parasites and infectious diseases.
Know the potential signs and problems that your kitten may face such as ear mites, fleas, ricks, mosquitoes and fecal parasites. - Vaccinate and take preventative methods to aid against disease.
Recommend preventative methods to protect your kitten from dis-ease. Such examples are rabies vaccinations, feline distemper virus vaccine and tick and flea preventatives. - Spay/Neuter your kitten.
This will reduce the tendency for your kitten to be aggressive and reproduce.
– Betsy Vasquez
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