Responsible Pet Ownership (Vet’s Opinion)

There are so many things to think about when you welcome a cat or dog into the family.

What will they eat? Where will they sleep? Who will exercise them? What happens when you go to work? Will they need to see a vet? What vaccinations will they need? How will our lifestyle change when we have a family pet?

The New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) includes animal advocacy policies on its website and Sally Cory, Head of Veterinary Services Companion Animal NZVA, says their cat ownership and dog ownership policies are some of the most frequently viewed.

So, what does being a responsible pet owner entail? We sat down with Sally to find out.

What should people consider before choosing a new pet?

“Think about your lifestyle and your reasons for wanting a pet.

Especially with dogs, consider size of your home, how much outdoor space you've got, and your family’s ages and what your lifestyle and activities involve because you need to have the time and people with energy for some breeds.

Think about why you want a dog and what sort of dog is going to be the best fit for you and your family?

Then do some research. Where am I going to get that dog from?

If you want a pedigree dog, we would strongly recommend a registered breeder. You want to be able to view your puppy’s parents and get as much information about that dog and breeder as possible. You’d want to know that they're doing all the recommended health testing and genetic testing.

On the other hand, we have shelters full of cats and dogs requiring homes, and a crossbreed might tick all the boxes for you.”

There are so many different food options available. What should our cats and dogs eat?

“The most important thing is ensuring that they have a nutritious, balanced diet and continual access to clean drinking water.

We want our pets to maintain a healthy body condition by feeding them appropriate portion sizes. Consider their size and age and how much activity they're doing to manage risks of obesity in our pets.

Underfeeding can cause some metabolic problems but more often we see the problems caused by overweight pets. Things like increased risk of joint disease, heart disease, diabetes, and blood pressure problems.”

How much exercise do dogs need?

“It depends on the dog and breed, and on their age. Some breeds are certainly higher energy breeds, or are more athletic breeds that will require more exercise than others.

It’s important not to over-exercise young growing puppies, as it can damage their joints and bones, and if unnoticed might lead to problems when they’re older. So, they do generally need to have moderate and controlled exercise until they are mature, and they have completed that growth period. Again, it's very much breed dependent.”

What vaccination advice do you give cat and dog owners?

“Vaccinations are hugely important. They’re key to ensuring that NZ remains free of certain infectious diseases.

Puppies and kittens should start their vaccinations early, as ideally they should have completed their first course of vaccinations by the time they are 16 weeks of age. The full courses of vaccinations enable their immune system to create responses against those diseases that we are concerned about, then ongoing vaccinations throughout their adult life as well.”

What are those diseases?

“For dogs, our core vaccinations are against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and canine parvovirus. We may also vaccinate dogs for canine leptospirosis, which is an infection that can also be transmitted to humans.

We vaccinate cats against panleukopenia which is a similar virus to canine parvovirus. We also vaccinate them against herpes virus and calicivirus, which both cause respiratory symptoms, like snuffles or cat flu.

We also have non-core vaccinations, some of which provide protection against some of the causes of canine cough or "kennel cough" as it is often better known. These are also very important, especially for dogs that use boarding kennels, doggy daycares and generally socialise with other dogs. Chat to your vet to find out more.“

What are the consequences of not getting them vaccinated?

“You do then have pets who are at risk of developing some of these diseases.

The one we still see significant outbreaks of in New Zealand is parvovirus. It’s a highly contagious virus that causes severe gastrointestinal illness in dogs, especially puppies and it hangs around for long periods of time in our environments. So, if we have infected patients and they're shedding parvovirus, it puts other dogs at significant risk as well. Parvovirus is a serious disease with a high risk of death, especially for younger dogs and puppies.

The other risk of not vaccinating is that we don't have canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus in New Zealand. But the risk of them arriving could increase as well.

Also, puppies need to be vaccinated before putting them into boarding facilities or sending them to daycare facilities, or dog walkers, that kind of thing. So, there are limitations if you choose not to vaccinate.”

“I think the key message here is that vaccinations are hugely important. People can sometimes get a little bit blasé about it because they think we don't have these diseases in New Zealand. That's because a large percentage of our dog populations is vaccinated”.

Should we de-sex cats and dogs?

“Cats, yes. They are far less complicated creatures to keep if they are desexed. Male cats will spray odorous, nasty urine everywhere. And they wander. We already have a huge stray cat population that is out of control.

De-sexing dogs is definitely a decision that should be made between the owner and the veterinarian so they can discuss any particular risks relative to that breed—it’s not one-size fits all.

We like to let larger breeds be skeletally mature before we're desexing them. So, many people delay desexing until their dogs are around 15-18 months. Again, this is something that should be discussed directly with your veterinarian and they will be able to help answer any questions you have.”

What are the main reasons you might desex your dog?

“For managing our dog population. And if you have a pedigree dog, desexing usually forms part of the purchase agreement. It’s easier personality-wise too. There’s less likelihood of fighting or negative behavioural interactions.

They’re also able to access more things like kennels and daycare if they’re desexed. There may also be increased risks of things like uterine infections if female dogs are kept entire and not used for breeding.”

Do you recommend regular pet checkups?

“Yes, absolutely. At least annually, and more often as our pets age, depending on the individual pet.

That’s because we’re more likely to see disease and changes as they age, so more frequent checks can be a good way of tracking how they're doing and considering if treatment plans need to be changed or managed. So, for example, an older cat might have some arthritis, some heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, thyroid problems. And it's not uncommon to have all the above.

Dental disease is very common as our pets get a little bit older and that’s something that definitely needs more frequent checking. It can be pretty difficult to know what’s going on just by looking in the mouth.”

Should we get our pets microchipped?

“Microchipping is required by law for domestic dogs in New Zealand and has to be done by three months of age. Many councils also have bylaws that require cats to be microchipped too.

It's a no brainer, honestly, because microchipping is an excellent way of permanently identifying a dog or cat. Microchips stay in the pet for life and should be registered on the NZ Companion Animal Registry.

Microchipping doesn't hurt them. It's very similar to an injection. The chip itself is about the size of a grain of rice, so the needle is bigger. But in terms of what the animal experience is, it’s just a few seconds and it’s done.“

Should we consider pet insurance?

“It's so important for pet owners to make provision for unforeseen veterinary costs. We generally don't plan for acute trauma or unexpected illness in our pets and situations may be challenging to manage on a tight budget. That's why I feel relieved when a pet owner says “I've got pet insurance”.

What else should we consider?

Puppy socialising up to 14 weeks is critical. We should be starting that from three weeks of age and ensuring a wide range of exposure to people, children and other animals. If they're well socialised, they're far less likely to develop any behavioural problems. Puppy preschools can be a good idea.

At the same time, be careful about again mitigating the risk of infections because often their vaccination courses won't be complete until they're 16 weeks old. Avoid areas that might be high risk, like dog parks and only mix with dogs that have been fully vaccinated.

We do also very much advocate for positive reinforcement techniques with any kind of training so that it's all good experiences for the puppy or the dog. There's no form of punishment or negative behaviours.

Plan what to do with your pet in an emergency

Lastly, make sure you’ve planned what to do with your pet in any sort of disaster or emergency.

Ensure you've got supplies of food and water and any medications that the pets may be on for at least seven days. Can you easily access a crate or a carrier so you can move them easily and safely if they had to be evacuated?

There's a lot of information on the MPI website around disaster planning and information packs.

Make sure you’ve got alternative care arrangements that you can access quickly if something unforeseen happens (for example going into hospital.) That way, you’ll know that their welfare is never at risk.

Final thoughts

Pets are much-loved family members. They keep us company—and keep us on our toes.

But being a pet parent comes with its own set of responsibilities. Most of Sally’s advice you probably already knew, but perhaps some ideas gave you paws for thought.

In the end being a responsible pet owner is all about giving our furry friends love, consistency and the care they need to live a long and happy life with you and your family.