Are you ready to add another pet to your house? Many folks looking for a new pet go for young animals. Puppies and kittens are all adorable and loads of fun. Plus, there are benefits to rearing your furry family member personally. However, don’t just pass by that sweet senior pet. Older animals also have lots to offer! Read on as a local Oshawa, ON veterinarian offers some considerations for an elderly pet.
Shorter Commitment
Adopting a puppy or kitten means signing on for 10 years or more of pet ownership. Senior animals simply don’t have that much time. For some, that can be an advantage. An older animal might be ideal for you if you don’t know where you will be in 10 years.
Less Damage
By the time they reach their senior years, most pets are running out of gas. Fido will probably chase more squirrels in his fantasies than in reality, and Fluffy will be more immersed in catching Z’s than in catching mice. Dogs will have also outgrown certain nasty behaviors including chewing and digging. They really only want to eat, sleep, and curl up for naps!
Save Money
To raise their chances of being adopted, shelters sometimes have older animals available at a lower price. Given that Fido and Fluffy will most likely already be fixed, you might also save some on veterinary expenses. Just keep in mind that they might require more veterinarian treatment as they approach their twilight years. Get further information from your veterinarian.
Senior Dogs Are Calm
That charming, clumsy puppy and kitten playfulness is absolutely adorable. There is a downside, though. Baby animals are full of beans, so to speak, and will get into everything and anything. They also need plenty of toys and attention. Older pets are very easy keepers.
Saving a Life
Older animals may struggle to find homes. Many people just pass them over in favor of young animals. Although some shelters have adopted a no-kill policy, sadly this is not a universal habit. Though specific numbers of pets killed in shelters annually are unknown, estimates range from 378,000 to as many as 1 million. Older animals tragically have really poor chances of ever leaving that shelter, since many shelters only allow pets a limited period of time to be adopted. Saving a life is a beautiful and rewarding experience.
No Surprise!
You can truly only hypothesize about what a puppy or kitten would look like as adults. If you choose a mutt, you also won’t be able to precisely estimate Fido’s adult size. Given that many locations have size restrictions, this can be a significant issue—especially for renters. Adopting an older animal eliminates any guesswork. No surprises!
Sweet Personality
Older animals are also a delight to be around. Their calm, loving demeanor is really just irresistible. Many will simply close their eyes in pure delight when you scratch that itch or touch their foreheads. This is always super cute.
Help Improve Animal Welfare
Adopting an elderly animal will also indirectly help other needy animals. One advantage is that you will be clearing shelter space, allowing another sweet dog or cat an opportunity to find a home. Adoption fees from Fluffy and Fido will also enable the shelter to feed, house, and tend to their other animal friends.
Advice On Adopting An Older Pet
Although elderly pets generally have the same care requirements as any other animal, there are a few things you will want to do somewhat differently. You might want to purchase pet stairs or ramps. If you have a cat, consider getting some comfy, easily accessible kitty furniture for your furry family member.
Every pet is unique, of course. See your Oshawa, ON animal clinic for particular care advice for your animal friend.
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