11 things to consider before getting a pet for kids
Before choosing a family pet or choosing a pet for the kids especially if it is their first pet, it is advisable to first visit a veterinarian to discuss some pros and cons of owning a pet for kids. According to an experienced veterinarian, Dr. Veronika Roskova has recommended booking a 1-on-1 consultation to discuss your chosen pet for kids. She also explained the importance of making a list with your kids and bring the list of pets species with you to be able to discuss best practices and best pet for you and also recommend a good first pet for a child.
Some of the things to consider before getting a pet for kids include knowing your family’s health conditions, knowing the pet life span, the amount of space you have, how to go about with pet care, the health cost of the pet, knowing the reason your kid wants a pet, and much more. These are very important as it allows you to not only consider your options but to know exactly what’s involved in getting a pet.
We have also outlined below some of the important things to consider when choosing a pet for kids.
1. Your family’s health
You should know about any of the family members’ health conditions like allergies or asthma. This is one of the reasons why most families are not getting a pet because someone in the family has asthma or allergies. One of the first steps in getting a pet is to speak to a pediatrician who will test the child to determine if they have an allergy. Dander and fur are common allergies in children, and in most cases, kids with allergies can still have a pet when you know the right pet to go for. Speaking to a veterinarian or a pet store will help you know what pets are considered hypoallergenic pets that you can have.
2. Pet life span
Remember that it is very easy for the kids to quickly get attached to the pet, this is known as an emotional attachment which can develop quite easily, you should consider this while choosing a pet for your child. When you choose a pet with a long life span while your child is 10 years old, the pet will live to see the kids go into college or starts work, you will be left to take care of the family pet.
3. Space at home
Space is often regarded as a barrier for many family pets causing most families not to adopt a pet. When choosing a pet for kids this should also be considered, because some pets will require an adult size space, ideal either a spare store, garage, or spare room in the house. Remember this is where the pet will live to become adult pets, you need to consider this while making a pet list.
4. Pet care
Taking care of a pet is another responsibility that falls on you as a parent, not just care but the financial readiness that comes with it. Some pets need all this to maintain a healthy life especially when it comes to sharing responsibilities and tasks, this is why you need to speak to a veterinarian to help to make pet choice.
5. Health cost
You have to be financially ready or have pet insurance ready for the pet, this is because most pets (depending on your choice) will require some veterinary care once in a while. It is also important to find the nearest veterinary practice around you that can provide all the care needed. If you decide to go for an exotic pet then you should join any exotic pet association like the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. There are pets with low maintenance and pets with high maintenance, speak to a vet to help you with the right decision.
6. Speak with the kid
Every child has a different reason for wanting to have a pet friend, either as a play companion, interaction, or just calm or special pet. This is important when choosing a pet because it helps with your decision so you don’t get a jolly pet for a laid back kid. Speaking to a veterinarian about this is a good way forward in choosing a pet for kids.
7. Diurnal and Nocturnal pets
Here is another vital key point when choosing a pet, either to go for a diurnal animal which are pets that are most active during the day and sleep at night, while nocturnal are animal that sleeps during the day and becomes active at night. This is important because children and humans are more active during the day and sleeps at night, getting anything opposite to this will be odd. Also, this will determine where you want the pet enclosure.
8. Pet needs
Are your kids able to meet the pet needs? Does your kid have a calm nature to handle the pet or take care of them with calm and tenderness? No pet should be treated badly or thrown around especially fragile ones. The more respect your pet gets the more involve they become, the more calmly they are treated the more productive and interactive they can become.
9. When to find a new home
This may sound strange, but yes it is true, kids often lose interest in their once beloved pet. As time goes by, they begin to lose interest and this results in neglect, which can cause the animal to suffer. This is when it’s time to find the pet a new home, the pet care is the sole responsibility of the parent, and the decision to find the pet a new home also falls on the parent, you should put the pet up for adoption.
10. Meeting the pet
After you have chosen the pet of choice, it is time to go meet the pet first. Visiting the pet in person and getting to know them through the employees of the pet store to determine pet care requirements. It is also important to speak to your chosen veterinarian on how to best take care of your pet.
11. Book an appointment
After you have finally taken your pet home, the next step is to book an appointment to see a veterinarian. The veterinarian will assess the pet and provide or recommend medical appointments and also provide nutrition requirements for your pet.
The above are all recommendations, you should speak to your veterinary at all times regarding your decisions to adopt a pet for 10-year-olds or pet for 7 years old, or a pet for 3-year-old. These guides on what to consider before getting a pet for kids is to help point you to the right path to your new addition to your family, and we hope you will enjoy your new pet.
Is having a pet good for a child?
There are few good points about having a pet for a child, like offering comfort and companionship. Having a pet is good for a child because there are many benefits of having a pet which include helping their mood by providing them with needed security and support. Children that are anxious or always withdrawn can do with having a pet because it can help reduce those feeling. Having a pet is good because it channels all the attention to the pet and helps bring the family together or increase shared responsibility and activities.