Pet Supplies/Veterinarians & Hospitals/Medications/IDs, Please/Questions about Petor breed?

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Medications
Call the local pharmacy or look online for lower prices. Just be sure to compare the same quantities and dosages when you’re looking at prices.

Veterinarians and Hospitals
When looking for a reliable, cost-effective veterinarian’s office, check out a few before you settle on one. Ask for recommendations from pet owners you know. Most vets’ offices also offer multi-pet or senior pet discounts. Compare fees and be sure to find out what is covered during a routine visit in each office.

Buy supplies online or in bulk. Just keep in mind that it’s wise to get product recommendations from your vet first. Online or store-bought products that you know nothing about could prove to be harmful or of poor quality. And if you rotate your pet’s toys, they’ll stay interested without you having to buy new ones every few months.
Groom Your Pets at Home
- Save the price of a visit to your groomer with regular brushings. While you’re at it, you’ll reduce the hair around your home and your cats will have fewer hairballs.

- Trim your pet’s nails on a regular basis. It’s not hard to do, and you’ll likely save yourself the cost of new furniture and curtains.


IDs, Please
It’s a good idea for all of your animal companions—even indoors-only pets—to always wear a collar with an ID tag. The ID tag should have your name and a current phone number. If you’ve chosen to microchip your pet as a means of permanent identification, keep in mind that microchips are only as good as the information provided to the chip’s company. If you’ve moved or changed your phone number since registering your pet’s chip and forgot to submit an update, please do so as soon as you can. Work the Phones
Your first calls should be to all the animal control agencies, shelters (both municipal and private) and rescue groups in your area; one of them could have your pet in custody already. Check in with the bigger shelters daily—and pay your visits in person, if possible.
If there are no shelters close to your home, contact the police.
News Flash
Your next task? Creating a “lost pet” flyer. We recommend sticking with one design, as repeated viewings of a consistent message are more likely to stick in people’s minds. You’ll need to include a lot of info on your flyer, so use your limited space wisely:
- Start with a big, bold headline that people can read from a distance: “LOST DOG” or “MISSING CAT” is fine.
- Under the headline, a photo of your pet would be ideal. Make sure he’s still well-represented after the picture’s been photocopied or printed. List his breed, sex, color, age, weight, distinguishing features, and where and when he was last seen. It is very important that your pet is described accurately.
- Provide your name and two phone numbers; yours, of course, and a friend or family member’s in case you cannot be reached.
Blanket the Neighborhood
With your flyers in hand (and hopefully, a crew of supportive helpers), it’s time to hit the streets. Good places to post your flyers may include:
- Dog runs and parks
- Pet supply stores and pet grooming shops
- Veterinary offices
- Various commercial establishments, such as grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, Laundromats, bars, cafes and restaurants.
- Lampposts and trees. Cover extra heavily the areas where you think your pet was lost, as well as busy commercial and pedestrian sections of your town.
- Around schools, at kids’-eye level. Children can be more observant than adults, especially when it comes to animals.
Note, be sure to ask permission before posting your flyers!
Hit the ‘Net
The Internet was made for networking. Send descriptive emails about your lost pet to your local friends, colleagues and family members, and ask them to pass on the info to anyone they can. Post messages to animal forums and message boards run by groups based in your area—lots of parks and dog runs have online communities.
Don’t Give Up!
This one’s important! And remember that many lost animals have found their way back home.
Visit Animaland to check out our information on finding a lost pet written especially for kids.
Questions about Pet
• What type of lifestyle does the breed of animal require?
• What personality traits should I be aware of?
• What are the grooming requirements with this pet?
• What type of exercises does the pet require?
• Is there any common health problems associated with the animal or breed?
• What is the average lifespan of the breed?
• What type of food do we need to feed the animal?
Questions for Breeder
• Can I meet the animal's mother and father?
• If one of the parents is not available, does the breeder have pictures available of the parent?
• May I see/visit where the animals were raised?
• How many litters do you have per year?
• What happens to your animals when they are retired from breeding?
• How many different types of animals do you breed?
• At what age can the animal go to its new home?
• Does the animal have any type of socialization or training prior to going to its new home?
• Are you affiliated with any breeder associations? Why or why not?
• Do you have references?
• Do you require spay/neuter contracts on your animals?
• If, for any reason, I am unable to keep the animal, what is your policy?
• Most breeders are available to answer questions related to the purchase of their animals and which home their pet is going to.
• Remember: It is up to the Buyer and the Breeder to communicate with one another to ensure that the animal has been and will be treated properly.
Ask the seller to send additional pictures of the animal that you are interested in. Require a specific item to be in the photo, like a soda can or your name on a piece of paper. If the seller refuses to send additional pictures or states that the camera is broken and is unable to send additional pictures, discontinue the sale.
Once you have determined that the seller has the animal you want, ensure that you have a clearly defined contract prior to the purchase of the pet. The contract should specifically state what type of animal you are going to receive, what registration, if any, you will receive and the timeframe to receive it.

Also, what type of health guarantee comes with the pet and what is the process of reimbursement and/or return if the animal is sick, hurt, etc.

Most contracts will state that you need to have the animal seen by a vet within a specific timeframe. A clearly defined and signed contract will protect both the buyer and the seller and avoid any problems that could arise from miscommunication. If you or the seller makes an agreement that is not included within the contract, get it in writing.