How to Stay Healthy with Pets Around You

It is a lot of fun to be around pets at home. However, it is equally significant to know the dos and don’ts concerning the safety of your kids. Kids at home should know how to be completely safe around them. Outdoor animals and indoor animals require kind treatment.

Safety outdoors 

When kids step outdoors, they can find all kinds of animals, such as black bats, coyotes, squirrels, various types of birds, skunks, raccoons, and even snakes. Of course, enjoying their sight is alright. However, there is a simple rule.

It is never getting close to an animal or touching it. You may find them to be super cute. Imagine a raccoon that may appear as attractive as a cartoon character. However, one should remember not to confuse wild animals with pets.

Wild creatures are not normal pets. Hence, they are not familiar with the people around them. As a result, they may get frightened and try to attack or bite you.

If they have an infection, it can get transmitted to you. Feeding a wild animal is also a strict no-no, even if you feel that the animals have a hungry look. At the most, you can set up a bird feeder and watch them from a distance.

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Safe Playtime with Pets

Having pets at home means that you will be playing a lot with them. However, sometimes they can be irritated, angry, upset, or frightened for some reason, and this is when they express themselves by either scratching or biting. These bites and scratches can be avoided easily by following some measures.

When a pet eats, one must not bother it or tug at its water bowl or food. Never disturb a pet while it is sleeping. One should not tease a cat or dog or pull at the tail or ears.

If a dog has puppies or a cat has its kittens, then it would be wise not to go close to the animals because they are protective of their little ones, and going near them would instigate them to attack you.

Taking away a bone or plaything from a dog or cat is not a good idea. Never hold it in a position where it cannot reach it. That would drive the animal insane. Likewise, lifting certain animals, such as gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters, requires a style.

You have to pick them up slowly by holding them underneath their belly. Do it slowly when lifting a rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, or gerbil from its cage.

Be sure to get hold of the animal carefully. In the case of a rabbit, it is advisable not to hold or pick up a rabbit by the ears as they get angry. Never pick up, or grab a rabbit by its ears.

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If you have an aquarium at home, never put your bare hands inside it. Fish are harmless and cannot hurt you, but some species are violent and can bite.

Some can even sting badly when they get upset. Unfortunately, the water may also be a breeding ground for germs leading to a severe skin infections.

If you have a tank with reptiles such as snakes, iguanas, or lizards and want to pull it out, do it slowly and carefully. Post that, wash your hands as they may be carriers of germs like Salmonella and spread to your body.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that even though pets infected with Salmonella look quite tidy and healthy, those hidden germs can spread through their droppings and infect bedding, habitats, pet food, and toys.

In kids and adults, this germ can be responsible for causing mild or severe diarrheal sickness and, in extreme cases, prove to be fatal.

If you find a pet looking sick or injured, it will be best to stay away. However, sometimes a creature that loves to be in human company, petted, and play may get upset and violent when it is not feeling alright.

It is best to inform an adult who can help and do the needful during such times. The same set of rules would be applicable when you visit a friend who has a pet.

You have to get the green sign from your friend to know whether it is alright to hold the pet. Once your friend says yes, you can go slowly and let your friend’s pet smell your hands initially.

Here are some other rules that apply to handling pets in general, no matter your age:

After handling pets, you must wash your hands carefully with soap and disinfect the places at home where they move around and live.

You can also use a hand sanitizer if you can’t find soap and water. And when kids wash their hands, adult supervision is recommended.

Small pets should not be allowed near areas in the house. These include the kitchen, where drinks and food are prepared, served, kept, or eaten. It would help prevent any form of contamination.

Young children can be prevented from falling sick if kept away from pet feeding areas and pet food. When buying pet food, make sure that you check the package well and see that it is not damaged.

It is best to avoid feeding pets raw foods or raw diets because they won’t be enough to eliminate germs that cause disease.

If you clean the pets’ belongings inside the house, you must disinfect them later. It would help in preventing cross-contamination with all kinds of deadly germs.

So, following the dos and don’ts of keeping pets at home would ensure your kids’ safety and that of your pets. Just simple rules will take care of good health throughout the year.

Conclusion

Having pets can benefit our physical and mental health, but taking some precautions is essential to stay healthy. Some ways to stay healthy with pets around include practicing good hygiene by washing hands frequently, keeping pets up to date on vaccinations and parasite prevention, feeding them a balanced and healthy diet, and keeping their living spaces clean.

Additionally, spending quality time with pets through regular exercise and play is vital to maintaining their and our overall well-being. By taking these simple steps, we can enjoy the many benefits of having pets while ensuring our health and safety.