How to responsibly protect your pet Posted on October 9, 2019 Our pets rely on us for all their basic needs: adequate food, water and shelter, but also to ensure they’re in the best physical health possible via flea and worming treatment and vaccinations. To make sure your pet is the happiest and healthiest they can be – physically and psychologically – you need to make sure you’re ticking all the following boxes. Flea and worming treatment Properly taking care of your pet includes providing them with treatment to prevent against parasites like fleas, heartworm and worms. Parasites like these are painful, uncomfortable and potentially fatal to our pets so preventing them is crucial. RSPCA NSW proudly recommends Advocate’s parasite protection as it is a kind treatment for dogs and cats. Watch this video for more detailed information on how Advocate works. You can also watch our videos below for an in-depth demonstration from one of our veterinarians, Dr. Margie Wong, on how to apply Advocate. It’s super easy! Thank you to Bayer Australia Limited for providing our shelter animals with such important protection against pesky parasites. Betsy – Advocate Adult Cat from RSPCA on Vimeo. Dudley – 25 to 40 kilogram (large) dog from RSPCA on Vimeo. Vaccinations It’s important for your pet to have up-to-date vaccinations so they’re protected against a range of illnesses and disease. If you take your pet for regular check-ups at your local veterinary clinic, your veterinarian will be able to advise on what vaccinations your pet is due for. Enrichment Protecting your pet isn’t just about physical or environmental harm – it’s about protecting their mental health too! Animals are intelligent creatures, just like us. And just like we wouldn’t want to spend all day bored out of our minds, our pets don’t either. Add to the fact that our pets are natural hunters and foragers, it’s important to make sure they’re given proper environmental and physical challenges. Giving your pet forms of enrichment helps to improve their psychological health. Some examples of enrichment include, but are not limited to: KongsSnuffle mats Ball pitsHiding treats around your house or backyard for your pet to findFood dispensing toys Foraging puzzles For more ideas, our friends at RSPCA Victoria put together this neat list of enrichment ideas for cats and this one for dogs. You can buy Advocate at your local RSPCA NSW shelter or veterinary hospital.
