Choosing a Pet
Please use these guides when selecting pets to ensure they are healthy and best fit your lifestyle.
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Choosing a Pet to Best Fit You Lifestyle |
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| Lifestyle |
Puppy |
Kitten |
Adult Dog |
Adult Cat |
| Single person or couple in apartment or house and working much more than 8 hours each day |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Single person or couple in apartment or house and at least one working a normal 8-hour day |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Single person or couple in apartment or house and at least one person home all day |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Young married couple in apartment or house and expecting a child |
No |
No |
No |
No |
| Young married couple in apartment or house with very small children |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Married couple in apartment or house with older children and at least one person home all day |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Choosing a Healthy Pet |
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| General Appearance |
bright, alert, in good flesh, skin elastic (springs back into placed when moved), normal temperature |
Activity |
good appetite but not ravenous, active, interested in surroundings |
| Hair and Skin |
hair is bright, glossy, well-groomed
amount of shedding not important as long as coat looks healthy |
| Ears |
clean, no odor
in cats, ear color should be pink
in dogs, ears have waxy, polished look |
| Eyes |
eyes and lids clean, eyes clear and bright |
Nose |
free from discharge
in cats, bright pink in some breeds
in dogs, may have clear moisture |
| Breathing |
respiratory rhythm smooth and regular (may accelerate when animal is hot or excited) |
| Mouth |
clean, free of offensive odor |
| Gums and Teeth |
pink gums which turn pink again rapidly when pressed with finger
clean teeth firm in gums |
| Feet |
clean and smooth pads
in dogs, nails of average length |
| Stool |
firm stool, regular urination |
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