They are important members of many homes, these beautiful and tender animals come to complement the lives of their owners, there are different types of pets and one will adapt to the home that welcomes them, in this article we will indicate the types of pets and care what should be offered.
History of Animal Domestication
Man at the beginning of time only saw animals as food, in the Neolithic stage approximately in the year 9000 BC, man had already domesticated animals for consumption, later he could observe that they could be used for hunting or as companions , animals acquire a new value for man and not only as food.
Over time they were identified as part of the social process that identified the different social classes, groups with purchasing power managed to obtain the most striking or exotic species in existence. Domestication established affective ties between man and animals and this allowed man and nature to unite, allowing progress and evolution. The dog has been one of the first animals with which a bond was established, they have been bred around 10 thousand years as a pet and cats around 4 thousand years BC Mainly in Egypt.
What is understood as a domestic animal or pets?
They are domesticated animals whose function is to serve as a company or for the enjoyment of their caregivers. These animals do not generate economic benefits, food or any other purpose other than personal benefit. Their owners select them after meeting certain demands and characteristics such as their adaptability, behavior, and relationship with men. They are entertaining and being busy caring for pets can be relaxing and can be therapeutic and not make their caretaker feel useful.
It depends on their caregivers that they are friendly animals, they must be trained and educated to allow a good coexistence between owner and pet. It must be received in the house or family group as one more of the family, its basic needs must be covered that allow an appropriate development. Having a pet generates feelings of tenderness, companionship and strengthens bonds of friendship. People who suffer from an illness see their pet as an unconditional friend and reinforce a positive attitude.
Most Common Pets
There are many types of existing pets from the traditional ones such as dogs, cats, fish, birds, among others, to the most exotic such as chameleons, snakes and snakes, monkeys, among others.
The dog
Number 1 in the pet preference list, for being a faithful, loyal and protective friend, dogs have a great variety of breeds and classes, one will always adapt and become part of the family. The care given to dogs will depend on their characteristics and needs, all of them, for the most part, turn out to be a great company creating very strong affective ties with their owners.
They are protective animals according to their race, depending on their care, they are unconditional friends of their masters, they help their owners according to their needs, for example, the blind use guide dogs to be their eyes, children require the sweetness that many species give them and they are playful, people have in their dogs their support and family.
The cat
This mysterious animal is also the delight of adults and children, among its characteristics its intelligence, independence and being very neat stand out. In the houses they usually help to control the plague of mice, they are very restless and territorial. Its maintenance is not expensive and the use of sandboxes and toys to sharpen its nails is recommended.
Cat lovers are faithful and cannot part with their pet. They are usually very affectionate and respond to the pampering of their owners. They are jealous with the arrival of new members in the family. Caution should also be taken with pregnant women.
SeamTurtle
Independent reptiles do not require great care, their diet is based on vegetables and legumes. In many homes it is loose around the house but it is recommended that it has a terrarium and a space to bathe, it cannot be alone it likes company.
Rabbit
It is an ideal pet, its diet must be low in sugar and many vegetables, it requires a space to run around to avoid obesity, it must have a cage to rest and dig and be able to clean its teeth. His character is playful, affectionate.
Fish
Other ideal pets, they are the calmest pets you can have, a clean fish tank is required, the size will depend on the home where they live and teaches responsibility to children and young people, they present a great variety of species and sizes being a spectacle to the view usually transmits a lot of calm and relaxation.
Hamster
They are the favorites of children, they generate a sense of responsibility, they are often the first pet of the smallest of the home, they do not need special care, but they do have to be provided with good hygiene conditions and an adequate temperature. His cage must be well equipped since it is his space where he will eat, sleep and play.
Because it is so small, care must be taken because it can easily get lost in any corner of the house creating chaos in many aspects, it can bite cables, furniture and give more than one a tremendous scare.
Birds
In this line we can find parrots and parakeets, they are usually very funny, their care consists of a clean space and placed in an area with an adequate temperature. It will have room to move and flap. They eat lettuce and seeds and must be well hydrated.
Characteristics of a Pet
Animals to be considered pets meet certain characteristics that make them suitable to live with people and be able to adapt to their environment, so we will explain each of these characteristics that must be taken into account.
friendly
These companion animals or pets are friendly, they are looking for affection, a lot of love, they respond in the same way to the treatment they receive, it is recommended to educate them and teach them manners to achieve a good coexistence with the environment without forgetting their animal essence.
Adaptable
These animals adapt to the space provided, achieving a friendly coexistence with humans without losing the natural essence of the animal. It is important to provide a warm and comfortable environment for our new friend from the first moment he arrives, showing them that in his new home he will be cared for and loved.
Family
Our new friend manages to connect with the person or people that make up the family group, becoming an important part of their lives. Whoever has a pet has a friend, a brother, a son by their side, they come to cover the emotional needs that are they can have and we would be before an exchange of love and care.
Therapeutic
Having someone to care for and pay attention to allows stress to be released, a positive attitude is achieved and a better connection is achieved, it helps a lot in cases of people with psychological or physical problems, it gives them the opportunity to feel busy, loved, protective and achieve acquire and handle some responsibility. Statistical studies also indicated that people who have a pet have an improved heart rate and a greater response to body changes.
recreational
Owning a pet provides fun moments of family enjoyment and more if you have children at home, through play we teach our little ones to strengthen emotional ties, to be responsible and careful with pets, to respect living beings and learn to enjoy your company.
Which Animals Can Be Pets and Which Can't?
There are animals that have great adaptability and are safe to have in homes, because they are easy to care for and quickly get used to the environment where they are, but currently there is a taste or fascination for certain exotic species that are extracted from their natural habitat. to be taken to many homes that cannot provide the required care.
These animals should be left in their environment because they are creating a problem in the ecosystem by choosing non-domestic animals as pets and unfortunately many of these species are in critical condition such as tigers, snakes, bears, birds, iguanas, chameleons, in their environment manages to cover the basic needs of food, reproduction, metabolic and physiological that you cannot fully recreate in the homes where they are located.
If you are interested in acquiring a pet but you do not want the traditional dog or cat, there are other species such as rabbits, fish, hamsters, turtles, birds in which you can get a great variety such as parakeets, canaries, bluebirds, chickens, etc. That they could be taken into account as pets, the important thing is that you give them the required importance that if you are going to take them to your home you can provide them with the necessary care, time and provide an adequate space for them and welcome our friend. and integrate into our home.
In conclusion we can say that all animals can NOT be pets and despite their appearance or beauty and how striking our homes may be, houses, apartments, farms among others, they will never replace their original environment and thus prevent many species from disappearing or we are contributing to illegal trafficking of species.
Reasons Why You Shouldn't Choose Wild Animals as Pets
- You are supporting the uncontrolled hunting and trade of endangered species.
- You contribute to putting these species in danger of extinction by removing them from their habitat, interrupting their natural process of procreation.
- Its maintenance is expensive because you have to recreate the habitat of these animals in the best way in terms of spaces, food and recreation.
- They can become depressed or sick and can cause their death or aggression with themselves or the environment.
- They can be transmitters of different diseases that can be very dangerous for man.
Children and Pets
When choosing the perfect pet for your home, you should pay attention if you have children since they forge very strong and special ties with pets and in most cases this experience will be part of them for the rest of their lives. From the beginning, the child must be educated to care for and love their pet, to be responsible and to see it as a member of the family.
small pets
Small pets are preferred in family groups that have little space and generally their maintenance is not expensive, even if they have space, it could be an alternative to having a pet for the first time. Regardless of the animal chosen, each one requires its own particular care and the needs of pets must be clear.
In this line we can find dogs and cats smaller than the common ones, fish, hamsters, some birds, each with particular characteristics for their care and maintenance.
Pets for Adoption
This is a very important option because there are many homeless pets and they can be given another opportunity to have a family that cares for them and loves them. When making this decision we must evaluate certain aspects, generally it is the dogs or cats that are in this terrible situation, many have been abandoned to their fate and thanks to groups that love and defend animals they are rescued from their street situation.
When making the decision to adopt a pet, we must take into account the preferences of the children or family members and the characteristics of the pet, knowing if it has any disease such as this, its vaccination control, the provision of care and being able to cover the needs of this animal that has suffered so much.
Dogs for Adoption
We must ensure the safety and well-being of both the members of the house and the pet, we must evaluate that children have a predilection for large dogs, but not all of them have an adequate temperament to deal with children, others may be smaller but they will not stand the roughness of children. We must be aware and take care of both the child and the chosen pet and give education and teaching to both parties.
Cats for adoption
Another option that is presented to adopt a pet is the cat, it is independent and demands less attention than the dog. They are usually lost for several days if there is an emotional bond the cat will return. Attention should be paid to the games between the children and the cat to prevent either of them from getting hurt. They can find many lost or abandoned cats if you decide to adopt them you should take them to the doctor for a check-up and avoid possible diseases or infections, start with the control of vaccinations and provide them with the help required to be a healthy and happy cat.
Exotic animals
Despite being fashionable, the acquisition of exotic animals is not recommended as a pet for children, these animals require more attention and expenses in their care, in general, children will not be able to interact with these animals since they tend to get stressed very quickly by not Being in their corresponding environment requires that their habitat be recreated as much as possible and they are mostly carriers of parasites and bacteria.
If you have decided on one of these animals, you should be informed about everything related to the selected species and educate children on how they can interact with their pet.
Pet Care at Home
To care for and pamper our pets, we must provide certain care that will be of great importance to have a healthy and happy pet and that will share its gratitude with all family members.
Food
We must provide them with the necessary nutrients required by our pet, adapt the rations according to the size, age and activity of the animal, give the necessary caloric, vitamin and protein intake, we must pay attention to the food that is supplied to avoid making them sick. We must keep them well hydrated, especially in places or in hot seasons.
Hygiene and health
The hygiene and cleanliness of our pets is of great importance since we can prevent diseases in our pets, clean their teeth, ears and nails, if they have fur or if they do not have it, they should be brushed periodically just like the bathroom should be prepared regularly according to the species. The assiduous visit to the veterinarian and their respective vaccine control, deworming our pets must also be on the lookout.
Fun
Provide your pets with toys to distract themselves and release energy and stress. They can be very valuable moments to spend children and pets. Depending on the pet, you can adapt different things such as toys or buy them.
pamper them
Through accessories that you may require, many can be manufactured at home, others can be purchased at specialized sites. They can be straps, chests, beds to sleep, dishes for food and water, in the case of your hamster a wheel for exercises, ornaments, clothes that can be dressed.
Pets and Human Health Effects
Pets, depending on their care and type of animal, can present many benefits to man, but unfortunately there are species that, if not properly cared for, can be detrimental to human health.
Positive Aspects in Health
There are many advantages of having a pet, it brings energy and positivity to the life of the pet owner, among its benefits, high blood pressure tends to normalize as well as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. The social exchange that having a pet entails has allowed us to obtain a positive response to stress, depression and loneliness, allowing us to have a sense of peace and tranquility caused by the presence of a pet.
Recent studies indicated that people who have chronic diseases and have pets usually present an improvement at the cardiac level compared to those who did not have it, their heart rate presents a favorable variability, a better response to the requirements, to the corporal changes and responses to the stress.
Negative Health Effects
Among the most common negative effects presented in people who have a pet, we can mention respiratory problems, asthma, skin allergies. It can also be observed depending on the species that has bites, claws, injection of poisons. Diseases can be contracted that are acquired through pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to people such as cat scratches, stomach infections, salmonellosis and ornithosis, among others.
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