Paws in Our Care: The Unwavering Responsibility of Pet Ownership

By María Alejandra Aristizábal.

Currently, pets have become important elements of families and our society in general. With this trend, the need arises to learn to meet the requirements not only biological, but also behavioral and ethnic pets. It is a common belief that pets are good simply by providing water, food and, in some cases, play. However, this could not be further from the truth.

Dogs are animals that need cognitive stimulation and need exercise and constant interaction, not only with individuals of the same species, but also with other animal species and with humans.

In addition to providing an adequate diet and providing fresh water every day, physical stimulation is a very important element from a behavioral point of view. Dogs, regardless of breed or size, need daily exercise. Now, the level of exercise varies depending on the breed, size, age, space available, and even possible co-morbidities or diseases that each animal has.

It is recommended that dogs go out for between an hour and an hour and a half every day. However, this time does not include moments of play. When we have very active dogs, it is advisable to combine walking time with play time so that they come home more calmly. It is not normal for young dogs to dislike walking or have very low energy levels; This is usually due to medical conditions, so in these cases they must be evaluated by a vet.

Mental stimulation is an aspect to consider in animal welfare. It is essential to provide environments for exploration, interactive toys, cognitive challenges and obedience exercises. Mental activity is just as important as physical activity to avoid behavioral problems and allow animals to release all their pent-up energy. There are many activities that can be implemented, such as interactive toys that offer the animal autonomous games, bottles with frozen food so that they have to find a way to get it out of the van that, search games and using olfactory mats so they can explore and use your senses.

It is also essential that dogs interact not only with their guardians, but also with other animals of the same species. Social interaction gives dogs the opportunity to engage in play, grooming, and other social behaviors necessary for their well-being. The human-animal bond is very important for dogs, they constantly seek the attention of their guardians and it is a beneficial bond not only for their development, but also for people.

Animal welfare then tries to ensure that these beings are able to express the typical behavior of each species of mothology, that they have physical and mental health.

But then, how do we know if our pet is well? There are several ways to evaluate pet comfort. Indicators of animal welfare are often behavioral, such as purring in cats and wagging tails in dogs. It is important to watch out for behaviors such as excessive licking, tail chasing, aggression, persistent barking for no apparent reason, and inappropriate elimination behaviors where the animal urinates or defecates in inappropriate places.

Wellbeing not only includes behavioral aspects, but also health. In addition, we must see the condition of the coat, the condition of the animal’s body, whether it is thin or overweight, visible lesions on the body, whether the animal feels pain or not, and it is essential to have an annual consultation with the vet. to evaluate the general condition of the animal.

Considering all of the above, it is then important that pet guardians take an interest in their well-being, which includes physical and behavioral aspects, that they investigate the specific needs of each of their animals and take responsibility for provide their pets with a good quality of life. In addition, they should be taken for a walk, take the time to play with them, give them the cognitive stimulation they need, maintain a healthy weight, and be able to express all the behaviors considered natural in a dog.

You may be interested in: In the process of rehabilitation, street dwellers carry out cleaning and decorating tasks in the center of Medellín

You may also be interested