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Kids and Pets: Helping Them Get Along Introducting Your Pet to a New Baby Make the introduction of your pet to your new baby a gradual one. This will give your pet time to adjust to the new family member. Start long before the baby arrives home by teaching your dog to sit/stay, and down/stay on command. Should you need assistance in training your pet you can consult your veterinarian for a referral to a group training class or personal pet trainer. A curious and affectionate pet uncontrolled can unintentionally harm a baby. If your pet has any type of behavior problem, consult with your veterinarian and resolve it now prior to the baby's arrivial. Before the baby arrives home:
When the baby arrives home:
WARNING SIGNS - If your pet has any of the following, proceed with extreme caution, and consult your veterinarian for assistance.
Keep soiled diapers in a pet-proof hamper so that pets are not allowed to chew and/or eat them. Pets urinating or defecating in a newborn's crib are a common problem for new parents. This is an example of territorial marking by your pet in an effort to decrease your pets' anxiety over the new baby. This is not an act of jealousy on your pet's part but merely an attempt to cover your new babys' scent with your pets' scent. Do not scold your pet for this behavior, as that will make it worse. Simply deny the pet access to its target area and spend more time with your pet. Toddlers and Pets - Most problems between pets and children begin at the toddler stage. The child is now able to crawl and later to walk thus increasing their interactions with your pet. It is at this stage that all children must be taught to interact appropriately with pets. To your pet's misfortune, toddlers have no perception of the pain they inflict by biting, stepping, jumping on, kicking, squeezing, hitting, pinching, twisting, or pulling various parts of your pets' body. Under adult supervision, children should be taught that pets are not toys and are living beings that feel pain. Children must be shown which parts of a pet's body should be touched and how to gently pet them. Teach them not to disturb an animal while it is resting or sleeping, eating a meal, or playing with a favorite chew toy/object. Teach your child not to restrain an animal that is trying to get free of them, and to not pursue an animal that runs from them. Role playing with your child is sometimes helpful in teaching these guidelines. No pet should be made to suffer unnecessarily. Every pet has limits to its own tolerance and even the kindest, most reliable patient animal has a breaking point. Your pets' only recourse and way of communicating to your child to stop is to bite or scratch. Your toddler or child has been injured and the important bond between animal and child has been damaged. Parents: remember that no child of any age should be left unattended with a pet until they have the maturity and self-control to not injure the pet or get injured themselves. Your veterinarian and staff are able to provide you with further guidelines and answer your questions on these topics as well as many other behavioral issues involving your pet and your family. Congratulations to all of you new parents out there! Presented by Anita S. Holt, V.M.D. at Charlotte Animal Clinic, 1825 Tamiami Trail A-2, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, 941-624-4004.
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