The holidays are now ahead of us and if you are like one of the millions of families that chose to adopt a pet during the holidays, or- if you plan on adding a pet to your family in the near future- you may need some tips and products to help you to get started in getting your new fur baby settled into their new home.
Below, you will find some great tips on welcoming your new puppy or kitten into your home from Jean-Pierre Lautier Deputy CEO – Pharmaceutical Manager of AB7 Group, along with some fantastic products to help your new furry friend feel comfortable in their new home.
I just adopted a kitten myself, so all of these tips and products are really helpful!
FOR PUPPIES
Welcoming Your New Puppy
Adoption is a very stressful ordeal for the puppy who is separated from his siblings and his native environment. It is important to welcome him in a calm and serene environment and to avoid accumulating new things. In the first two weeks, avoid too many visits and contact with other dogs other than those in the house. Around 2 months, the puppy’s immune system is still immature, and you must give it time to strengthen.
The First Nights
This is the first time your puppy will be on his own at night. Make sure he’s in a quiet, comfortable place. He may cry. Avoid giving in and making him sleep with you. Be patient: he will eventually get used to it. A little tip is to leave a small radio near the puppy, broadcasting words if possible (news channel for example): background music reassures the puppy as well. A calming product can also help sooth your puppy, so they are less anxious.
Alzoo’s Natural Calming Collars, Sprays and Diffusers are great for calming your pup, as they contain natural oils, clinically proven to relax your pet naturally, and are created specifically for dogs (and cats) using ingredients such as Valerian and Lavandin Oil, specifically for dogs.
The First Bath
It is often necessary to wash the puppy when he arrives. It is quite possible, but you must be careful not to get soap in his eyes. Use a shampoo specifically for puppies. Dry your puppy well with a terry towel. You don’t want him to catch a cold.
Pet Renu products are all-natural and have no DEA, parabens, phosphates, synthetic dyes or perfumes and their environmentally friendly performance blend is gentle on skin and hair. All Pet Renu products are biodegradable and packaged in a recyclable bottle. The Pet Renu Silky Soft Shampoo is great for puppy’s sensitive skin. It has 100% natural ingredients and is a high quality pet shampoo formulated to leave your dog’s coat beautiful and healthy.
First Visit to the Vet
As soon as possible, have your puppy examined by a veterinarian. He’ll check for the necessary vaccinations and prescribe a deworming treatment, which should be done every month until your puppy is six months old. Flea & Tick Prevention is also a must, once your puppy is of age.
Alzoo has all-natural repellents, from collars, to spot on treatments to sprays, to keep your dog safe.
Potty Training
Very young puppies are not yet potty trained. Positive reinforcement and praise for relieving himself in a suitable area rather than in the house is most effective. Keep an eye on him, especially after meals. As soon as he starts to spin around, gently pick him up and take him outside or to an area you’ve arranged with layers of newspaper or a special absorbent mat. Congratulate him when he’s done!
On the other hand, it is useless and rather harmful to punish him when he relieves himself in the house.
WizSmart Dog Pads are the best pad to have on hand for training and if even going forward, if you want to have an indoor bathroom for your fur baby. Studies are now suggesting it could be better for your pup to have a place to relieve themselves indoors, so they are not holding it so long when you are away. WizSmart® is the most sustainable pee pad on the market. They are super absorbent and have Patented Stay-Put Tabs, an ideal solution for male dogs.
Pet Renu’s Urine Eliminator is a great spot treatment for those accidents your fur baby will have. Pet Urine Eliminator removes strong urine odor and urine stains from carpet, fabric, and upholstery. It features bacterial cleaning and formulation that creates enzymes for continual cleaning and odor removal.
For more stains and messes around the house , Alzoo’s Pee-B-Gone Stain Remover is also the perfect product to have on hand for all your pet messes…and you will have them.
Prepare the House
Beware: puppies like to sink their teeth into everything that comes within their reach. Prepare toys for him to chew on, but put shoes, knick-knacks, green plants, electrical wires, etc. out of his reach. Make sure you have plenty of toys, bones and things that are appropriate for them to chew on, especially when teething.
Food can also be a huge hazard when it comes to new pets. Not only will they chew on anything they can get their paws on, but you will find that they will eat any kind of food as well! If you are messy, if you eat on the sofa, or if you have kids, then there are likely to be crumbs and food lying around. It is vital as a new dog owner that you learn about what is safe for dogs to eat, and what is not and prepare your house accordingly. For example, food items such as chocolate, onions, and garlic are toxic to dogs so there should be none of it lying around. Items such as cranberries can be good for dogs, which you can read more about here: https://www.nextritionpet.com/blogs/nutrition/can-dogs-eat-cranberries-everything-you-should-know
For Kittens
Welcoming the Kitten
The change of home and the separation from his brothers and sisters is a big stress for the kitten. Take care of him in the first days and assure him a calm and serene environment. Beware of encounters with other animals in the house which can sometimes be delicate. The use of anti-stress products on the cats of the family can favor their meeting with the new kitten.
Alzoo’s Natural Calming Collars, Sprays and Diffusers are great for this, as they contain natural oils, clinically proven to relax your pet naturally, and are created specifically for cats (and dogs) using ingredients such as the natural essential oil of Nepeta Cataria, containing a substance called nepetalactone, well known for its calming properties in cats.
The First Nights
Provide a quiet, comfortable place for your kitten to sleep without being disturbed. She may meow a little the first few nights, but she usually gets used to it very quickly.
First Bath
Your kitten may sometimes need a bath upon arrival. You can do this with a gentle shampoo and use lukewarm water. Avoid the eyes. Dry the kitten well with a terry towel.
Pet Renu products are all-natural and have no DEA, parabens, phosphates, synthetic dyes or perfumes and their environmentally friendly performance blend is gentle on skin and hair. All Pet Renu products are biodegradable and packaged in a recyclable bottle. The Pet Renu Silky Soft Shampoo is great for a kitten’s sensitive skin. It has 100% natural ingredients and is a high quality pet shampoo formulated to leave your kitten’s fur beautiful and healthy.
First Visit to the Vet
As soon as possible, have your kitten examined by a veterinarian. He’ll check the necessary vaccinations and prescribe a suitable deworming treatment. Flea & Tick Prevention is also a must, once your kitten is of age.
Alzoo has all-natural repellents, from collars, to spot on treatments to sprays, to keep your cat safe.
Litter Box Training
Kittens are generally very quickly potty trained in general. Provide a litter box and put her in it as soon as she pretends to want to relieve herself. If she gets into the habit of relieving herself elsewhere, place several layers of newspaper where she relieves herself, and then gradually move this improvised mat into the litter box.
To keep your litter box deodorized and smelling great, Alzoo has a fantastic line of Cat Litter Deodorizers in a variety of scents that helps to avoid bad smells, deodorizes and perfumes cats litter. If your kitty does have an accident Alzoo’s Pee-B-Gone Stain Remover is the perfect product to have on hand for all your pet messes…and you will have them. Pet Renu’s Urine Eliminator is also a great spot treatment for those accidents your fur baby will have. Pet Urine Eliminator removes strong urine odor and urine stains from carpet, fabric, and upholstery. It features bacterial cleaning and formulation that creates enzymes for continual cleaning and odor removal.
Prepare the House
Beware of your kitten’s claws, which can damage furniture and drapes. Make special scratching pads available to her so she can exercise without risk!
Afton Jackson says
Preparing a home for a dog was definitely something I appreciate you for discussing. It would definitely be easier for all of us if everything like the dog food and chew toys was ready before we let it into our home. I’ll definitely work on looking for providers of things like pet food first before I adopt a puppy from a local store.