So you’re thinking about adding a second pet to your household.
We understand—pets can bring so much love and joy into a family.
However, this shouldn’t be a decision made on a whim.
This decision will not only affect your family’s life, but also the life of your new fur child.
There are a lot of factors you need to consider before adding an additional family member. Before committing to a second pet, we recommend answering these 5 questions first:
Are you prepared?
Answer this one honestly. Consider whether you truly have the time to devote training, adjusting, and caring for the new pet. Also, think about financial factors. This will mean twice the food, toys, shots, veterinarian visits, and boarding costs just to name a few. It’s a big commitment and you should take into account both the time and financial aspects.
Remember: a night in the pet ER can run right around $1,000.
Have you bought pet insurance?
We always recommend buying pet insurance. Your pet may have preexisting health conditions or a costly health concern may come up down the road, but it’s important to always be prepared.
Embrace and Trupanion offer coverage for alternative care like acupuncture, as well as conventional veterinary care.
How will your current pet react?
Always consider how well your current pet will adjust to a new pet entering the home. Is your pet aggressive toward other animals? Are they well socialized?
With older pets (10-14-years-old) who had been accustomed to another older pet who has recently passed away, we often see pet owners adopting a younger furry friend for the older dog.
However, often times this younger friend takes center stage both time-wise and financially. Unfortunately, when the older pet needs care, the pet owner isn’t able to afford it, or they do not have time to care for the older pet.
Who will be the primary caregiver?
Before bringing home a new pet, have a conversation with the other members of your home. Decide on how the duties will be shared or who will be the primary caregiver. Consider things like exercise, feeding, bathroom breaks, vacations, and trips to the vet.
Are you able to supervise?
This question circles back to how much time you’re able to commit. Will you be able to supervise the pet to ensure safety around kids, guests, and other pets during the introductory phase? It will take a few months to get comfortable with knowing how your pet will react to others.
Comment below with your stories on adding a second pet
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