A mix of cute companion animals, including three cats, a puppy, a dog, a ferret, a tortoise, a parrot, and two birds, pops up on the screen. A parrot is perching on the dog's back. The scene slides to the right, and the screen splits. The video's title, "Caring for Your Companion Animal," shows up on the left side.
A cat is shown sitting on someone's lap being petted, and the cat gives the camera a curious look.
Companion animals enrich the lives of their caretakers.
A black dog pants and it looks up, then cleverly catches something in the air.
Research has shown that companion animal owners have a healthier lifestyle. But what type of animal would benefit you most?
A picture of a zebra walking in a bushy ground appears.
What about a Zebra?
The screen splits again. On the right, a zebra stares at the camera. On the left, questions pop up as read by the narrator.
Of course, you’re probably already thinking: “I don’t know what to do with a zebra!” “What should I feed a zebra?” “Where is the zebra going to live and sleep?” “Can I play with a zebra, or pet it?” Well, a zebra might not really be the right choice.
Short clips of different companion animals: a bearded lizard on a plant, a bunny in a cage, a parrot, and a tortoise on top of a frog in water.
But the questions are good ones to start with when trying to decide what type of companion animal is best for you and what requirements are associated with that animal.
The black dog is back in its cage.
First, consider the type of companion animal.
The screen splits again. On the right, a picture of a black cat held by a woman. On the left, questions read by the narrator.
Do you have time for the animal you are considering? Do you have the financial resources to care for the animal’s health, housing, feed, and other costs? What about legal restrictions? Are there regulations on the number of animals you can have in your city? Specific housing or health requirements?
A woman sitting on her knees plays with the black dog in a park, with houses in the background.
There are several common mistakes people make when selecting a companion animal.
A man appears on screen; a text bar at the bottom identifies him as "Dr Paul Stonum; veterinarian."
DR. STONUM: The most common mistake that people make when they’re trying to select a companion animal is the lack of research that they do.
The woman throws a bone-shaped toy away from the dog. The dog runs towards it, catches it, and brings it back to the woman.
DR. STONUM: They don’t look at things like breed characteristics or temperament of the dog, space requirements, exercise requirement; so many things really need to be researched before you try to select your pet.
The woman then takes a few steps backward from the dog and sits on her knees. The dog stands up and runs towards her. She then strokes the dog with love.
DR. STONUM: One of the other common mistakes that potential pet owners also make is not really figuring in a budget.
A black-colored cat walks towards a bowl of cat food and starts to eat it. The woman next to it starts to gently rub her upper body. A woman in a lab coat holds a cat by its mouth and opens it. The cat sits on the laboratory table. The woman in the park rubs her hand under the mouth of the black panting dog.
DR. STONUM: Pets take care not only from feeding but to veterinary services, annual vaccinations, grooming depending on the type of dog you have.
A cell of five brown-colored groundhogs appears. They are moving swiftly here and there. An exotic species of a reptilian lizard, a skink, appears. It has black stripes on its grey body and sits on top of a stone. Three different hedgehogs in a tank appear.
People have now begun to look towards more of the exotic pets, or pocket pets. From sugar gliders to reptiles to birds and so each one of those actually requires a lot more research than the common dog or cat.
Because they have special nutritional requirements, finding veterinary care for those types of animals is very difficult unless you have someone in your area that can work on those types of animals.
The woman in the park walks a couple of steps with her dog. She then gestures a handshake, and the dog shakes her hand. She gives it a treat.
NARRATOR: Once you have considered these things and decided on an animal, take a look at some general guidelines and considerations in caring for a companion animal.
A woman moves a toy tied to a string back and forth in a room. A black-colored cat chases the toy back and forth.
Companion animals depend on you for their health and welfare.
Two containers, one red and white-colored and one steel, appear in a room. A person fills the red and white container with water, and the steel one with pet food.
Provide easy access to fresh, uncontaminated water and food. You should feed nutritionally adequate food daily in recommended amounts for normal growth, or body maintenance.
The side label of a cat food packet appears, featuring instructions and a daily feeding guide.
DR. STONUM: Good quality dog and cat foods will have feeding guides on the bags themselves. Now there’s lot of different kinds of foods.
A cat on the packet of the cat food is visible. The text, "Low cost/low quality foods can cost more because of fillers," and "You often have to feed more low quality food to get the same level of nutrition," appears as bullet points on the left of the cat food pack.
DR. STONUM: Different qualities from those that are generic brands or store brands. Often times those low-quality foods can actually cost you more money because of the fillers that are in them.
The back of another pet food packet is displayed, showing pet nutrition facts and Guaranteed Analysis. Dr. Paul Stonum reappears.
DR. STONUM: So premium quality foods actually do a better job of providing good nutrition for your pets as well as providing for less waste pick up for you.
A person pours cat food into a small bowl. The black-colored cat then comes and eats the food while the person pets her.
NARRATOR: Do not overfeed your animal! Just like people, animal health is greatly affected by obesity.
A continuous running water machine and a food feeding machine appear. The black cat goes towards the food feeding unit and eats the food from it.
Feeding areas must be kept clean and food containers sanitized often.
A woman opens a dog’s cage, and a black dog goes in to it and then she closes the cage door.
Housing or cages should be safe and provide freedom of movement, a normal posture for the animal, and a resting place.
A couple of hamster wheels of different sizes are kept on a shelf.
Depending on the animal species, a place for exercise might also be required.
The woman places a white cushion foam on the floor of the dog cage.
Bedding should be clean, free of toxins, and of a type not easily eaten. Bedding should be changed or cleaned frequently to keep the animal clean and dry.
Two horses appear standing in a field. The wind makes their hair wave.
Animals kept outside are especially vulnerable to potentially harsh conditions.
Sheds are visible near the horses in the field. Two small outdoor dog houses are shown with cushions in them.
They should be protected from extremes in temperatures and other weather conditions such as storms or moved to an appropriate location to alleviate the impact of these conditions.
The woman neatly folds and removes the newspaper from the floor of the dog cage, placing it in a plastic bag. She then sprays sanitizer on the floor and cleans it with paper towels.
Housing, cages, pens, and equipment should be cleaned, disinfected, rinsed, and free of debris.
DR. STONUM: Of course, it’s always vital that we keep our pets in a clean healthy environment. Whether that’s from external parasites like ticks and fleas that can be treated with monthly preventatives to keeping the animal waste cleaned up in the environment in which they exercise or play.
NARRATOR: Animal waste should be removed at least once daily. Proper sanitation can prevent the spread of diseases and other animal health problems.
In the veterinary clinic, a vet places a cat on the table and listens to its heartbeat using a stethoscope.
Just like people, animals need health care too! Get to know your veterinarian and take your companion animal for regular recommended vet visits.
The woman and her dog walking on road, with the woman holding onto the dog's leash.
Use the proper restraint when taking your animal to the vet to help reduce their stress and prevent injury.
The veterinary doctor affectionately pets the cat on the table in the lab.
The veterinarian will recommend appropriate vaccinations, health management plans, feeding regimens, and other daily care items. Be sure to ask questions - your vet will be a valuable resource in caring for your animal.
Some health records of a pet are laid out on a slab, and the woman opens and examines those records. The vet uses a scanner over the cat.
Maintain a copy of all health records and consider identification of your animals.
The screen splits into two halves. On the right side is a photo of the black dog in the field. The heading, "Types of Pet Identification," along with the text, "Collars with Tags," "Tattooing," and "Microchips," appears below as bullet points.
What makes the most sense for the type of animal you have – collars with tags, tattooing, and microchips are just a few identification methods.
A horse stands within a fenced area, peeking its face out toward the camera.
What happens to your companion animal if you have to travel and cannot take them with you?
On a glass table, a groundhog scampers around in circles. Additionally, a lizard sits on a wooden branch.
Be sure to have a trustworthy person or facility researched and ready to assume your obligations while you are away.
The screen divides into two sections, with a picture of a bunny displayed on the right side. Below it, the heading "Basic Needs of All Companion Animals" is accompanied by bullet points, read by Dr. Stonum.
DR. STONUM: Above all else you can’t forget the basic needs of every pet which are good quality food, clean drinkable water, shelter and honestly the biggest thing they need is social interaction and that comes from you.
The woman is seen on her knees, and the black dog reappears, playing joyfully in the field.