What parent doesn't love to look over at their young child cuddled up on the couch with their little puppy or kitten? One of the best parts of childhood is having a pet. It teaches a child how to take responsibility, as the child now needs to ensure that the pet has the proper food, water and grooming. However, one of the downsides to a young child having a pet is that pet surgeries can be just as scary for your child as the pet. Sometimes pets need to visit a pet hospital for routine surgeries such as spaying, neutering or declawing. In other cases, the pet may be ill and need I.V. treatment or hospital intervention. It's important that you prepare your child openly and honestly for their pet's hospital stay to help minimize any trauma or confusion in your child. Here are two ways to help your child prepare for their pet's hospital stay (at a place such as Orange Grove Animal Hospital).
Explanations
While all parents want to protect their child from the harsh realities of life, it's best to actually explain to your little one that the pet will be having surgery, then fill in as many of the how and why details without getting gory.
See, when the pet comes home, it will be sore, hurting and may even have a post-surgery wound. In order for the child to not hurt or jostle the pet, they must know that the pet is in pain and what kind of care the wound needs. Not telling the child could lead to them distrusting you when they learn later of the surgery, or it could lead to the child not realizing that their little pet needs very gentle handling until they heal.
Make The Child A Part Of It
Before the pet's hospital stay, have the child get involved. Have them prepare a little overnight bag for the pet (even if the hospital doesn't allow for bags, this can help the child mentally prepare for what is going on).
Have your child help you meet all of the pre-operative care requests for the pet, whether it is medicine, specific food and drinks or special grooming. Have your child go with you to drop the pet off for surgery, and have the child make the pet a get well card before they come home.
When you child is involved, they feel a bit more in control of the situation and are better able to adapt to the changing situation with a positive attitude.
Share12 February 2015
Do you know the types of diseases that are most likely to cause death in dogs? My name is Anne, and I have owned several dogs in the my lifetime. I enjoy training, playing with, and caring for dogs of all sizes and breeds. Throughout my time as a dog owner, I have discovered that there are several illnesses that are common causes of death in dogs and that some breeds are more likely to get these diseases than other breeds. This blog will explain various common deadly diseases in dogs and give advice about how to prevent and treat these illnesses.
