The Last Kid on the Block—
The way to a pet’s heart? A healthy diet!
May 11th, 2011
By Andrea Knudsen
An apple is a healthy option for a pet mouse.
My family and I had the pleasure of eating out today, but I admit I overdid it. I. Am. So. Full.
For what I fear was a few months, our fish were full too. Even though we were specifically told not to overfeed them, it was difficult to stop at so few flakes—especially when some fish would dominate feeding time, and others didn’t seem to get nearly enough. It took less-than-clear water to finally clue me in that too much food and waste was upsetting our aquatic ecosystem.
Fish are healthier when they’re underfed, and they’re not alone. Just as obesity is a dangerous epidemic for people in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reported in February 2011 that it’s a dangerous epidemic for pets, as well: more than half of American cats and dogs are obese.
What may seem like opportunities to “treat” our animal friends actually contribute to diabetes, arthritis, kidney failure, high blood pressure, cancer and a shorter life span: a scary reality for any pet owner.
I know I didn’t intend to cause my fish any harm. On the contrary, I was trying my best to meet their needs. And if I had to guess, I’d say other pet owners feel the same way. Treats like table scraps can be expressions of affection for a furry member of the family. Food dishes are mindlessly overfilled the same way we overfill our own plates. When we celebrate, we eat! Why should our pets be left out?
Not all of our personal habits are healthy ones. As a nation, we do tend to eat too much and move too little. We know we should change, but change can be hard. Ideally, I’d love to see all of us improve the quality of life for our households. If we can’t make it all-inclusive, don’t we owe it to our pets to do everything we can to provide them happy, healthy lives?
With all of this in mind, I ask you to look closely at your pet: Would your veterinarian say he or she is close to optimal weight? Do you provide your pet an appropriate, balanced diet? Does your pet have the opportunity to exercise enough? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, please check with your vet.
As much as we love our scaled, feathered and furry friends, overfeeding them is not what will make them happy in the long run. Instead, try showing your affection through attention, play and caring enough to keep illness at bay.
“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.
The Last Kid on the Block—
Beat the Baby Blues
April 27th, 2011
By Andrea Knudsen
It's hard to resist a baby animal, but a slightly older animal might be a better fit for your family.
It’s spring. At least it’s spring somewhere; I’m a little skeptical about its actual arrival in not-so-sunny Chicago. I’ve been yearning for spring and its promise of a fresh start—green grass, blooming flowers, bursting buds. Soon I’ll see bunnies in the backyard and ducklings at the pond down the street. And I can’t wait.
I can’t resist a fuzzy baby. It’s remarkable that I’ve returned from the pet store without a kitten (or puppy or bunny) in tow. They’re adorable! Can I get a collective, “Awwww”?
But there’s more—much more—to a pet than the “awwww” factor. Spring is a popular time of year for adorable gifts like baby animals, and the Humane Society continues to remind us that young, adorable animals mature quickly into adults and need daily care for the rest of their lives.
A friend who works at a local animal shelter shared sage advice about choosing a pet: consider skipping the babies and opt for a young adult dog or cat. Yes, puppies and kittens are undeniably cute, but like all babies, they are labor-intensive.
A one- or two-year-old, on the other hand, is still cute it its own right. But it’s been potty trained. It won’t cry all night or cut its first teeth on your sofa or shoes. And when you meet, you’ll be able to better determine its size and temperament.
As a mom, I knew going into our pet adoption that I’d be the one to pick up the pet care slack. I ensured I’d have the tools I need to clean our tank, and then I enlisted my son’s help (happily, he’s still enthusiastic about helping).
It’s not a bad gig—but it could have been if we’d relied on the “awwww” factor and opted for a fuzzy baby. I very easily could have ended up with a third “child.” That potential bundle would make an ideal addition for some families, but would have overwhelmed mine.
Or should I say, it would have overwhelmed me?
If we ever decide to move beyond our fish, a young adult dog (if you ask my daughter, she’d say a young adult cat) might be perfect: young enough to grow with us, old enough to skip the growing pains.
I continue to be humbled by the pet adoption decision, and how many factors a family should take into consideration. A young adult from an animal shelter might be the answer!
“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.
The Last Kid on the Block—
If Mama Ain’t Happy…
April 13th, 2011
By Andrea Knudsen
A thoughtful decision about adopting a pet helps ensure everyone in the family is happy.
I am nothing if not a planner. Sadly, this does not mean I have my act together—I’m just deliberate in making major life decisions. At least I like to be. And, for me, adopting a pet qualified as a major life decision.
Earlier this week I read a blog post by a mom who identifies herself as cat person, but bowed under pressure to get a dog. I know that pressure. After all, we are one of only two families on our block that doesn’t own a dog. But I’m disappointed by her suggestion that pressure led to her pet purchase rather than desire, or at least a plan.
Ideally, that blogger mom—and reluctant pet-owning moms everywhere—will grow to love her family’s new best friend. And kind of like not using birth control, a decision not to stop the adoption of a pet can become a decision to adopt a pet. If you let a pet through the door, maybe you’re not as anti-dog (or cat or snake) as you claim to be.
Still, her experience has left me wondering just how many parents acquire a pet and end up adding undue stress that they, in turn, take out on the pet through no fault of its own.
My neighbor adopted a dog this year to quell the wishes of her two young boys, taking their already hectic lifestyle to new levels. I’m not sure how happy anyone (dog included) in that household is right now—my neighbor certainly seems anything but happy. It may be that she saves her venting for me, much like complaining about kids: the good stuff outweighs the bad, but sometimes the bad stuff appreciates a sympathetic ear.
So far, blogger mom has given her family’s dog a lukewarm reception. I hope she’s more welcoming than she lets on, and open minded about allowing her pet into her heart.
If I could wave my magic wand, I’d ensure that pet owners were thoughtful and thorough in their decisions related to pet selection. I’d initiate pet scenarios that considered the needs of the entire family. And I’d keep pets safe and happy.
By the bye, our fish continue to be safe and happy, and so do we.
“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.
The Last Kid on the Block—
While we’re away, will the fish play?
March 30th, 2011
By Andrea Knudsen
I wonder if our fish dream about a tropical vacation (sans salt water) as much as I do.
It’s spring break, which is synonymous with our annual trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa. In past years, our only pre-traveling concerns were stopping the mail and trying to tidy the house so as not to induce clutter shock on reentry.
This time, though, we had a more critical consideration: our fish. I did a partial water change prior to leaving, but didn’t manage to teach them to fend for themselves while we’re gone.
Still, our concessions were few compared to other friends who had to arrange lodging for their pets. One family hired their babysitter to walk and feed their dog (their dog never had it so good!), while the other left their dog with relatives.
While we very much enjoy tending to our fish, I don’t think they depend on us to do much more than feed them and ensure a healthy habitat. I also know that, while a daily meal may be optimal, our fish could survive with less—as a matter of fact, less food is better than too much.
My kids’ more conveniently-located grandparents, who were (hopefully!) adequately prepared, will pay daily visits to our home to feed the fish during the first half of our vacation, and a house sitting friend (and fish expert) will cover the second half.
So I know our fish are in good hands, which makes it easier to enjoy our vacation. I do still wonder what is on their little fishy brains, and if they comprehend changes in their regular schedule or lighting or the number of gigantic humans thundering by their tank. I can say that the fish are top of our son’s mind: at dinner, when asked if he’d like to color a picture of fish, he responded, “I LOVE fish!” Hopefully the hostess didn’t think he meant he loves fish for dinner.
We have more to do on our trip, and we’re not even close to being ready to return home. But when the time comes, reality may be a little easier to swallow since we’ll be coming back to our aquatic friends.
“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.
The Last Kid on the Block—
The Right Choice
March 16th, 2011
By Andrea Knudsen
Possibly all five of our new fish: a marigold platy and four neon tetras.
When our family decided to take on the responsibility of a pet (or more accurately, multiple pets), we agreed we wouldn’t do it unless we could do it “right.”
Heh.
Turns out “right” is more elusive to the beginner than I thought. Although my son initially wanted a betta, we steered him in the direction of a tropical fish tank because a betta in a little bowl is a sad betta.
We thought we waited for our tank’s nitrogen cycle to complete, but we lost three of four fish. We thought we were feeding our fish appropriately, but we were feeding them too much. We wanted happy fish, but began with one male and one stressed-out female platy, and four neon tetras that needed more buddies to form a shoal. We were overwhelmed by advice online.
Believe it or not, I’m not here to focus on what we’ve gotten wrong. I’m actually celebrating what we’ve learned along the way. Because as I type, 11 fish swim placidly behind me: our two platys have a new female friend to divide the, um, affection of the male; and our four tetras are now eight.
We understand the nitrogen cycle, and have gotten pretty good at regular partial water changes. We are now feeding our fish much less than we had been—the substrate and water are cleaner for it, and our fish are healthier (yay!). We also hope we’ve achieved a happy environment for all of the inhabitants of our tank.
As a fabulous bonus, we’re happy, too. So happy, in fact, that while at the pet store purchasing our new fish, we priced out larger tanks! Our son would like one for his birthday—which gives us a few months to work on our skills, and consult sources we’re coming to trust—and we’ve picked out a spot for a 30-gallon tank.
Our fish are as perfect a fit for our family as we could have hoped. My son and I handle the maintenance, my husband is mastering feedings. The kids like to check in on their tropical friends, know each by name (as far as they can tell)—my daughter even tells her preschool friends about our platys and tetras. We must be doing something right.
“The Last Kid on the Block” is a continuing series following the Knudsen family’s progress selecting and caring for their first pets. Andrea Knudsen lives in suburban Chicago with her husband and two children.
