Reader’s Digest International — August 2017

August• 2017 | 29

PETS

vaccinations have occurred before you

buy and get your animal checked out

by a vet right away.

4

Don’t handle your small animal

(guinea pig, bird, etc) for a few

days after you get it home. Give it time

to adjust to its new environment.

5

Unless your dog or cat has

allergies or a medical condition, it

doesn’t need a premium, high-priced

pet food. If you want to ensure your

pet’s long-term health, focus more on

how much you feed it (and keep it at a

healthy weight) and less on the label.

6

Our employees might tell you that

this animal is the sweetest or the

most playful, but keep in mind that

most stores have sales goals. Take

what the staff say with a grain of salt,

and interact with the animal yourself.

Insider secrets you should know before buying a pet

Six Things

Pet Shops

Won’t Tell You

atatgguiuineaapgggorororrrrabbbbibbbittmamammayyyy

inexpensive, but therearemnny

other costs – some ofthem ongoing–

to consider:you willneedtobuya

cage,groomingtools,food,abedand

toys, andyou’ll be back everymonth

torestock.Thenthereareannualvet

fees for the duration ofypyourpet’s life.

2

Manycages andtanks in pet shops

are overcrowdedor smaller than is

recommended, so don’t use them as a

guidefor the cage youbuy. We justify

smallcages as the animalsaresmall

when weget them and don’t staylong.

3

Don’t be surprised if the pet we
sold youhas parasites, a respiratory
infection or a more seriousdisease.
Animals often won’t show symptoms
untilyouget themhome.Somake
sureyouget certificates or written
PHOTO: iSTOCKproofthat vet examinations and