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The introductory period might not be easy at first, says Dr. Carol Osborne ofChagrin Falls Veterinary Center in Ohio, but it’s manageable, and in her experience, always ends well.
“I’ve never seen a situation where it hasn’t worked out,” she says.
Dr. Osborne suggests tweaking your pet’s environment in small ways from basically the moment you find out you’re expecting.
“I think it’s good to allow the pet to sniff the furniture and become acquainted with it,” she adds.
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“With pets, it’s important to remember everything starts with the nose,” she says. “Scents are a very big deal to them.”
And a word of warning to cat moms who are expecting babies: cats can carry a parasite called toxoplasmosis in their feces, and it’s incredibly dangerous to pregnant women. “Get Dad to take care of the litter box,” Dr. Osborne cautions.
Dr. Carol Osborne.Courtesy Dr. Carol Osborne
“You have to remember that you need lots of time, lots of love and lots of patience,” Dr. Osborne says.
Don’t leave your pet and child alone together until your child is school-aged.
Once your child gets older, teach them to be gentle with pets.
“Little kids might poke them in the eyes or pull their tails,” Dr. Osborne says. “In this case you’ll need to work with the pet and the child so that they learn not to do those things.”
One suggestion is to use a stuffed animal to show your child how to pet an animal properly, and which body parts you can’t touch.
“I know some people think their dogs are small people but unfortunately, they’re dogs,” she says. “We humanize them and some really are wonderful and fabulously trained, but some don’t tolerate kids’ behaviors.”
To those who might feel overwhelmed, Dr. Osborne says to focus on the payoff.
“Honestly, initially, most pets will look at babies with complete indifference and move on. And in my experience as a vet, I find that kids who start life out with a pet have a very best friend from day one. It’s amazing. The sooner you are prepared will make everything that much better.”
source: people.com
