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Even before baby arrives,
make sure that during your pregnancy, your pet gets regular veterinarian
checkups and vaccinations. During the last few weeks of pregnancy, begin
the process of familiarizing your pet with the sights, sounds, and
smells the baby will bring. Here are a few ideas:
Spread a baby blanket
scented with baby powder or lotion on your lap, then let your pet rest
on your lap to feel the baby moving inside you. Pet and talk to the
animal to reassure him.
Wrap a doll in the same
blanket, and perform baby-care tasks such as feeding and changing
diapers. If you have a dog, practice having him sit or stay. Offer your
pet a food treat, petting, and kind words after you've finished the
"chore."
Several times a day play a
short recording of a baby's crying; talk calmly to your pet while the
tape is running.
As your house and/or baby's
room fills with clothes and furniture, allow your pet to sniff and
inspect everything.
Have a friend or relative
bring their baby to your house. While someone holds the baby, carefully
allow your pet to see and smell the baby; for safety's sake, you should
hold your pet during this visit (a friendly dog can simply get
overexcited, for example).
If you have any concern that
your dog will misbehave when he first meets your baby, you should plan
to have him muzzled or on a leash. If he's not accustomed to these
devices, use them periodically now -- but don't limit their use to times
when you're familiarizing him with baby's world. It's hard for most dogs
to get used to a muzzle, and it may take some time before the animal is
comfortable with it.
Victoria L. Voith, DVM, PhD,
and Peter L. Borchelt, PhD, of the Gaines Dog Care Center, in Chicago,
recommend that you and your dog attend obedience classes months before
your baby is due. An uncontrollable dog can easily injure a baby, just
by accident.
"It's important that
the mother attends the classes," adds Linda Votaw, DVM, of the
Rosewood Pet Hospital, in Rosewood Heights, Illinois. Dogs are most
likely to obey a man's deep voice, so classes will probably be most
helpful if they train the dog to listen to Mom too. This is especially
true if your spouse usually gives the dog commands but you (or later, a
female caregiver) will be the one home alone with baby and dog.
The Big
Meeting
Feed your pet prior to
baby's arrival home; he'll be in a better mood after a meal, and more
receptive to meeting the baby. And he'll also be more receptive to your
baby if she's not crying when they meet.
Talk calmly, and offer
petting, praise, and treats for good behavior. Do not force the animal
toward the baby. Some species-specific tips:
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When
everyone returns home at once, bringing in an unfamiliar bundle, a
dog can easily get overexcited. Ideally, when mother and baby come
home, the mother should greet the dog without the baby. After all,
you've been gone for a day or so, and the dog probably misses you.
If possible, get someone else to hold the baby, in another room,
while you give the dog some attention.
Wait
for the dog to settle down before the baby is brought into the
room. One person should attend to the baby, and one to the dog.
Whoever is holding the baby should be seated, to appear less
threatening.
At
first, let the dog see and smell the baby from about ten to
fifteen feet away. As mentioned above, if you have any concern
that the dog will misbehave, use a muzzle or leash.
Slowly
bring the dog toward the baby. If the dog is too excited, don't
let him get close to the baby, and you may want to wait until
later if you have any qualms about how the dog is behaving. It may
even take several days for the dog to become calm enough. Reward
good behavior, and avoid harsh punishments.
Doggy
Issues
Usually
dogs are protective and will accept a baby as part of the family
"pack". However, problems occasionally occur when it has
not been made clear to the animal that the new bundle is a family
member the dog needs to protect and respect. Parents might not be
concerned that the dog would see the newborn as an intruder or
threat, but even if your dog gets along with older children, don't
leave him alone with a new baby.
Taking
the steps outlined above to prepare your pet will help him
understand baby is part of the family.
Be
alert when the child starts to crawl or walk, as your dog may
react in self-defense to these new behaviors. And keep soiled
diapers in a securely sealed container. It's normal maternal
behavior for a dog to lick up her puppies' waste, and your dog may
try to do this for your baby.
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Sit
down with the baby, and allow the cat to inspect him. Unlike dogs,
cats may not want to sniff the baby right away.
A
Happy Family
After
baby is home, be sure to give your pet extra attention so he will
not feel neglected. If ignored too long, he will act naughty to
receive any attention from you (in much the same manner that older
siblings often do).
It's
not a good idea to leave your pet and baby together unsupervised.
Even though they may seem to get along, it's best to be completely
sure they "play nice" -- for your baby's sake and for
your pet's. So shut the baby's bedroom door, or install a gate or
screen door. Use a room monitor for extra protection.
Catty
Remarks
According
to Dr. Votaw, there is usually almost no trouble when introducing
a cat to a baby. Yet old wives' tales abound. The most common one
is that cats suck the breath out of babies, because they smell
milk on their mouth.
"This
is false," says Dr. Votaw, adding that more realistic reasons
a cat may want to be close to a baby are "because it is
curious and [because] it wants to get warm."
Since
cats are jumpers, crib rails are no obstacle for them. Place a
screen or taut netting over the crib to keep the cat from sleeping
with the baby. (Remove the screen once the baby is able to reach
it.)
Be
aware that a cat might scratch or urinate on baby's belongings.
This behavior in a cat can symbolize a number of things --
affection, a sense of possessiveness, or aggression.
In any
case spraying is a habit you want to discourage; if you have this
problem with your cat, keep him out of baby's room. When you must
reprimand your cat, experts recommend spraying him with water from
a plant mister or clapping your hands and shouting,
"No!"
Keep
the cat's litter box out of children's reach; a number of
infections can be contracted from animal waste. If the litter box
is kept behind a closed door, and the cat is shown where it is, he
will quickly learn ways to let you know he needs to use it.
Cat
dander is the most common cause of pet allergies. To reduce
allergic reactions and the spread of germs, wash your child's
hands after she pets an animal. Bathing the animal weekly may
reduce allergic reactions. If you have an older cat who doesn't
take well to baths, brush-on products to reduce dander are
available. If your baby often has a runny nose, or if allergies
are common in your family, you might want to have her checked for
a pet allergy.
Cats
do not like loud noises, such as crying; rapid movements, such as
baby's sometimes jerky limb movements; or the rough handling that
toddlers are capable of. A toddler can learn to live peacefully
with a cat. Mary Jo Mersol-Barg, a cat breeder in Michigan and the
mother of three children, says, "Parents must be role models.
Show the child how to gently stroke the cat." Make sure the
child knows not to antagonize a cat, pat him sharply on the head,
or hold him against his will.
Your
cat may hide when the atmosphere gets too loud or wild; even if
everyone knows where his hiding place is, teach your child to
leave the cat alone when he's retreated there. |
Adding a pet to the
family
If you don't have a pet but
want to add one to your family, it's preferable to "wait until your
child is at least three" before getting a dog or cat, says Linda
Votaw. "Then your child can be taught to treat the animal with
respect, can share the feeding responsibilities, and will reap the
emotional rewards."
Another reason for
postponing adding an animal to the family is that the care of a puppy or
kitten may be overwhelming for new parents, who already have their hands
full.
The wild kingdom
The Centers for Disease
Control reports that wild animals, not pets, cause about 90 percent of
rabies cases. Rabies is prevalent in raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.
Do not feed or pet any wild animals, and wash your hands after touching
anything outdoors that might be contaminated, such as firewood.
If your pet spends time
outside, be sure to check him periodically for ticks. Ticks can transmit
Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. When you find ticks on
your pet, remove them with tweezers.
Pregnant women should be
extra careful when handling the kitty litter box. A parasite that causes
a disease known as toxoplasmosis may be lurking there,
especially if your cat spends any time outside or eats birds or mice.
When contracted for the
first time during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can harm the
baby, perhaps causing blindness, epilepsy, or mental retardation or
damaging the baby's central nervous system. The most serious birth
defects occur when the disease is contracted during the first trimester.
Only 30 percent of affected newborns display birth defects, but problems
may develop years later.
Humans can also get toxoplasmosis
from eating raw or undercooked meat that contains the parasite, or
vegetables that were in contaminated soil and not washed properly.
In adults, toxoplasmosis
usually causes only a mild illness. According to the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, about 25 percent of women of childbearing age
have had toxoplasmosis without even knowing it. The
symptoms -- fever, sore throat, swollen glands -- mimic a cold or mild
flu. If you had toxoplasmosis before conception, your baby
will not be affected.
A blood test can reveal
whether or not you have antibodies against toxoplasmosis,
which would indicate that you've been exposed.
Follow-up tests can tell
whether the exposure was during pregnancy; if so, you may be given
medication, or your baby may be treated soon after birth, to reduce the
effects on her.
Tips for avoiding toxoplasmosis:
Don't adopt a stray cat when
you're pregnant. Keep your cat indoors. Feed him only commercial cat
food or well-cooked meat. Keep an outdoor cat off your bed, and don't
hold him close to your face. If possible, avoid handling the litter box
during pregnancy. If you must do the job yourself, change the litter box
daily (the feces is not infectious until after 24 hours), wear rubber
gloves and a mask, and wash your hands thoroughly. After 24 hours, the
disease can become airborne -- meaning you can breathe it in -- so the
box should be cleaned daily even if someone other than a pregnant woman
is doing it. When gardening, keep in mind that cat fees might have
contaminated the soil. Wear rubber gloves, and wash your hands
afterward. Before eating fresh fruits and vegetables that may have been
in contaminated soil, rinse them thoroughly. Keep insects off and out of
your food; among other reasons for not wanting their presence, they may
have walked through material infected with toxoplasmosis
parasites. Never eat raw or uncooked meat, especially pork, lamb or
mutton. After handling raw meat, wash your hands, kitchen utensils, and
surfaces with hot, soapy water.
Scratches and bites
Even the gentlest pet may
bite or scratch when he becomes overexcited or threatened. Teaching your
baby how your pet indicates that he wants to be left alone is a good way
to prevent accidents. These signs range from the subtle, such as when
the animal retreats to another room, to the obvious -- when he hisses or
growls.
Clean a scratch promptly
with hydrogen peroxide or soap and water, apply antibiotic ointment, and
see a doctor if your baby develops a low fever, fatigue, headache, and a
lump on the scratched area one or two weeks after the scratch. These may
be signs of cat scratch fever, which is a real disease but causes only
the mild flu like symptoms described above. The germ is transferred to
the cat's claws during licking, so in addition to not letting your cat
scratch your baby, don't allow him to lick your baby's eyes, nose,
mouth, or an open wound.
If you're considering
declawing your cat for baby's safety, you should know that doing so does
have possible physical and emotional complications for the cat,
according to Cat Fancy columnist Carole Wilbourne. (Also, it may not
even be an option -- most veterinarians will not declaw a cat over eight
months old.) Declawing makes the cat feel defenseless, which may trigger
biting and aggression. Training your cat to use a scratching post
is the ideal solution.
All animal bites should be
washed promptly with soap and water. To be on the safe side, bites that
break the skin should be treated by a doctor within eight hours; severe
infections can develop if the wound is not properly cleaned. Infections
are ten times more likely after a cat bite than after a dog bite,
because the wound is deep and narrow. Antibiotics are usually
prescribed.
Reprinted from American
Baby, "Will our Pet Like the Baby?", by Cathi Edler, March,
1994
| Bringing home the
newborn baby and having a pet |
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For many of us, our pet is reigning
king before a baby arrives. But through some biological or
hormonal imperative, that all ends with our first glance into
our baby's eyes. Your pet is sure to notice he's no longer the
baby of the family. To soften the blow, start preparing him
well ahead of time.
In the months preceding your baby's arrival, establish a
routine—something your pet can anticipate and rely on. Even
though your life will be completely turned around for a
few months, try to make an effort to continue your pet's
routine.
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Be realistic: If your pet is used to a daily
one-hour jog, start gradually to decrease her exercise time
before the baby arrives.
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Investigate other avenues of exercise: Hire a dog walker
(or a neighbor kid), or set up play dates with doggie
friends.
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Stock up on the food and biscuits your pet is used to
(now is not the time for a diet change).
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Stockpile toys, so that your pet will have something to
busy herself with.
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Ready the nursery well ahead of time. Establish room
rules and regulations before the baby is present (no need
to fuel rivalry). A pet should not be allowed to sleep in
the room alone with your newborn. Cats can jump into cribs (and
no, they won't suck the air out of your baby). Allow your pet in
the nursery only when you are present. Make it off limits
at all other times.
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Assemble baby furniture ahead of time, so your pets can
adjust to space changes. Some pets may even enjoy these
changes.
When the big day arrives (and while you're still at the
hospital), have your mate bring home something that has the
baby's scent on it. A good choice is the cap the nurses place
on a newborn's head. Place it down in front of your pet and
allow him to sniff it.
When the baby comes home, allow your pet to see and sniff
him, but be sure to hold the baby safely your arms. Never leave
your pet alone with the baby, and never let your pet approach
the newborn without your being right there to guarantee the
baby's safety.
Now that your baby is home, allow for reasonable together
time with your pet. It is especially important that your pet
get to spend time with the parent she is closest to.
When you are comfortable nursing or bottle-feeding your
baby, your pet can sit nearby and enjoy that bonding and quiet
time.
As soon as your baby is old enough, teach him to give your
pets their treats.
Most pets ultimately will adjust to their new
circumstances—just as you will. Some thought and planning may
make the transition a little easier.
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