Healthy Living
Pets
Part of planning for the arrival of your baby is getting your home ready. This includes getting your cats or dogs ready for the new addition to the family.
Tips for preparing before baby comes home
- Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are all up to date.
- Make sure your pet has been de-wormed.
- Get a physical exam (and have a stool sample tested) for your dog to make sure there are no internal or external parasites that might come in contact with your baby.
- Before you bring baby home, bring home a blanket or sleeper which has the baby’s smell on it and let your pet sniff it. This way your pet will get used to your baby’s smell.
- If you want to walk your dog with your baby in the stroller, practice walking your dog with the stroller before your baby is born.
- Talk to your vet about introducing your baby to your pet.
Tips for when your baby comes home
- Because you may have been in the hospital for a few days and your pet will miss you, when you first come home from the hospital leave the baby outside with another adult and go inside and greet your pet by yourself. Spend a few minutes alone with your pet before you introduce the baby.
- Don’t scold your pet for being curious about the baby. You don’t want to make him/her afraid of the baby. A dog that isn’t afraid is less likely to be aggressive or bite.
- Don’t separate the baby and the dog all of the time. Teach your dog that you will be very pleased with him/her if he/she lies quietly nearby when the baby is present. Remember to reward the behaviour your like either with praise or food, rather than getting angry with the dog when he/she does something you don’t like.
- Baby gates can be very helpful in keeping babies and dogs safe. Once your baby is crawling they are more likely to accidentally hurt or frighten your dog. Make sure you spend some time getting your dog used to the baby gates before you restrict his/her home in this way.
- Never leave your baby or toddler unsupervised with any pet. Pets rarely mean to hurt anyone but they can find the behaviour of small children disturbing or even frightening which can result in a bite or scratch.
- After you bring your baby home make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. If you can’t do this yourself ask a family member or friend to walk your dog. Exercise will reduce your dog’s anxiety about the changes in the household.
- If possible don’t let your pet lick your baby's face or skin because the immune system of a baby is not fully developed. There is a normal amount of bacteria in the saliva of pets that increases if there is dental disease, or the pet has free access to the outdoors, and therefore possible sources of spoiled food etc. If a friendly lick occurs though, don't worry. Just wash the skin with soap and water.
- Remember that dogs and cats will expect your continued attention to reassure them that they are still very important to you. During breaks such as naptime, take time to play with your dog or cat and groom them etc. This will go a long way to encourage "doggie" acceptance.
- Try and include your dog in as many family activities as possible such as walks or trips to the beach.
Cat Stuff
Cats carry tiny parasites in their feces which can be dangerous to you and your baby (it’s called toxoplasmosis). Make sure you wear gloves while you are changing your cat’s litter box or gardening. After you have your baby, make sure you wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds after touching your cat before you hold your baby. If you have questions or you are concerned about Toxoplasmosis talk to your doctor.
Cat Myths
There are many myths about cats’ reactions to a new baby in their home. Even though all cats need time to adjust to the new addition to your family most cats get used to babies quickly and become the ideal pet for small children.
There is absolutely no evidence that cats can suck the breath from infants. They may sniff because they are interested or curious. Cats do not smother babies on purpose, but they may want to sleep near or on a baby simply because they are attracted to the warmth and softness. In order to keep your cat from sleeping too close to your baby you can use mosquito netting to cover the crib or close the cat out of the room. You can also use motion-activated spray cans that startle but don’t harm the cat to teach them to stay away from a certain area.
For more information on preparing your dog and cat for the arrival of your baby visit the following web sites:
Animal Care.ca
http://www.animalhealthcare.ca/contents/content.asp?id=353&cat=dogs
Parents Canada.com
http://www.parentscanada.com/developing/baby/articles.aspx?listingid=32
The Humane Society
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/introducing_your_pet_and_new_baby.html
Parents Canada.com
http://www.parentscanada.com/developing/baby/articles.aspx?listingid=32
The BC Health Guide
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/tn7481/cause.htm
The Humane Society
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/introducing_your_pet_and_new_baby.html
Source:
Babies and Pets: Parents Canada Best Wishes. Summer 2006 Vol. 58 Issue 1.
Introducing Your Newborn Baby to the Family Dogs: Animal Health Care Information and Advice from Canadian Veterinarians: Animal Healthcare.ca
http://www.animalhealthcare.ca/contents/content.asp?id=353&cat=dogs
Babies and Pets: Parents Canada Best Wishes. Summer 2006 Vol. 58 Issue 1.
Baby’s Best Chance: Parents’ Handbook of Pregnancy and Baby Care Sixth Edition 2005. British Columbia: Ministry of Health.