Pets and Babies

KEEP YOUR PET HEALTHY.  Make sure your pet is current on vaccines, has had a thorough physical exam, and has been evaluated for external and internal parasites.  Your pet should also be spayed or neutered. 

Address any behavioral problems:  If your pet has any discipline issues, or exhibits major anxiety, you may want to seek the help of a specialist.

TRAIN YOUR PET.  Put your dog through some behavior and/or obedience training.  If you pet has been through some training already, it’s a good idea to repeat some classes and review.  There is no such thing as a dog that is too well behaved.  Every dog should know how to sit, stay, come, lie down on command, and walk nicely on a leash.  Now is the time to teach your pet NOT to jump on you at all, but especially when you sit down.  You definitely do not want your pet to jump on you when you’re holding the baby.

Be sure that your dog continues to get plenty of exercise.  A tired dog is always a better behaved dog.  Dogs should have at least a 30 minute steady, brisk walk every day.

DECREASE THE TIME SPENT WITH YOUR PET.  Start decreasing the amount of time you spend with your pet.  They will certainly get less of your attention when the baby arrives, so if they don’t expect as much of your attention, it won’t be as disturbing to them once the baby is here.  Have someone other than the mother-to-be give the pet special time and attention. 

Pets like routine.  Think ahead and gradually establish new routines early on.  Plan on spending some quality time each day with the pet without the baby around.

REHEARSE YOUR PET.  Get your pets used to a variety of ages of kids.  Invite a friend who has a baby over for visits.  Of course, supervise any interaction between the visiting baby or children and your pet.

Start “playing house”.  Carry a baby doll around; mimic caring for a baby, feeding, talking to it, changing diapers, bathing, etc.

Let your pet sniff baby lotions, soaps, wipes, etc to get them accustomed to these smells and learn to associate these smells as a good thing.

Block access to “off limits” areas early.  If you don’t want your pet in the baby’s room, on the changing table, etc., institute and enforce these rules several months early.  You can also lay double stick tape on surfaces that you do not want your pet on (furniture, counters, etc).

Get a CD that plays baby noises.  Check out preparingfido.com for one.  Playing this from time to time might make the arrival of the baby with its squalls and cries less frightening.  Also, if you have mechanical swings, rocking chairs, or toys that make noise, start to play them in advance.

LET YOUR PET SNIFF THINGS OUT.  After the baby is born, but before mom and baby come home from the hospital, bring home a towel or blanket that has the baby’s scent on it and allow the pet to sniff away.

It is never a good idea to leave your pet alone with your young child.  There should always be adult supervision.  Every pet has limits; don’t let your child push these limits.  When children are older, they must be taught to be gentle towards your pets and also learn that dogs naturally chase, herd, catch, and fetch.

Cats

Most of these things apply more to dogs since cats tend to be more independent-minded.  Here a couple of tips for cats:

-Cats will normally go to great lengths to stay away from this loud, smelly, newcomer.

-If cats have “accidents” on the baby’s bedding it is most likely that the cat is trying to reclaim its territory by replacing the baby’s smell with its own.

-Toxoplasmosis is a concern to the health of an unborn child but it is rare in the US.  The parasite is found in the feces of cats that have eaten raw meat, birds, mice, or contaminated soil.  The parasite is more commonly found in uncooked or undercooked meat, particularly pork.  Pregnant women should not handle the cat’s litter box or uncooked meat.  If you are the only one available to do these things, you should wear gloves when cleaning the litter box and also when gardening.

Katie Holmes, CVT