How Overindulgence And Caring Too Much Can Harm Your Pet

Everyone loves their pets, right? Well, in a perfect world.

I'm sure we can all agree that there are some people that harm their pets by not caring for them enough. We all hear the horror stories and watch the animal cop shows with tears and horror. Animal cruelty is far too common.

Fewer people will notice and agree that some people harm their pets by loving them too much.

Now, don't get me wrong. It's wonderful to love your pets so much you can't even describe the feeling. By 'loving them too much' in this case, I mean in the caretaking practices of the animal's owners.

Loving a dog so much that you feed them a cheeseburger a day, for example. Now, the dog enjoys the cheeseburger. Any dog would, unless they have some strange eating habits and preferences. However, the best thing for the dog's well-being is not to have a cheeseburger everyday, no matter how big or active the dog is.

The same thing goes for large amounts of treats with any species. The occasional treat, sure. Everyone likes some variety in their day. However, begging animals do not consider their own health when they are after whatever is in the pantry.

Extend this to grooming. If a dog/cat, etc. really doesn't like being brushed, bathed, clipped, etc., it is easy to give up the practice because you feel bad for putting them through something they so obviously hate. Letting them do their own thing may be easier and seem to be the nicer thing to do. In the long term, however, not grooming any animal can cause matting, bad odors, and various health problems.

Letting a pet get away with nervous habits is another example. It may be cute, and it may seem to be a coping mechanism for something, but there is an underlying problem with their environment that is causing their behavior, and it should be dealt with.

The gist is that letting an animal do things that are harmful to its long-term health, such as eating lots of cheeseburgers or picking at their skin constantly or any other sort of potentially destructive behavior is not good for them. The need to not be the one who holds them down and grooms them, or the one who denies them something they're after is understandable, but harmful to the animals that depend on us for our judgment in what is good for them.

Your animals love you. They will continue to love you in spite of the doctoring or grooming you give them, in spite of you refusing to give them that piece of chicken they think smells really good, or any other event that they don't like but have to endure.

Remember that, and care for them without caring for them too much. By balancing love and care with stern teachings and doctoring when they need it, your animals will be the best animal they can be, and you and your pet will be happier for it.

=> Morgan Clemens currently owns and runs "The Mutt Squad, LLC", a business that provides pet sitting, dog walking, and dog socialization services to Phoenix, AZ, and it's surrounding cities.

Her passion is and always has been the proper treatment of all animals, both wild and domestic. According to her, this proper treatment includes both mental and physical health, and is a necessary part of owning or interacting with any animal.

To learn more about The Mutt Squad and the service they provide, visit http://azmuttsquad.com