Pets in our context

By Xiomy Villarraga

Pets are animals kept at home, sometimes, as members of the family,  but they should be domestic animals as: dogs, cats, parakeets or they could also  be farm animals  but it depends mostly on  the area we live, for example, in Cajicá the O.A.T.A.A  ( Environmental and Farming Technical Assistance Office)  is responsible of verifying the comfort of the animals and studying the environment in which they are. Oataa formerly called Umata The O.A.TA.A: Is committed with the productive projects that meet the agricultural, agro industrial, and environmental needs.In Cajicá the most common pets are  dogs and cats.

ADOPTION IN CAJICA

At present. in our municipality the Umata is responsible for collecting and giving pets for adoption.  They almost monthly do a sweep of street dogs, they are taken to a shelter for about a week, where they bath them and heal some wounds, if there are too many  dogs and nobody adopts them, or those who are already very old or sick,  are given a shot  to kill them. There are also people who collect dogs or cats in the streets and simply take them to their homes. These people often put them in adoption via  internet or with posters. Here, in Cajicá. the percentage of abandoned dogs is larger than other animals; in each corner we found a puppy enduring cold, hunger and thirst. For this reason they are already doing campaigns which encourages people  to adopt instead of buying dogs.

PET CARE:

 Having a pet is not an easy job. To know if a pet is happy and well cared, the Umata checks  if they are:

·         Free from hunger and thirst.

·         Free of discomfort.

·         Free from pain, injury and disease.

·         Free from fear and pain.

·         Free to express normal behavior

Cleaning of the teeth

Although it seems that our dogs do not need to maintain dental health as we do, this is not true and it is very important to prevent the emergency of "scale", very common in certain breeds, to prevent other associated problems. Plate and calculations begin to form on the dog's teeth after a year of life, particularly if you feed it with soft foods. Food bacteria and saliva accumulate and adhere to teeth forming a plaque. For care of the teeth of our mascots, we can brush their teeth regularly (at least once a week), using a small toothbrush and, if the animal supports it,  use a toothpaste formulated especially for him, If you cannot brush your pet, although less effective for the control of dental plaque, there are alternatives such as gels, spray and cleaning bones. Ask your vet about it and he will recommend you the most suitable to each particular case. Your dog should receive periodic dental examinations. A good time is during the annual examination for  vaccines. 

Feeding:

Veterinary science mentions that dogs shoild receive an adequate proportion of proteins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates. Although dogs do not usually refuse dry food that his master  chopped into pieces, it isn't enough, It is advisable to feed them with dry food  moistened  in milk or in some nutritious broth. The adult dog should eat only once or twice a day. Puppies and pregnant bitches, on the other hand, prefer to have their daily portion distributed into three or four parts. In terms of quantities, the general rule is that the dog can eat as much as you want. However it is not usual, that a dog swallows food in excess to the point to get sick. Only in exceptional cases, if the animal is too fat, it will be required a reduction in the  daily meal. When this is needed, it is recommended to go to lowering rations gradually, little by little, until the dog returns to a more normal weight. Something that should never be ignored is the necessity that dogs always have water in abundance, much more in warm climates or when they are usually fed with dry food. Dogs are one of the animal species that most vividly experience the anxiety of thirst and heat. The puppies usually begin to eat solid food after three weeks, although they are still fed by their  mother for some more time, .the puppies to it a lot so you can feed them with a paste made with beef and milk. The same mixture can be given frequently to the dog already adult, thus preventing him to be accustomed only to dry food.

CATS:

Eating habits are quite different from dogs. While they literally devour their food in a twinkling of an eye, the cat prefers to eat more calmly. It is not unusual to leave their tray abandoned with some food,  to return to finish it later, all calmly, even a few hours later. Precisely because of this habit, it is recommended to serve their food in the shade, in a cool place, so that the heat of the Sun do not decompose it is soon. You can feed the cat once or twice in the day, according to the most convenient to its owner or to the person who usually is responsible of feeding it.