Your vet or veterinary nurse can give you advice about pets.
They can give you advice about:
- choosing a pet
- preparing a pet for the arrival of a new baby or child
- looking after your pet
- training your pet
- child safety and health around pets
Choosing a pet
Try to choose the most suitable animal for your family.
They should be right for your family's circumstances and your child's:
- health
- age
- developmental stage
Important
Reptiles are not suitable pets if you have a child under age 5. This is because of the infections they can carry.
Get advice on owning a pet from Citizens Infomation.
Adult supervision around pets and children
Always supervise your child when they are around pets. Some animals may run away if they are unhappy, unwell or frightened. But others will bite and scratch.
To help keep your child and pet safe, it can be a good idea to keep your pet in a separate part of the house. You could keep them in a fenced area. You can also create a fenced-off area where your child can play.
Keep pet food and water bowls away from babies and children. Babies and young children can drown in a very small amount of water. Pet food is a potential choking hazard and a source of infection.
Make sure you always clean up after your pet.
Teach your child how to interact with a pet
When your child is able to understand, teach them how to:
- behave safely around pets
- avoid dangerous situations
- respond to danger signs
Do not expect your child to take on board your safety advice. Young children do not understand danger. This is why close adult supervision of your child around pets is important.
Be a good role model for your child and treat your pet with care and respect.
Children can sometimes get confused about a pet's body language. They may misread a pet's behaviour. A child should never put their face close to an animal's face.
Ask your child to tell you if they have been scratched or bitten.
Keeping your pet healthy
Keep all animals in your home or garden clean and healthy.
Do this by:
- making sure there is always clean water and a healthy food supply
- keeping up to date with vaccines, worming and flea or tick control
- getting advice from your vet about how to care for your pet
- asking your vet if your type or breed of pet needs any special care
If your pet shows any signs of sickness, skin disease or behavioural problems, get advice from your vet as soon as possible.
Keep sick animals away from children and be extra careful with cleaning and hand washing.