your little one to help your pet develop a
positive association with the baby.
Where possible, try to maintain
your pet’s routine. Your pet still needs
quality time with you even if it is only
five minutes of sitting alone together,
talking quietly or grooming. Continuing
quality time will ensure your pet remains
a valued family member.
When things don’t go to plan
Sometimes, even with the most
rigorous preparation, a pet may show
jealousy and even aggression towards
your child. An aggressive dog or cat
should be kept away from children
at all times. Vets want to see pets
live happily with their families after a
baby is born. However, we will never
recommend keeping a pet that places a
newborn baby or child at risk. If you find
yourself in this situation, please make
an appointment with your vet for advice
and to discuss your options.
Keeping children safe
In preparing for a new baby, it’s important
to think about when your baby will be
mobile. Most problems with pets occur
when babies start crawling and walking.
Their movements can be unpredictable
and this can excite or threaten pets.
Sometimes clumsy actions or
unwelcome ‘love’ can cause a cat to
lash out, or pulling a dogs ears or tail
can cause a dog to growl, snap or bite.
To keep your children safe in the long
term, consider the following:
• Never leave your pet and baby alone,
no matter how much you trust your
pet. Children under five should never
be left unsupervised with a pet.
• Continue to monitor your pet’s
behaviour as your baby grows and
implement behavioural or routine
changes as necessary.
• If you have any concerns about your
pet’s behaviour, contact your vet.
Dr Amanda Roddam is Veterinarian and
Practice Owner of Kowloon Veterinary
Hospital. Call her on 2382 3300 for
advice or behavioural assistance before
the issue becomes more serious.
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