Dogs
Dogs need special attention. They need to know they are loved and wanted. If they don't get love, play, effection or recognition they become a resentment on the family.
So if you don't feel that you have the time or energy for a dog, more specifically a puppy, then please don't get one. There may be another pet that doesn't require so much attention that would suit you better.
Dogs need a special diet. Their meals should consist of grain, meat (protein), and veggie. They should eat twice a day at small portions. Once in the morning and once in the evening before dusk. They should be trained to eat their meal right there and then. Not to be eating from a dog dish thoughout the day. Eating all day long tends to make dogs lazy. They have less energy and become over weight. They should always have access to water unless you are trying to house break them. Crate training takes less time and is more effective then the ole newspaper on the floor trick. Some people don't want to do crate train because they feel that the dog is being punished inside a crate. Or they feel they don't love their dog enough if they keep it in a crate. When the training is all over, your dog is not going to think about all the time it was in a crate. Lets not forget about the treats that dogs get for good behavior. Treats should not be given at any other time. It goes against what you are trying to teach your dog in the first place. I'm not going to explain it because I believe it's just common sense. Treats should also be of high quality not fillers.
Vet appointments are very important to keep. Shots and disease checks are crucial. In our area Parvo is wiping out our dogs like crazy during the spring. My daughter works in a vet clinic and she tells me the horrors that come along with spring. The flys are landing on the dog feces and then doing their vomit thing in the grass where a dog later eats the grass and then viola, Parvo! Get your dog's shots when you are supposed to. Don't forget the booster shots as well. They are just as important. Clean up after your dog in the yard or in the park to prevent Parvo. Recently our dog was diagnosed with Valley Fever. For you who do not know about Valley Fever it's a disease that is found in a few states but mostly the southern part of the United States. It is a mold spore that is breathed in usually from dirt that is flying through the air. Our dog is a digger and because most of Arizona is desert, she digs and the dirt goes flying and she is inhaling it at the same time. Once a human or an animal has been diagnosed with this disease, they will always have it. It enters through the lungs but eventually ends up in the bones. Once there the spores eat away at the bone material leaving an animal or human in lots of pain and brittle bones. This is one of those disease that can be controlled with medication and does not always effect the person with it. Some people have it for years and never know they had it. Today we are seeing a steady uprise and I think it's due more to the fact that doctors are now aware of it. This disease can be crippling if not recognized early. It is often treated with antibiotics and pain killers according to symptoms. States that endure the monsoon season will see Valley Fever more often then states that don't. If you live in the desert and have a dog, either control your dog from digging or make sure your landscape is in such a fashion that a dog can't dig or is not in a dusty area. (More to come on Dogs)
Cats
Fish
Birds
Turtles
Lizards
Snakes