Sizing up right and wrong pets for your needs

By Maria Kegel

JAKARTA (JP): "David" felt helpless as he watched the last of his two baby rabbits die. He thought he had overfed them, or not given them enough water when they were left alone overnight.

Veterinarian Dr. Siti Zaenab in Kemang, South Jakarta, said both rabbits were probably doomed to a premature death -- and there was nothing the young executive could have done to prevent it.

"Vendors selling rabbits on the street sell them when they are too young. The females have been overbred, that's why the immune system is low, and babies are taken from the mother too soon," she said.

Siti explained that while humans develop 50 percent of their antibodies in the womb, rabbits, dogs and cats get over 50 percent from their mother's milk.

Dr. Ina Purborini Messakh, another veterinarian in Kemang, agreed that many rabbits were weak from overbreeding and early separation, but said vendors tried to sell them as young as possible because people found them the most irresistible when they were small.

So which pet is ideal for a single person, like David who was seeking something to take care of, or a family?

For singles, according to Dr. Gunadi Setiadarma, the answer lies in what the owner can afford in terms of time and cost, how much space they have to offer and their interest.

"Every owner must book some time with their pet, not only because animals need the company but to make sure any problems the pet might have are not overlooked. So for singles, it's better to choose a simple animal with low maintenance," he said.

Fish or iguanas only require feeding once a day and do not need much attention, he said.

Short-haired cats also won his vote as they were independent, and, unlike dogs, did not require a walk every night for exercise and to defecate.

It is also important to consider the servants, and if they like animals enough to help care for them, he said.

For owners short on time, he ruled out long-haired cats, as they need to be brushed daily to keep their fur free of tangles.

"It's especially true in this climate, otherwise their fur becomes matted easily, and that leads to nasty skin problems with dirt, bacteria and fungus getting trapped in there," he said.

Siti agreed that cats are easier to care for, but if the person wanted a dog, the best breeds to choose were short haired, such as a pug, Boston terrier or miniature pincher, which looks like a small Doberman.

With regard to space, cats are fine with a small room, she said.

"Provide something for it to climb on for exercise and give it a place to hide in, which can be as simple as an empty box. Simply crumpling some paper into a ball is enough for a toy for it, just to keep it busy, and providing a small rug or mat will give them something to scratch instead of your furniture."

Gunadi said cats and dogs need housetraining, with cats requiring less effort than dogs.

"Many owners complain that their dog won't listen to them, only the trainer. It's important that there is consistency and that takes time, and we have to be there for when the dog does something wrong."

Families

As for families, Ina said dogs were a good choice, but any kind of pet was good to have around children as they "foster compassion in them".

Ina, who owns three dogs and seven cats, said dogs respond more and seem to have an innate ability to pick up on human feelings, understanding when we are sad, angry or happy.

She also said the right breed of dog would protect children, and cited the boxer as a patient dog with them.

"A boxer belonging to my mother's friend did nothing but whimper and whine when several children playing with it cut one of its ears with some scissors," Ina said, adding that Labradors were also a good choice for children in the family.

However, she warned against choosing Dalmatians, saying the Walt Disney movie had done a disservice by popularizing them and giving the impression that they were a "cute" dog.

"We don't recommend them for families with children as they are hyperactive and they play too rough. In our clinic, they are the breed that is most often put to sleep for biting," she said.

She was quick to add that a Dalmatian was not worse than a rottweiler, but people already assume that the rottweiler is mean.

"We can't entirely generalize about the character, of course, as it also depends on how the dog was treated."

Large breeds cost more than smaller breeds because of food needs, but health costs are the same, and all three veterinarians recommended that owners ensure their dogs receive vaccinations, especially in their first year.

Dogs require a series of two injections for parvo, two for distemper, hepatitis and leptospirosis (DHL) and one for rabies, which are not given altogether.

In the second year, only one booster shot combining all of the vaccines is needed, and Ina said it was worthwhile to keep up the boosters to help the immune system remain high.

She said the vaccine for leptospirosis, a disease spread through rat urine, was important to administer twice a year because of Jakarta's high rat population and the many strains of the disease out there.

"Antibodies will stay at their highest level with an injection every six months."

Dewormers should also be given every three months.

When shopping for a pet, Gunadi recommended that new owners bring their pet in to a vet for a checkup.

"Shop for an animal that's at least two-and-a-half months old and ask for the animal's vaccination book, checking that they've had their parvo and distemper shots and that the vaccinations were signed by a vet," he said, adding that some pet shop owners cut costs by giving the injections themselves.

Also be sure to ask if the mother or father had any congenital abnormalities or certain sensitivities, Ina added.

Although David admitted he felt a failure with the rabbits' deaths, Ina said the best thing to do was to get another pet as there were so many animals out there that needed good homes and love.

"I always want to help animals even though they're going to die, so at least they knew some love while they were still alive," she said.