Questions You Should Ask Someone Selling a Pet

If you are looking to buy a pet, there are a few questions you should ask when someone is selling a pet. Here are some suggestions and why they should be asked.

Questions About Pet Health

The first questions you want to ask someone selling a pet are about the pets health and healthcare. You will need to know about any medical conditions, and their reasons, and what is being done about them. This includes questions about if the pet has been spayed or neutered; unless you are planning on breeding the pet, this should be a priority item. You also want to know about the pet's age. If the current owner tells you a dog is only five, but the dog looks or acts older, you must consider the possible costs of caring for this pet because there are likely health issues. Also realize that there are different healthcare concerns for puppies and kittens compared to senior pets or teenagers.

Ask questions about vaccinations; you want information about when, what kind, how often, and who gave them. If the person selling the pet doesn't have this information, or is reluctant to provide it, this is a clear warning sign that the animal may have problems and will need a complete physical and set of shots. If you are not able to handle an upfront cost of $200 minimum for this, you should not consider the pet; if the current owner is willing to get the pet vaccinated before you take it home, then offer to finish the transaction after the vet visit.

Questions About Pet Records

If the current owner tells you the pet is vaccinated and fixed, the next question to ask is to see the paper copies of the vaccination records. You want to see the most recent records, which shouldn't be more than two years old. Why the time limit? Shots for parvovirus, influenza, rabies and others are given either yearly or every two or three years. Some communities insist on having this information current. If you take the pet home without this information, it is like they never got a single shot; you are then liable for fines, fees, vet bills and the possibility of losing the pet.

You want to ask about getting copies of regular vet visits also because these could offer concerns and plans which the veterinarian would like to have addressed. While these may not be vital, it does show a concern for the continued good health on the part of both you and the current owner. You also want to ask about registration tags if you do not see any; this is especially true for dogs as most communities require dogs be registered.

Questions About Pet Living Conditions

Among the questions you should ask someone selling a pet are questions about living conditions. If you have children, you want to ask how the pet handles kids, how many and what ages the kids are. If you have other pets, you want to ask if this pet lives alone or with other animals; and if they live with others, what kind, how many, and how they interact. Ask if the pet lives indoors or outdoors; along with this ask about how much space the pet uses and how big the space is.

The reason for these questions are to match the living conditions as close to what the pet has now. If the pet is used to kids, and you live alone, the pet will feel lonely and anxious when you are not there. The same happens in reverse if a dog with a solo owner is moved in with three kids. If the pet is used to being outside and you confine them to a small apartment, the pet will feel trapped and cause damage. If the pet is older, being adopted into a home with puppies or kittens will cause stress because the older pet doesn't have the energy to deal with the little ones. The reverse is also true; if you take a kitten and introduce it to an older dog, the kitten will love to play while the dog sits there wondering why the kitten is jumping all over his back and head. If you have a huge house, you will use up many hours locating a cat who is used to small spaces.

Questions About Pet Supplies

You have to know what type of food the pet is used to eating. You should also know why they eat that food. If there is a medical reason, you must stick to the diet. If there is a digestion problem, switching food will cause stomach upset. If a pet is not used to being crated, you will have another problem if you don't have a crate. You also will need to know about the type of litter if you get a cat. Cats are picky about litter. If you are looking at a dog, you need to know if the dog is paper trained, or needs to go outside. The guinea pig may need a larger cage. The horse may be used to eating from a bale holder rather than from loose hay. The pet may require certain cleaning supplies due to allergies or temperament. You must ask about these things to ensure a good transition and quality of life from day one in your home.