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How to Take Care of a Baby Animal

Frequently helpless and vulnerable, a baby animal can trigger nurturing feelings in nearly everyone. To foster a baby animal, you must meet certain health requirements to ensure its survival, especially when it is at an immature age, and more susceptible to diseases. A good dose of patience is also necessary to care for an animal that is at a tender age because some animals need feedings every two to three hours. Knowledge about your particular species' sleeping habits and warmth requirements is essential. A suitable environmental temperature is one of the most important aspects of raising a young animal.

Instructions

- 1
  Go to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website if you have questions or concerns about your baby dog, cat, horse or other small animal. This site offers a 24-hour "Virtual Pet Behaviorist" section. You can ask specific questions about your pet from the comfort of your home, and a qualified animal behaviorist will respond with pertinent information for free.
- 2
  Research the temperament, eating and sleeping habits of your baby animal in a thorough way. Find facts about the type of species you have and get as much specific information as possible. For example, soft or liquefied food may be necessary during particular growth cycles with some mammals.
- 3
  Create comfortable surroundings that closely adhere to your animal's specific requirements regarding food, warmth and light levels. For example, some animals are nocturnal and require low-light levels during the day, but extra warmth at night. Other animals need warmth all of the time when they are young. Use heating pads or hot-water bottles to warm an animal. However, try to prevent potential burns by using thick towels or blankets when using heating pads or hot-water bottles.
- 4
  Handle all baby animals in a careful manner, if at all. Most young animals are weaker than their adult counterparts and need time to grow into stronger beings. Rough handling can hamper this process. Some animals should not be carried around or even touched.
- 5
  Maintain a clean environment as your animal grows. Keep soiled areas to a minimum and change food and water bowls often. In addition, separate your animal's eating area from its food and water bowls. Baby animals are often susceptible to germs and diseases, so sustain a sanitary environment.
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  Get to know your animal. In spite of general attributes that pertain to each species, most animals have a tendency to display individual characteristics as well. Monitor your animal's behavior and try to fashion an environment that suits its particular behavior. For example, do not continue to feed your animal an item that it clearly doesn't like. Find alternatives, with similar nutritional values, that it may find more enjoyable.
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  Keep in touch with your veterinarian or animal expert about growth cycles and successive requirements. Monitor your animal's behavior and diet. Make detailed notes in a diary on regular basis.

Animals & Science