By Robert Everett
Pets are great! Taking a pet to college is a major thing to consider. They can be super-helpful for you as you are transitioning into your college life. They can make you feel more secure, safe, and loved. But above all, they are cute and cuddly! Not only can they become your best friends, but they can also help you make new friends on campus. Besides, they can help you exercise more (you must take them out for walks, right?) and give you the mental peace that you might need at times.
However, there are certain concerns that come with owning a pet in college. You will be busy most of the time – with schoolwork, hanging out with friends, and working – so you won’t probably have too much time to spend at home. Here is a relatively short list of quick advice you might find useful. Check it out!
Create a structured schedule
The first thing you want to do is structure and organize your college life. Since you have so much work to do (and still want time for yourself and your furry friend), the best option is to build a schedule. Here are some of the best Edubirdie help rules that might guide you on how to do that:
- Choose classes according to your needs. You might want to choose timeframes that allow you to return back home and spend some time with your friend. For instance, if you have classes 9 AM to 3 PM, you’ll want to take a break between 3-5 PM. That way, you will have two hours in which you could run home and play with your pet.
- Choose hourly tasks. For example, choose a time when you want to wake up (and stick to it!). From there, create a schedule that’d work for you. Spend time in the kitchen, spend time outside, spend time inside with your pet – but do it structurally so that they know what follows.
- When you return back from your classes, give them all the love that they need. They’ve been expecting you to come back home.
Have their stuff organized
Choose a part of your dorm for pet-related items. Place everything you own – leashes, doggie bags, meds, and other essentials – in a bin or something similar to keep it organized. That way, you will know exactly where you can find everything whenever you need it. If you don’t have enough dorm room, here are some tips that might help you organize:
- Use bedside storage for some of your stuff or even for your pet-related items.
- You could also use a bedside shelf.
- You could get a unit that goes on top of your bed to save even more space.
- Get a rack over the fridge and place your items on top of it.
- Get an under-bag storage unit (or storage bags).
There are many ways in which you can organize your room to fit all of your pet essentials – all you have to do it try.
Learn what to do in emergency situations
You cannot own a pet if you don’t know what to do if something happens to them. It is your duty to learn what to do in crisis situations. Here are just two common things to be prepared for:
- Pet unable to breathe. If that happens, that you have to clear its mouth, place your lips on your pet’s lips, and give them about four to five breaths, about ten or twelve times per minute. If needed, place your dogs on the back and perform chest compressions until your pet starts breathing on its own again.
- Pet bleeding. You must press down on your pet’s bleeding area to prevent blood from coming out. Then take them to the vet as soon as possible!
There are other things that might be of concern to you such as broken bones, heat stroke, vomiting, seizures, stings, choking, etc. You can find a more detailed explanation here. Make sure you consult with a vet soon to ask for more advice.
Groom them!
It’s important that you groom your pet. However, as poor college students, it is quite difficult to manage to take them to a grooming place every month. Learn how to groom yourself to save some money! You can buy all the grooming equipment that you need on Amazon for cheap.
Conclusion
You should consider your situation before owning a pet because they need your attention and love at all times. You should also think about the costs that come with owning a pet in college and the effects they could have on your roommates or other people you are living with. So, make sure you deal with all the concerns before committing to owning a pet. If you do commit, ensure that you are aware of all the downsides of owning a pet in college.
“Robert Everett is a world traveler and pet owner, as well as a copywriter for a popular magazine and ResumeWriterReviews Service. In his free time, he is passionate about dog training. Robert is currently writing a book on how to deal with pet-related emergency situations.”
