Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you are a first time pet owner, or you have had pets for decades, you will always have questions! Here are some frequent questions we get asked. If you have any further questions, please feel free to drop it in the contact box below! - Mariah & Kayli
"How long will it take for a new animal to acclimate to my home?"
Every animal is a little different, but our recommendation for every new animal is to be separated from their new family members for 48-72 hours so they have time to adjust to you as well as all the new smells and feelings. Slow introductions with new pets is a must. Lets never forget that pets are still animals, and sometimes they can react instinctively therefore we want to avoid any harm to either pet. Once introduced, maintain close supervision until all pets are well acclimated to each other. We recommend separating the new pet when you are sleeping or away from home. Overall, it generally takes somewhere between 1-3 weeks for pets to become full comfortable in their new environment.
"I just adopted a new pet and they are not eating"
Just like us, animals sometimes are too stressed to eat and may skip a meal or two when introduced to a new environment. They typically will start to eat within 24-36 hours but you can always entice them with the wet version of their food, plain cooked chicken, chicken baby food (we prefer Beech Nut!), or soaking their kibble in some low sodium chicken broth. Most animals are instinctively feel vulnerable when they are eating, therefore they may avoid eating until they feel comfortable in their new environment. If your new pet misses a meal or two, we always recommend checking in with your veterinarian if you ever become concerned.
"What should I feed my new pet?"
Whatever you feed your pet, you always want to make sure you do a slow transition from the old food to the new food. Animals cannot go from such one night to burgers the next. Their stomachs will likely get very upset and cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. Always check in to see what was being fed at the rescue so you can make a slow transition. In the event you found an animal, we recommend a commercial chicken & rice diet to start, but GI upset may be inevitable in the beginning.
There are a ton of food brands on the market, but only a select few food brands follow AAFCO guidelines and subject themselves to inspection by the USDA and FDA. We recommend feeding Purina Pro Plan, Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, Eukanuba, or Iams. All of these brands have been formulated by licensed veterinary nutritionists and have been conducting food trials on their diets for decades. These companies also typically have a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee so if your pet does not like the food, you can return it for a full refund.
Grain-Free Diets - Due to the FDA's link between grain-free diets in heart disease in animals, we do not recommend feeding grain-free diets unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian. For more information on this research, please follow the link.
Raw Diets - Studies show that raw pet food has a significantly higher risk of carrying disease-causing bacteria like Salmonella, E.Coli and Listeria. These infections not only harm the pet, but can infect you and your family as well. Please always discuss your pet's diet with your veterinarian for the most accurate recommendations for your pet.
"The pet I recently adopted started having diarrhea"
This is one of the most common questions we see in Veterinary Medicine and in rescue. Your pet's intestines contain millions and millions of bacteria we call "normal flora". In times of stress, the normal balance of gut flora can become disrupted and therefore cause GI upset. This is also called Stress Colitis or "nervous poops". However, diarrhea can also be caused by a variety of other conditions such as intestinal parasites, foreign body ingestion, viral diseases, etc. Therefore it is always best to check in with your veterinarian if your pet is having diarrhea that does not resolve itself within 24-48 hours or your pet is experiencing other symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, inappetance etc. as well.
"I recently adopted a pet and I am not sure we are the right family for them"
No pet is ever a one-size-fits-all. We ask that you please give them at least 5-7 days to try to adjust to their new home before deciding to return the animal. Most rescues and breeders have a policy where they ask you to return the animal to them in the event you ever need to rehome the animal. At Stevie's Saviors, you may return the pet to us within 2 weeks if you feel your new pet is not right for your family. Refunding of the adoption fee is at the discretion of Stevie's Saviors Inc. and greatly depends on the reason for which you need to return the pet. An adoption fee will not be refunded if the pet is returned after 14 days.
"If I never intend to let my pet outside, why do they need vaccines?"
It is required by law in all 50 states that every dog, cat, and ferret be vaccinated for Rabies by a licensed veterinarian in accordance to your state's Rabies law. In regards to other vaccines, we recommend at the very least vaccinating every dog for Distemper virus, Adenovirus, Parvo virus, and Parainfluenza (DAPP) and every cat for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVR-CP). Even if you never INTEND to let your pet outside, pets can still get loose. In the event that happens, the last thing you will want as a pet parent is to find your lost animal, then discover that they picked up a deadly communicable disease from the environment that is easily prevented by vaccines. These illnesses can cause severe respiratory, gastrointestinal, and/or neurologic disease and can also be fatal if left untreated.
AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidlines
AAFP Feline Vaccine Guidelines
More questions? Shoot us a message and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.