Common sense, as a friend reminds me often, is anything but common. And that's never so true as when it comes to children and pets.
Pets are good for children. Parents know this instinctively, and so do children. Caring for animals can teach responsibility, it's true, but I always think the more important lessons an animal can offer a child are those of love and compassion. The value of an animal's unconditional love to a child is priceless, as is the lesson a child learns in living with an animal -- that all life is dear.
But with bites and scratches so common -- as well as such other hazards as salmonella -- parents need to work to ensure the relationship between children and animals is rewarding and safe for both sides. And that's where common sense comes in.
The first thing to remember is that you don't have to get rid of your pet when you're expecting. While it's true that a pregnant woman should not clean the cat box because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, it's not true that your cat will be a risk to your baby. The myths that a cat will try to smother a baby or suck the breath from one is not backed up the facts, according to the Humane Society of the United States, which tracks animal-related human injuries and fatalities.
On the other hand, anything is theoretically possible, which leads to the second rule of children-pet interaction: Preschool children should never be left unattended with any pet. I don't care how much you trust them both; every pet has a limit, and when hurt or scared it may hurt your child. It's not the fault of either the child nor the animal; it's just natural behavior.
You can help prevent problems, however, by working on the natural behavior of both your children and your pets.
Dogs should be given training, especially in "down" and "stay," before your baby comes home. You don't want a dog jumping up on you while you're carrying a baby. Cats can be trained to leave the nursery alone -- with squirt guns and other deterrents such as noisemakers or training mats -- before the baby comes home. One of the best solutions: Put a screen door on the nursery. It looks odd, but works well.
Baby-gates work well for dogs, but prove no barrier for cats. The gates can, however, be used to give a cats a child-free escape route into a place where they will not be pestered.
Teach your child how to handle animals safely: how to hold them, how to pet them and when to leave them alone. Pets must be held securely or they may panic -- in the case of rabbits, with a kick that can break their backs. The very youngest children cannot understand that animals are fragile. Don't let young children hold them without your hands underneath to keep them from being dropped.
Dogs sometimes find petting on the head threatening and should be patted on the shoulder or chest (strange dogs should be left alone!). Cats will often lash out at a tummy rub that most dogs would enjoy. Your children need to know this.
All animals should be left along when sleeping or eating. But if you have problems with them growling during either -- or any kind of aggressive behavior -- ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist to work on the problem.
Keeping pets and children together safely is work at times, but it's well worth it for the benefits your children and your pets will get out of the deal.
Pets on the Web: The PBS series "Nova" recently aired an episode that followed students through their final year at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Titled "Animal Hospital," the show was fascinating in its exploration of the breadth of services available in veterinary medicine and of the hopes and challenges of students about to enter the real world. This episode is well worth catching when it repeats. Check your local listings. "Nova" has put together an accompanying Web site (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vets/) with a place to ask pet behavior questions of five experts -- one each for questions on dogs, birds, cats, small mammals and reptiles. The resources page is worth a look, too.
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies" and "Cats for Dummies," and is the editorial director of the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or e-mail to Giori(at)aol.com.
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