Every pet is worth what it takes to care for them properly, and some animals have greater needs than others. This is why it’s important to research and gather all the supplies you need before you bring a new pet into your home.
In this guide, we explore some of the highest maintenance pets whose needs often get overlooked.
1. Dogs
Fitting this in at the top because, while dogs are arguably the most popular pet out there, they are also very demanding and can be very expensive. While some dog breeds are more high maintenance than others, all dogs have the same basic care needs.
Regardless of breed, dogs should have at least 1 walk a day (even if they have a fenced in yard to play in) and learn basic commands like sit, stay, and come. They should see a vet at least once a year for vaccine boosters and other preventatives but may need to go more often if they get sick or injured.
Some dog breeds may require specialized or professional training, especially if they are a working breed that was developed for certain tasks. A daily walk may not be enough exercise, and some energetic dogs do better after they take up a dog sport or hobby.
While some dogs let you get by with the bare minimum, others may develop behavioral issues like separation anxiety.
2. Livestock
While you don’t need a hundred acre ranch to keep livestock, they’re not the best backyard pets either. Even smaller animals like pygmy goats or chickens need space to roam, and you’ll want the space once you realize what a big mess they make.
You also can’t just turn them out in the yard. While the specific care depends on the types of animals you get, expect unique needs for:
- Shelter (barns, coops, lean-to’s)
- Grooming
- Harvesting (wool, milk, eggs)
- Predator proofing
It’s more difficult to transfer animals that are traditionally livestock, especially if there’s an emergency, and veterinarians are in short supply. Most people who have goats, sheep, chickens, or other farmyard animals must act as first-responders until their vet can get to them.
3. Small Rodents
Hamsters, gerbils, and other small rodents don’t require as much hands-on care as others on this list, but they require more research on your part to ensure you’re providing adequate care. Most of the information and supplies available at your local pet store are incorrect or inadequate, so it’s up to you to double check everything.
In fact, many commercial cages are way too small for these rodents and don’t provide enough depth for natural burrowing instincts. Seed mixes only cover half of their nutritional needs, and wooden toys need constant oversight to make sure they don’t become a danger to your small friends.
4. Rabbits
Taking care of a rabbit is not as easy as your pet store may make it seem.
Like your small rodents, many of the supplies available at the store are too small for rabbits. They need a safe space to stay when you cannot supervise them, but commercial rabbit cages are really only big enough for travel.
Because they need free-roam time, you must make sure your house is “rabbit-proof”. Otherwise, your bunny may chew through down cords or burrow through your rugs, carpet, and even furniture.
Rabbits are sprinters, not marathon runners. They prefer to explode with short bursts of energy rather than slowly dole it out through the day. They may need several outings to take care of these bursts properly.
Rabbits tend to potty a lot when roaming, even if they are litter trained, so you’ll be cleaning up after them constantly. This can be difficult if you don’t take care of their sensitive digestive tract and offer an unlimited supply of hay or daily fresh food.
5. Large Birds
When you adopt a large bird, you’re taking on a life-long commitment. With long lifespans that average between 50 and 100 years, these avians could easily outlive you.
Furthermore, they are incredibly intelligent creatures. Large birds like Macaws, Amazon Parrots, and African Greys need plenty of attention and mental stimulation. If you have a large bird, expect them to spend most of their time free roaming. They may not mind some time inside a sufficiently large cage, but do better inside an aviary.
Knowing what parrots eat isn’t straightforward either. Birds thrive with fresh food, so don’t expect to get by with a package of bird seed. This means you’re prepping salad for them every time you eat (or more often).
With the right attention and care, however, large birds are incredibly rewarding companions.
6. Reptiles
Taking care of any reptile is often more complicated than you think–needs go beyond plopping them in an aquarium and dropping in the occasional bug.
Geckos, bearded dragons, and other lizards have specific humidity and temperature requirements for their enclosures. They also need special UVB lights so they can produce adequate vitamin D to absorb calcium (which you also need to supplement, usually by dusting their bugs with it).
Speaking of bugs, you need to be selective about the bugs you feed them. You don’t want to risk feeding them a diseased cricket from your yard or nutrient-poor flies. In many cases, it’s cheapest to breed your own Dubia Roaches (for the highest level of protein), but that adds another creature you need to take care of and feed properly.
Reptiles often start small but grow to several times their hatch size. A bearded dragon at the pet store may be the size of your average house lizard, but they reach 18 to 24 inches when fully grown. Because of this, you need a tank at least 4 feet wide (about 120 gallons), but larger is always better.
7. Turtles
Like reptiles, turtles start small and grow rapidly. They also need large aquariums, about 10 gallons per inch of length. This means your tiny 4 inch red eared slider will start with a 40 gallon aquarium, but could easily need a minimum of 120 gallons by the time they fully mature.
As always, bigger enclosures tend to be better.
A suitably set up tank has plenty of swimming space with properly filtered water. They make quite a mess, so frequent water changes to get rid of larger debris or feces are your job, not the filter’s. Filters can also clog easily, so you need to stay on top of maintenance there.
Like reptiles, turtles also need exposure to UVB light–direct sunlight usually won’t suffice. Pelletized food only takes them so far, so daily salads and live protein (small fish) are a must.
High-maintenance pets are not for everyone, but caring for them offers a unique perspective on life and what it means to share this world with such amazing creatures.
