A dog is more than a cute bundle of energy that needs food and petting. You need to care for your dog 24/7. But how do you know what it takes to properly care for your pooch? The following information in the article you’re about to read has a wealth of knowledge from experts who understand what it takes to properly care for a dog.
You must dog-proof your residence. It is important that you try to foresee any problems your dog might run into prior to bringing him home. Make sure chemicals, medications and any garbage is out of reach of the dog. Some house plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog’s reach or remove them.
Give your dog hugs, but don’t kiss him. In theory, giving a dog a kiss is cute, but realize that the mouth of a dog is generally very dirty. Dogs are always getting into garbage, drink from places like the toilet, and they clean their bodies with their tongues. There is an old wives’ tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. This is simply false.
If there are prescription medications in your home, be sure to keep it out of your dog’s reach. Swallowing even one pill can end very badly, with a sick or dying dog. If your dog eats your medication, see a vet right away.
Choose the correct flea medicine for your dog. Quite a few of them use ingredients that are very unsafe for kids, including an ingredient that has been linked to cancer. Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Do not feed your dog from the table. Doing so teaches it to beg and ruins its appetite for its regular food. Table scraps can be bad for his health as well, leading to obesity and digestive disorders. You can keep your dog healthy and avoid any temptation to feed it from the table by teaching it to spend dinnertime well away from your family.
Don’t buy cheap dog food. Cheap dog food contains lots of preservatives and additives that your dog doesn’t need. Find an advocacy group that can provide you with a list of vet recommended foods. Higher quality dog food will offer your dog many health benefits.
If you are considering a dog but aren’t sure, why not trying providing a good foster home for a dog? Shelters are full of animals who need a loving home, and there’s not room to hold all of them. You can give a hand by fostering a dog without a home and try on the role of dog owner too!
Be careful with your female dog when she is in heat, if you don’t want her getting pregnant. A male is able to smell her from as much as five miles in the distance! This could also lead to unplanned pregnancy, or cause other dogs in the area to fight.
Make political decisions which will help your dog! Be on the lookout for changes in local laws and ordinances that may restrict and regulate a dog owner’s rights. Many times new, overly-restrictive ordinances have incredibly broad impacts when they’re only intended to affect a tiny minority of pet owners. Get in touch with administrators and legislators to exercise your rights as a responsible citizen and reliable dog owner.
Dogs sometimes get tiny cuts on their paws. Wash the cut with antibacterial soap, dry it thoroughly, and leave it to air dry unless it is bleeding or the dog is licking it. If the cut continues to bleed, go to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Set a regular schedule for doggie check-ups at your vet. Dogs need to be checked for heartworm and other health issues, and need to have any and all necessary vaccinations. With a puppy, you will need to visit your vet a little more often. This will help your vet diagnose any physical issues with your dog.
If you have a dog that has an accident in your home, be sure that you get rid of it completely. Start with a professional quality cleaner, and follow that up with an odor remover you know will work. If any of the smell remains, your dog might be encouraged to do the same thing, in the same spot, all over again.
Perform tick and flea inspections daily on the dog when it gets warmer out. Try using a flea comb to remove any fleas that you find. The market is full of products that will assist you in keeping your pet’s fleas and ticks in check. Speak with your vet to find the best option for your dog.
When you are snacking, it may be tempting to share with your dog. You can do this with some foods, but not all. Some foods you cannot give your dog are chocolate, grapes, or any caffeine. These types of food are very detrimental to your dog’s health.
You need to think carefully about getting a dog before you adopt one. There are a lot of things you have to think about instead of just falling in love with the first dog you see. Make sure that you understand all of the care dogs need so that you will know if you’ll be able to do it all.
Learning more about dogs will ensure that you can become an expert. Doing so means providing your dog with the best life possible, seeing as he is already such a good friend. If you were a dog, would you not want your owner to take the time to learn about you?
