Top 10 things to keep your dog in tip-top shape
Your dog gives you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship. In return, she counts on you to provide her with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, exercise, companionship, and more. Take care of these 10 essentials, and you’ll be assured to develop a rewarding relationship with your canine companion.
1. External Identification. Outfit your dog with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there’s a chance your companion may become lost—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your pet will be returned home safely. The dog’s collar should not be tight; it should fit so two fingers can slip easily under his collar.
Microchip Identification. Have your dog microchipped by your veterinarian. Microchip ID will ensure that your dog will be returned to you if he is lost, even if his collar came off. When scanned by a veterinarian or animal shelter, your phone number, address and other vital information will show and you can be contacted.
Read More Post a comment (0)Good Morning America Now- Featuring the EPC LeBistro and Fresh Flow with Veterinarian Marty Becker – Pet Food Breakthroughs. Noting that more than 66% of Americans and 50% of their pets are overweight, Dr. Marty Becker stresses the importance of measuring your pet’s food. He recommends using Petmate’s “attractive and convenient” Portion Control LeBistro Feeder saying it’s healthier to give pets multiple meals. Dr. Becker also endorses Petmate water fountains for both cats and dogs. And he calls Petmate’s Pet Bowls with Microban “a real breakthrough” because the Microban infused in the plastic helps prevent the growth of bacteria.
Siberian huskies are enthusiastic and excitable by nature, and when my dog Taja senses that it’s time to take a walk, she’s not afraid to show it. Over the years, she’s learned to discern all of the potential signs that a walk might be imminent. If I put my shoes on, her tail starts to wag cautiously. If I grab her leash from the closet her eagerness increases tenfold, but there’s still the possibility that she’ll end up in the car on the way to the vet.
When I pick up the biodegradable dog poop bags, however, there’s no turning back. Despite her normally disciplined behavior, she’ll jump up and down in anticipation for the walk that’s sure to follow. We usually take a few laps around the block or walk the short distance to a nearby dog park. In some cases, I’ll hop on my bike and give Taja the chance to run alongside.
There are a couple considerations, other then the obvious driving forces behind wanting a cute cuddly friend for life. Besides, in all reality the life of a puppy is fast over as they grow quickly into their full size. When adopting, research can play a huge role in helping you balance the genetics and why you might want a particular breed of dog.
- Regular checks and treatment for worms and fleas.
- Injections to protect against serious diseases: check with your vet.
- Regular teeth checkups by the vet.
- Optional: Neutering.
- Optional: Microchip implanting.
Regarding the two ‘optional’ health needs consider the obvious benefits of Neutering and Microchiping your pet.
Read More Post a comment (0)Diagnosis is usually obvious from the clinical signs, but your veterinarian may be inclined to search for any contributing factors by doing allergy testing, or take a bacteriology swab so that antibiotic selection is targeted specifically at the bacterium responsible. If the hot spot is on the dogs back leg it is worth checking the anal glands are not the source of the discomfort by emptying them.
- Treatment – Clip the hair around the hot spot. The hot spot may be more extensive than it originally appears. Clipping will expose the area to the air and accelerate healing (scabbing over)
Also known as Acute Moist Dermatitis or Moist Eczema, Hot Spots can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dogs body and the area involved can rapidly spread. This raw, unsightly skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most consistent factor is a bacterial infection. There are a number of kinds of bacteria that can be cultured from a hot spot and fortunately most respond to oral and topical antibiotics. Anything that irritates or breaks the skin can create the right environment for bacterial contamination if the skin surface is wet. The bodys response is either to itch or become inflamed. The itching then causes the dog to lick or chew the area, which further damages the skin, and creates a cycle of itching, scratching and chewing. If left to develop the infection goes into the deep layers of the skin.
We might think of parasites as a problem limited to third-world countries, where drinking water is contaminated and living conditions are less than sanitary. But parasites have the potential to wreak havoc anywhere, and dogs are one of their primary targets. Heartworms represent an especially common and potent threat to household pets. As with any disorder, there are certain symptoms to bear in mind.
If you notice your dog dragging its bottom across the carpet, it’s a telltale sign of worm infestation. Other symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and weight loss. Dog wormers are specially formulated medications that help safeguard your dog from the ravages of heartworms and other parasites. Their use should be carefully monitored, and it’s crucial to follow the instructions because each wormer is different.
A lot of dog owners spend a great deal of time selecting the ideal dog food. To that end, they want something that the dog will enjoy, but they also want to make sure that food is nutritious and healthy to continually put in their bodies. But not as many pet owners think about the dishes in which we serve this food. This can prove a mistake.
With that in mind, the best pet bowls are those that are made of a simple and safe material such as stainless steel. This is easy to clean and won’t harbor too many places for bacteria to grow if properly and regularly cleaned. For the sake of convenience, you’ll also want a bowl that has a rubber bottom stopper. This will ensure the bowl doesn’t slide or spill when placed on the floor and used by your dog.
Should your dog be a larger breed, it is recommended that you elevat the dog bowl to help the flow of the dogs digestion.
All responsible dog owners feel that their pet deserves a clean, safe shelter. For active dogs that spend a significant amount of time outdoors, a dog house is virtually essential. A sturdy structure ensures durability, so it’s crucial to pay close attention to the building materials themselves. A traditional wooden house complements your lawn with a classic look while providing your pet with shade from the sun.
Cedar trees give off an inherently pleasant fragrance that makes them a sensible building material for dog houses. While no material will win out in a battle against pet odor, cedar at least augments the scent. Their comforting aroma combined with impressive sturdiness make cedar dog houses a worthy dwelling for your pet.
If you are thinking of getting a pet dog, you must keep in mind that owning a dog comes with responsibilities. It is actually like having a kid. A dog needs tender, loving care just like humans. It also needs exercise as well as regular visits to the veterinarian.
Dog owners must keep track of veterinary visits and must not miss the scheduled vaccines. Dogs, like humans, also need proper nourishment through healthy dog food and dog supplements. Some dogs may be more high maintenance than others. It may actually be costly to take care of dogs but certain considerations such as buying dog supplies such as dog food in bulk may be a way of cutting monthly costs.
