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.

2. Follow local laws for licensing your dog and vaccinating him for rabies. Check with your local animal shelter or humane society for information regarding legal requirements, where to obtain tags, and where to have your pet vaccinated.

3. Follow this simple rule—off property, on leash. Even a dog with a valid license, rabies tag, and ID tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your community, and your dog to keep your pet under control at all times.

4. Give your dog proper protection. A fenced yard with a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs; however, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended periods of time. Dogs need and crave companionship and should spend most of their time with their family, not alone outside.

5. Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups. If you do not have a veterinarian, ask your local animal shelter or a pet-owning friend for a referral and check out our information on choosing a veterinarian.

6. Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs who have this routine surgery tend to live longer, be healthier, and have fewer behavior problems (e.g., biting, running away). By spaying or neutering your dog, you are also doing your part to reduce the problem of pet overpopulation. This link can help in finding low-cost spay and neuter clinics in your area.

7. Give your pooch a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your pet. Dietary requirements change as dogs get older, and a dog’s teeth need to be cleaned and monitored regularly to ensure he can eat properly.

8. Enroll your dog in a training class. Positive training will allow you to control your companion’s behavior safely and humanely, and the experience offers a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you share with your dog. Check out our information on choosing a dog trainer.

9. Give your dog enough exercise to keep him physically fit (but not exhausted). Most dog owners find that playing with their canine companion, along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient exercise. Walking benefits people as much as it benefits dogs, and the time spent together will improve your dog’s sense of well-being. If you have questions about the level of exercise appropriate for your dog, consult your veterinarian.

10. Be loyal to and patient with your faithful companion. Make sure the expectations you have of your dog are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved. Remember, not all “behavior” problems are just that; many can be indicators of health problems. For example, a dog who is suddenly growling or snapping when you touch his ears may have an ear infection. If you are struggling with your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinarian or local animal shelter for advice, and check out our behavior tip sheets, too.

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.

• 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.

Apart from avoiding unwanted pregnancy, some authorities say neutering can make a dog a better pet. For example, neutered dogs tend to be less dominant, and have a lesser tendency to roam and mark territory.

Dog microchipping will allow you to easily locate your dog in the event it gets lost or stolen. Regretfully many dogs end up with new owners, or are taken to dog shelters, because their owners can’t find them. The microchip can forestall that heartbreaking scenario.

The microchip is no larger than a grain of rice. The procedure is no more painful than a vaccination as the tiny chip is implanted under the loose skin over the dog’s shoulder.

The guidelines above emphasize the need to carefully think out dog ownership. However, this is just the first part of the education.

To have an in-depth understanding of how to take care of a dog, you are well advised to have a good talk with a local veterinary surgeon who can answer specific questions relating to the type of dog that is best suited for your circumstances.

• 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)
• Topical medication – the area can be cleaned with an antiseptic solution suchas chlorhexidine, and a topical antibiotic cream applied. There is little point of this if the dog will simply lick the cream off (i.e. use buster collar, or only use topical cream if hot spot on face)
• Break the scratch cycle – To allow the hot spot to heal, the dog must stop scratching at it. A one off steroid injection is usually very effective, but sometimes a short course of oral steroids is necessary. Your dog may be more hungry and thirsty while receiving corticosteroids, this is a common side effect. As a consequence, the dog may need to urinate more frequently than normal.
• Oral antibiotics – The best way to deal with a deep skin infection is to deliver antibiotics to the site of the hot spot via the blood stream. If a hot spot is quite advanced, at least a 10-14 day course of a broad spectrum antibiotic is required to prevent immediate recurrence.
• Elimination of predisposing factors – aggressive flea control, investigation to rule out food and pollen allergies etc.

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.

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.

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.