Pet Care for your Dog

For all the joy they give us,dogs need relatively little to keep them healthy and happy. Here are some important tips on caring for your dog.

KEEP A CLEAN, HYGIENIC ENVIRONMENT

Like humans, dogs need a clean environment to thrive. Make sure your home is free from things that could potentially be hazardous or even deadly. Also keep a good hygiene schedule, so your pup doesn’t get into anything that could make him sick.

BE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS PERSONAL HYGIENE

Dogs with a long coat are prone to matting fur, and even developing ice balls in their fur. Nails that are not trimmed regularly are much more prone to painful breaking. This can cause difficulty walking and a dog that is consistently in pain. See our pet groomers resource page for local groomers and dental care.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS TEETH

Many breeds are prone to gum disease, which can cause other more serious problems. Infection resulting from this can leads to premature tooth loss and can cause infections in your pets major organs. Take care of your pet’s teeth, brushing them, and getting regular cleanings will help eliminate this risk.

HAVE YOUR PET EXAMINED BY A VET REGULARLY

Your vet, when visited regularly will make sure that your pet is healthy and safe. This includes scheduled vaccinations, deworming, and keeping him free from things like fleas and ticks. Contact your veterinarian if something just doesn’t seem right or you think he might be sick or hurt. It will be beneficial also to keep records of your pets care with you when you travel with your pet, and available to a dog sitter when you leave your pup home. Your vet is there to make sure your pet is healthy. See our pet vets resource page for a reputable vet in the area.

ALWAYS KEEP FRESH WATER AVAILABLE

Making water readily available, will help with a lot of things. Just like humans, dogs need water to live. Clean fresh water should always be available.

FEED A DIET SPECIFIC TO YOUR PET

Feed your pup a good quality food that will encourage healthy growth, development, and life at each age. Remember that different dogs, at different ages will require different types of food and different amounts. A puppy will require more food than an adult, and an elderly dg may require soft or wet food, where an adult could have dry food. If you don’t know what kind ouf food your dog needs, ask your vet to provide some recommendations to keep your fur baby at optimal health and happiness.

ASPCA recommends the following:

Puppies eight to 12 weeks old need four meals a day.
Feed puppies three to six months old three meals a day.
Feed puppies six months to one year two meals a day.
When your dog reaches his first birthday, one meal a day is usually enough.
For some dogs, including larger canines or those prone to bloat, it's better to feed two smaller meals.

Check out our list of great local pet stores that carry a fine selection of healthy foods.

HELP YOUR PET STAY ACTIVE

Keeping a dog in shape will help to eliminate health problems associated with obesity. Active dogs are less likely to die suddenly, provided that they are seeing a vet regularly. This can include walks, or just time to run around in the yard. There are also games and toys designed to help stimulate your dog, and take allow them to fill their instinctual needs to herd, chew, dig, etc.

DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG

You got a dog for some reason. Whether it was specifically for the companionship, or some other reason, you should take advantage of feeling the puppy love. Developing a relationship will help your dog trust you. It will make him more likely to listen to you and learn good behavioral habits because he knows you love him. Talk to your dog, make sure that he feels your love with frequent praise and adoration.

TRAIN YOUR DOG

Puppy and dog training can be a very helpful tool to giving your dog a long and healthy life. The better he is at understanding and following even basic commands, the safer your dog will be. Obedience classes and training can be very helpful to you. See our resource page for a list of trainers in your area.

PRACTICE REPRODUCTIVE CONTROL

If you don’t want puppies, spay or neuter your pets. If you want puppies, or are against spaying and neutering, talk with your vet about other options for reproductive control until you are ready to do whatever you want to do.

FOLLOW IDENTIFICATION GUIDELINES

Check your local ordinances to see what is recommended for ID for your dog. Microchipping and tattoos are common items of identification. Make sure that if anything happens, and you lose your pup, someone can get in contact you, and get him back.