Aren’t puppies adorable? They are fun and adorable, but that’s not all. Sooner or later your adorable puppy will grow into a dog. He will still be adorable, but he will need you to make sure that he is living a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips to make sure that you can have a happy, healthy canine.
Just like people need regular yearly physicals, dogs need the same thing. Because your dog is unable to speak, you may not know for sure when your dog feels sick or has an injury. Making an annual trip to the vet is the best way to discover and deal with these kinds of problems when they’re still manageable.
Make sure to keep prescription drugs out of the reach of your dogs. Dogs can have very negative side effects from even small amounts of medications intended for humans. Make sure you have your veterinarian’s number handy in case your dog does accidentally swallow your medicine.
Make sure you are using the right flea treatments on your pet dog. Many have ingredients that may put kids at risk for various cancers over 1000 times what the EPA may consider to be safe. Find out about healthy treatments that can keep you and your pet safe.
Having fresh and clean water available to your dog at all times is a must. Dogs become dangerously dehydrated in a matter of days, so its very important to always have water ready. Dogs will also appreciate water that is clean. If you find it necessary to drink filtered or bottled water because of the quality of water from your tap, then be sure to provide your dog with the same high quality water.
Offer rawhide rather than actual meat bones. Bones can fall apart and become lodged between teeth or digestive system. Rawhide has been proven to be healthy for your dog. It is excellent for its teeth too, so do not give in to the temptation to give your dog a real bone no matter how hard it begs.
Teach your dog to be trained, even if you don’t plan on devoting a lot of time to special tricks. A dog needs to understand the basic hierarchy of the home and should be prepared to listen and learn throughout his life. Practice the basics like “sit” and “down” in the beginning and introduce something new every once in a while.
You may be tempted to use your favorite hair shampoo on your dog, but this should not be done. Human shampoo can cause dog skin to dry out. Instead, find a quality shampoo that is made for dogs. When you bath your dog, make sure to rinse all of the residue out of his fur.
When you are trimming your dog’s nails, keep a close eye on the tips of the nails. Once you see a pale oval on the tip, stop clipping. This is a sign that you are close to the vein. If you go too far, apply a little bit of styptic powder to it to help stop the bleeding.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. He should know the “heel” command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. Your dog will be safer in this position, and you’ll both enjoy your walks more this way. Even if you practice a loose leash walk, it’s still important for your pet to know this command.
To make your dog happy and increase the bond between you, try learning how to give him a massage! It’s been shown in recent studies that structured massages are highly beneficial to a dog’s health and can improve their overall well-being. This activity can also be very relaxing for you as well.
Always be the boss with your dog. A dog is not only much more apt to be obedient when you are in command, he’ll also be much happier. Dogs need to know what’s expected of them and that they are being led. This gives them a sense of security and you a more peaceful household.
Dogs often get cuts from debris or pieces of glass. If you notice a small cut on your dog, use an antiseptic and a bandage to clean and protect it. If you think the cut is fairly deep you should see a vet.
Although some dogs do well on the recommended amount of food to be given each day, some dogs need more or less. Instead of just going by what your food says to feed your dog, try to keep an eye on your dog’s body. If you notice that your dog is gaining a bit of weight, cut the food intake back a bit.
If you have tried everything to get your dog to stop digging your garden to no avail, head to your kitchen. Mix up a batch of cayenne pepper (five tablespoons), hot sauce (also five tablespoons) and a quart of water in a spray bottle and spray it where he digs. It should discourage him quickly.
Punish your dog carefully. You should never punish your dog for a mischief that happened more than fifteen minutes ago since your dog will probably not establish a connection between the punishment and the bad behavior. If you catch your dog misbehaving, say no in a firm voice and have your dog sit in a corner for a few minutes.
You should talk to your veterinarian about microchip IDs. Your contact information can easily be stored inside a microchip and most veterinarians or shelters own a scanner they can use to scan the microchip. This will greatly increase your chances of getting your dog back in case it gets lost.
It is great to have a cute little puppy. However, when you consider that your puppy will grow and need the proper care, you need to know the right things to keep your dog well. The tips in this article can help you to do the right things, so that you can both be happy.
