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Dog Care FAQ's
We may sometimes ask ourselves what really is the significance of taking care of our dogs. We may say that dogs are only one of those animals so why should we take care of them that much? This is where the most detailed answer for dog care significance will come into. If you’re a responsible owner, you will agree to these important facts.
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Why is Dog Health Important?
Dog health is one of the most crucial things you should consider is you are interested in getting a dog as a pet? But why is it important? There are many reasons why your dog’s health should be a primary concern in your life, and some you might have never considered. If you ever have any questions regarding your dog’s health, talk to a doctor right away. Do what’s best for your dog, and you’ll be doing what is best for you and your entire family.
Dog health is important first and foremost because you are your dog’s primary guardian. A dog, like most pets, can be a loyal friend and companion, but they are really as vulnerable as a child. Specifically, you should think of your dog on the same level as a two year old. He or she is smart and can communicate on some level, but cannot explain to your readily what is wrong or drive him- or herself to the animal hospital or vet office. Your dog is your responsibility. That means that you need to carefully monitor your dog’s health at all times to be able to tell when something is wrong with your dog. If you do not, the result could be a very ill canine. Dog health is important because when you adopted the dog in the first place, you promised to take care of this dog.
Dog health is also important because dogs are great friends. You would never allow your spouse to become ill, and so you should extend the same care to your do. Many people don’t understand that dogs can become just as sick as humans can. Just because they are animals does not mean that they are tougher or can resist all harm. If you don’t care for your dog’s health, your dog may not survive for a full and happy life. He or se may also be in pain, which is a terrible thing to happen to anyone, no matter how many legs you have.
When you take care of your dog’s health, you also have the change to avoid some major medical bills. Dog health insurance is available, but many people do not own this insurance. If your dog falls ill, a vet is necessary, and vets can be just as expensive as human doctors. Care for your dog’s health right away and you’ll help him resist illness in the future.
I've seen an ad on TV where a vet said dogs should be kept on on Heartworm/Flea meds all year long. Is that true?
It's true for those geographical regions where the risk of heartworm or flea infestation is present year-round. If you live in an area where mosquitoes or fleas are not active all year, or in a situation where infestation is very unlikely, your dog's body will be better off not having to process potent chemicals constantly.
Some products will also remain effective when given in smaller doses or less frequently than every 30 days. Together we can assess your situation and come up with a treatment plan you'll feel more comfortable with.
My puppy is still not housebroken, and he's already five months old. Is this normal? How can I fix this problem before my patience runs out?
It's definitely not normal that a 5 month old puppy is still not reliable indoors. Normal, healthy puppies brought home at 8 weeks old are absolutely capable of understanding where it is appropriate to eliminate, but they are often confused by their well-meaning owners who simply send the wrong signals and don't establish a daily routine that makes success easy.
Pet store puppies and those purchased from commercial kennels have not had an ideal start in life and can be more of a challenge to house train, since from a very young age on they were forced to sleep and play in the very same area they had to use for eliminating - concrete runs and pet store cages. The same often applies to puppies or older dogs rescued from squalid living conditions or kennel lives, so the "normal" label doesn't apply to them and they may require a different approach to potty training.
In my experience, and that of the people who have followed my house training routine, it seldom takes longer than two weeks to train a puppy to be 95-99% reliable, meaning if you implement a proper routine, send the right signals and pay attention to your dog, there will rarely be accidents, if any at all. For the more difficult cases, I will provide specific modifications.
I am feeding my dog store bought dog food. Do I need to give any supplements?
Once again the answer is it depends on what you are feeding your dog, what his or her individual needs are and whether any health issues should be addressed. Generally speaking, multivitamin or mineral products are unnecessary if you feed commercial food, but there are specific supplements that complement a dog's diet quite nicely.
If your dog keeps shaking his head does it mean there is anything wrong?
Yes, almost certainly the external ear canal of one or both of his ears is severely inflamed, a condition known as otitis externa. Ear mites is another culprit and will cause your dog to to considerable head shaking and ear scratching. Foreign bodies in the ear canal can be responsible for ear irritation also. To identify and treat the cause the dog should be examined by your veterinarian.
Why is it important to get rid of fleas on my dog?
Adult fleas are parasitic and survive by sucking the blood of their hosts. They are the most important single cause of skin disease in dogs. A heavy infestation may result in anemia. Fleas can transfer some infectious diseases from one dog to another. Fleas can transmit tapeworms to the dog.
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