Have Some Dog-related Questions? We Have Answers
Dogs need more than feeding and petting. A dog needs total care. But do you know how to care for your dog? This article will give you expert advice that will help you learn new information.
Being a dog owner requires a financial commitment. Food and supplies can run you over one thousand dollars a year. You should also look into purchasing a good pet health insurance policy to avoid high medical bills.
Your home must be dog-proofed. You need to look for hazards around your home that your dog might run into. Hide cleaning supplies and medicines and hide trashcans in a cabinet. Some house plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog’s reach or remove them.
Avoid kisses and stick with hugs. Your dog’s mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. He probably doesn’t mind eating dirt, enjoys drinking water from the toilet if he can get at it, and tries in vain to clean himself with his tongue. There is a belief that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. This is simply false.
Be sure your dog is neutered or spayed. Research has shown that by doing this you can be sure your pet can have a longer life and not be at risk for things like cancer. They are also more likely to remain close to home, reducing their risk of becoming lost or getting injured by a car or another animal.
If you keep some medication in your home, make sure your dog cannot access it. Swallowing a couple pills could can serious health issues, even heart attacks and seizures. If your dog eats your medication, see a vet right away.
Resist the urge to give your dog table scraps. If you feed from the table, he’ll become a beggar and stop eating his own food. Scraps can be terrible for his diet and lead to obesity and other health problems. If you spend the time to train your dog to spend mealtimes well removed from the table, there won’t be any scrap-feeding temptations to worry about.
Ask the vet about how much the dog should eat each day. Even though many people stick to the label on the can or package of the dog’s food, sometimes these guidelines might not work for the type of dog that you have. This could lead to your dog becoming obese. Your vet should be able to let you know what your dog’s specific needs are.
Never give your dog a real bone to chew on. Real bones can splinter and can get caught in your dog’s mouth or digestive tract. Rawhide is a healthy alternative and will help keep your dog’s teeth clean as he satisfies his need to chew.
Don’t force anything into a dog. If your dog doesn’t like the treat you’ve bought, don’t make him eat it. When you have a dog, get to know his likes and dislikes.
The more you learn about them, the better you can care for them. Your dog deserves to be well taken care of and loved by a good owner. If the roles were reversed, you would expect your owner to know how to properly care for you.