Have Some Dog-related Questions? We Have Answers
Owning a dog is a very serious responsibility. You have to be sure that you have a happy and a healthy dog. Knowing how to achieve balance with your pooch will take a lot of work, and reading the information below will be a good start.
You should not kiss your dog. Kisses seem nice, but dogs have very dirty mouths. Dogs poke around trash cans, love smelling and licking other dogs’ body parts and enthusiastically drink from toilet bowls. Many people believe that dogs’ mouths do not have as much germs as humans’ mouths. It’s not true.
When you take your dog on vacation with you, get a snapshot of them for your phone. This allows you to have a photo of him if he gets lost.
If you are on any kind of medication, you should ensure your dog never gains access to it. Swallowing a couple pills could can serious health issues, even heart attacks and seizures. If your dog does ingest some of your medication, get in touch with your veterinarian immediately.
Beware of flea treatments for your dog. A lot of them can cause cancer in children. Talk to your vet about safer options, especially when there are kids around.
Dedicate enough time to correcting bad behavior right away. Ignoring it for any length of time will only make it that much more difficult to contain later and you never know what could happen as a result of it now. It is possible that your dog could injure a person, and that person could be you! So correct unwanted behavior right away.
When you get a new dog, set up an appointment for him at the vet. Make the appointment when you buy your dog. Your dog will get a vaccination schedule and a checkup. Talk with a vet about your dog being spayed or neutered. There are lots of homeless dogs and you don’t want to make the problem worse.
If you have a dog with extreme separation anxiety, you can help reduce it by playing music or leaving the television on whenever you leave your home. The sounds of the music will provide a sense of security and company for your dog. This can significantly help reduce its anxiety.
Your dog needs to wear some sort of identification in case he escapes your house. A collar with identification is a great way to ensure that your dog is found and returned if it happens to get lost. All of the necessary contact information, including your dog’s name, should be included. Micro-chipping your dog is another option.
During hot weather, check your dog for fleas and ticks daily. A flea comb can help you remove fleas that you see. If the infestation is bad, there are treatments available. Consult with your vet to learn more about flea and tick control.
Make wise choices when it comes to your dog’s diet. Always consider your dog’s age, health status and size when selecting the brand and formula you want to feed your dog. Feeding leftovers to a dog can save money, but a proper diet is harder to maintain with them eating leftovers.
You may not have known that some vitamins can harm your dog. Dog food usually meets your dog’s nutritional requirements by itself. If you give your dog a large amount of vitamins, you could be damaging his joints, bones, and blood vessels. Before giving your dog vitamins, get your vet’s OK.
You need to exercise some extra caution with your dog during the hottest months of the year. Dogs are very susceptible to overheating. In the summertime, be sure they can lay in a cool, shaded area. Keep some cool (and clean) water around. The dog can also be sensitive to the sun, so talk to your veterinarian about dog sunscreen.
You should be firm with your dog. Often, dog owners think it’s fine to sneak some food to them or let them tear apart a toy. Small dogs are even harder to discipline! But, if you stay firm, you can avoid accidents. Giving your dog the scraps after a meal might be okay to you, but if you let things slide you may find your pet eating your dinner from your own lap!
The suggestions in the article will help you a lot if you apply them! Make an effort to provide your dog with a good environment, quality food and plenty of affection. Dog ownership is about responsibility, not laziness.