It is only natural that you want to take care of your dog, so that you can have him by your side for as long as possible. The good news is that you can provide for your four-legged friend's well-being in a variety of ways. The following article aims to teach you how to feed your dog with excellent quality food, which veterinary tests to carry out regularly, as well as how to keep the environment in which it lives healthy and welcoming.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Proper Nutrition
Step 1. Feed your dog only food made with quality ingredients and ensure a balanced diet
Choose the product considering that it will be the main source of nutrients in your diet. When buying, read the first five ingredients listed on the package. They represent the main component of food. Meat (non-meat derivatives) and vegetables should be high on the list. At the bottom of the list, however, should be meat derivatives and cereals.
- Avoid foods made with additives that are potentially harmful to your dog's health. Among the most common: ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, BHA and BHT, corn and corn syrup, animal by-products.
- On rare occasions, some dogs may exhibit symptoms of food allergies and intolerances. The symptoms are: diarrhea, vomiting, dermatitis. Seek advice from a veterinarian to determine which ingredients your dog can or cannot eat.
Step 2. Feed your dog human food very carefully
There are foods that are harmless to our body that are harmful or even lethal if fed to dogs. Their metabolism is completely different from ours; so make sure your pet does not eat the following foods: grapes, raisins, chocolate, avocado, yeast, hazelnuts, alcohol, onions, garlic, chives and sugar-free gum (especially those containing xylitol). All of them contain chemicals that are toxic to the dog.
If you wish to cook homemade food for your dog, you will first need to consult an animal nutritionist or a veterinarian who specializes in canine nutrition. They will help you prepare a balanced diet, tailor-made for your four-legged friend
Step 3. Keep your dog within his ideal weight
A dog is defined as overweight when its weight exceeds the ideal measurement by 10-20%. Beyond the 20% threshold it is considered obese. Obesity can shorten your pet's life span by at least two years. Obese dogs have a higher risk of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic arthritis, and bladder stones. The vet will be able to give you the ideal weight of your dog and all the necessary advice to feed him at the best.
Most dogs are overweight, or even obese, because they don't get enough physical activity while getting too much food. Refer to the nutrition chart on the food package to determine the actual amount of food to feed your pet
Step 4. Reward him with healthy snacks
Like human snacks, dog snacks can add extra calories to their daily requirement, thus making the animal fat. Try making homemade treats to give to your dog rather than buying them at the grocery store.
Healthy snack ideas for your dog may include baby carrots, canned green beans (sodium-free or rinsed to remove excess salt) or thin slices of cooked sweet potato
Step 5. Make sure your dog always has clean, fresh water available
Dogs need a lot of water to keep their bodies running and digest food. The water should always be fresh and clean, so change it at least once a day. Wash the bowl with dish soap from time to time. Rinse it and let it dry before filling it with water again.
During the warm months, bacteria and even algae could form and thrive in the water bowl. In the cold season, do not allow the water to freeze
Part 2 of 4: Grooming the Dog
Step 1. Groom your dog regularly
Brush his fur to keep him bright and healthy. Furthermore, the brush massage will promote good blood circulation. Pay attention to any bumps, bumps or cysts and, if there are any, notify your vet. Scabs, redness or itching should also be kept an eye on and checked by your doctor.
Grooming is a great time to check for parasites, such as ticks, fleas, and mites
Step 2. Trim the dog's nails
While it will take some time for your pet to get used to it, nail trimming can become part of routine grooming. But be careful not to cut the living flesh, which contains nerves and blood vessels.
If you are unsure about cutting your dog's nails yourself, get help from a professional groomer
Step 3. Brush your dog's teeth every day
Toothbrush and toothpaste remove plaque and bacteria that can build up in your mouth. It is also an excellent opportunity to check for gum swelling, flaky or decayed teeth, or other oral problems. Use a dog-specific toothpaste. The fluoride in human toothpastes is poisonous to canines.
From time to time, you will need to take your dog to the vet for a thorough oral cleaning. He will be sedated for as long as the doctor will clean and check the oral cavity
Step 4. Check his ears
They shouldn't smell or have secretions of any kind. The innermost part of the ear should, as a rule, be whitish, although some dark-colored dogs may also have the pinna of the same shade as the coat. Turn your ear inside out to inspect the inside. Check that it is not dirty or infested with ticks. Vegetation debris could easily slip into the auricle. Better to remove them immediately and prevent them from accumulating or getting into the ear canal.
If your dog has dangling ears, you should check them every day, or often and regularly
Step 5. Clean the dog's ears
Use a specific product for cleaning the auricle, or prepare a solution made half of white vinegar and half of bialcol. Soak a cotton ball in the liquid and gently scrub the inside of the ears. If the cotton gets bloodied, consult your vet.
Excessive shaking of the head or continuous scratching inside the ears are not normal behaviors, just as bad smells or secretions of any kind are not normal. If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, take him to the vet immediately
Part 3 of 4: Taking Care of Your Dog
Step 1. Buy a dog bed
Many people choose to keep their dog indoors with the rest of the family. If he lives outside, make sure he has a well-insulated kennel, a warm bed for the winter months, shade for the warm season, food and water (that does not freeze or become stagnant). Do not tie the dog with a chain, it could injure the neck or paws.
Do not keep your dog outside unless he is used to extreme climates. Not providing your dog with adequate shelter is considered gross negligence. If you can't guarantee him a kennel that protects him from the weather, let him stay indoors - or don't get a dog
Step 2. Get him to exercise a lot
Depending on the breed, this can range from 10-15 minutes of walking a day up to a full hour of running in the park. Frisbee or catch-and-bring back are great activities for particularly lively dogs. Remember that walks and games are a great way to create a strong emotional bond between you and your dog.
Exercises and games can reduce negative behaviors, such as shredding objects in the house, compulsive chewing, and aggression. They will also keep your dog's weight and healthy physique under control
Step 3. Get him to socialize once all important vaccinations have been given
This means making it come into contact with people, with other dogs and with the territory surrounding the home. Bring him in the car, explore the neighborhood with him on long walks, take him to the dog area: all these experiences will help him get to know the world.
The more you make him go through positive experiences in different places, the more he will get used to it. Try to get him used to situations when he is small: as an adult they will not cause him any anxiety
Part 4 of 4: Veterinary Checkups: Routine Checkups
Step 1. Take him to the vet
Schedule annual visits for examinations and vaccinations. Gradually, the vet will get to know your dog and will be able to better recognize the symptoms of any disease or health problems. Regular check-ups can prevent many treatable diseases from occurring.
If you have a puppy, take him to the vet by the sixth week of life. He will be checked for hernias or problems with his heart, lungs, eyes and ears. Also, the puppy needs to be wormed and vaccinated
Step 2. Vaccinate him
Anti-rabies is given around the twelfth week of life and is mandatory in many states. You risk serious trouble if your dog bites a person or a fellow dog and turns out to be unvaccinated. Do not skip the borreliosis vaccination. This disease causes joint pain, swelling, fever and can be fatal due to kidney failure.
Dogs that live mostly outdoors are at a higher risk of contracting tick-borne diseases
Step 3. Consider spaying the dog
Neutering can reduce some behavioral problems in dogs, as well as decrease the risk of certain types of cancers or infections. In addition, by neutering it, you will not have to worry about weaning and having unwanted puppies adopted.
The implantation of the microchip is strongly recommended - as well as mandatory, according to Italian law. It can be very useful in case you get lost
Step 4. Check for fleas and prevent infestations
Black dots in the fur, the fact that the dog scratches and licks itself continuously, the presence of scabs: these are all indications that fleas may have. To get rid of fleas, you have several options. Ask your vet about oral medication, wash your dog with flea shampoo, and have him wear a pest collar.
Flea collars and pesticide spot-ons are effective tools to prevent flea infestations. Ask your vet for the most suitable product for your dog
Step 5. Get a heartworm control test
It is advisable to subject the dog to an annual test against this disease, unfortunately very widespread. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquito bites, so it is difficult to prevent. Although there is no vaccine against heartworm, this disease is fought with medicines capable of destroying the larvae that cause it: you can choose whether to give the dog a tablet once a month or an injectable solution (at the vet) that protects it for six months.
Heartworm is treatable, but the treatment is time-consuming, expensive, and very hard on the dog's body. Prevention is always better than cure
Advice
- In some cases, the dog may be overweight due to health problems. Obesity can be a symptom of another disease, particularly hypothyroidism (poor thyroid function) or Cushing's disease (excessive production of cortisol). Dogs that are overweight due to these diseases should be regularly monitored by a veterinarian and given a diet that keeps them within their ideal weight.
- If you notice any unusual behavior (lethargy, loss of appetite, restlessness, suspicious pains), contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Take note of your dog's personal data: name, age, breed, description, number of microchips, vaccinations and updated photos.
- Do not hit, kick or throw objects at your dog. He will associate you with punishment and become disobedient or fearful of you.
- When your dog is old, take him to the vet at least twice a year for testing. Senior dogs often suffer from arthritis and heart disease just like us humans. There are efficient and safe treatments that can guarantee your dog a peaceful and comfortable old age.
- Feed him healthy food, keep him active, and take him to the vet once or several times a year. Play with him often and willingly.
Warnings
- Don't give your dog too small balls to play with. He could swallow them and be choked.
- Don't give your dog cooked bones or fatty foods. The bones may get stuck in the intestinal tract and it will be necessary to resort to surgery to remove them. Fatty foods can cause painful pancreatitis in dogs, which is time consuming and expensive to cure.
- Too hard bones, rocks, and sticks can damage a compulsive chewing dog's teeth.
