There is nothing like a dog if you want affection, love, and loyalty. Dogs are great family companions and also companions of people that live alone. If you want to take better care of your dog, make good use of the following tips.
Make your home dog-proof. Don’t take a dog into your home without being sure that it is safe from top to bottom. All cleaning materials and drugs must be put away, and put your trash receptacle inside a cabinet. Make sure no toxic plants are in the vicinity of your dogs.
An annual checkup at the vet is a great idea for your dog. Because your dog can’t speak with you, you may have trouble knowing when your dog is feeling pain like if it has arthritis. A yearly checkup will help you find any problems before they become huge issues.
When vacationing with your dog, use the camera on your phone to snap a quick picture. If he just so happens to run away from you, you should have a picture so you can find him.
You should talk to your vet about the foods you give your dog. Keep in mind that a young puppy’s stomach is not ready for certain foods. Use care when feeding your dog.
Talk to your vet about appropriate nutrition for your canine. While some individuals give their dogs food by following the package, sometimes these guidelines are inappropriate for your dog. Speak with your veterinarian about what your dog’s needs are and what amounts are proper.
Get your new pet a veterinary exam. Immediately after bringing home the new dog, schedule a checkup with your veterinarian. The veterinarian will make sure your pet is as healthy as you think he is and also talk to you about vaccinations. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.
Proper leash walking is something that you should teach to your dog. To properly walk your dog, he must remain directly at your side instead of behind or in front of you. This will ensure that your pet is not too far ahead or behind you. If you are using a loose leash, you help your dog to realize this is the best way to go about it.
You may need to trim hair that grows near the dog’s paws to help keep it from matting. A comb is a good tool to straighten the dog’s fur before trimming. If you have a hard time with this, enlist the services of a groomer.
Don’t skip your dog’s annual checkup. This will give your dogs the best chance to avoid life-threatening diseases. An annual check-up for your pet can help to avoid future expense and needless suffering for your dog.
Be careful when choosing what to feed your dog. There are many kinds of foods you can pick, but the one you choose should fit with your dog’s size and age. Feeding your dog leftovers is a good way to save money but provide your dog with a healthy diet is not easy if you feed it leftovers.
Don’t rely on just a wet and cold nose to determine a dog’s health. There are multiple reasons a nose could be chilly and damp, and plenty of them don’t involve illness. Assess the health of your dog by observing its mood, energy level and appetite. These are all good ways to gauge how well your pet is doing. A dog’s temperature is checked using a rectal thermometer.
Take special care during the summer. Dogs get overheated quite easily. Make sure that your dog has a shaded, cool spot for hot weather. Be sure there is always cool and clean water within the dog’s reach. Also, your dog might not like the sun’s rays, so ask the vet if you can get some sunscreen for your dog.
There are many things to consider when planning excellent canine care. There is more to it than taking him for walks and giving him food. You need to learn how to care properly for your dog. Doing so will give you more enjoyable years with them.
