For thousands of years now, dogs have been domestic animals. Clearly, people and dogs are a good match when it comes to happy companionship. You are the human, so that puts you in charge of ensuring your dog is healthy. This article will tell you all about dog care.
It takes quite a bit of money to take good care of a dog. You need to pay for high quality food, regular vet care, and various supplies. This can cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars each year. Also, should an emergency arise, this can cost thousands so you might consider pet health insurance.
If you have prescription or over-the-counter medication in the house, make sure that your dog does not have access to it. Consuming even a single pill can cause serious health problems or your dog. If you notice that your dog has consumed any of your medication, you need to immediately contact your vet.
Table Scraps
Don’t give table scraps to your dog. This will only teach him to beg constantly and also inhibit his appetite toward his regular food. Feeding your dog table scraps can cause obesity and a number of digestive issues. Make your dog stay out of the room when the family is eating.
Talk to your vet about how much your dog should eat. Dog food packages provide guidelines, but they can be wrong for your particular pet and lead to obesity. Speak to the vet about what makes sense for your dog.
You don’t want to buy the bargain dog food. Cheap dog food usually includes fillers (such as corn or soybeans) which are not appropriate for dogs. It may also contain poor quality ingredients which may hurt your dog’s health over time. Find an advocacy group that can provide you with a list of vet recommended foods. Your dog can really benefit from better food.
Be sure to address your dog’s bad behavior when you first notice it. If you ignore it, it will be hard to contain it later. Be sure to control and contain your dog to prevent problems with people.
Your dog’s nails need to be trimmed regularly. If you neglect your dog’s nails, they will be in discomfort. It is easy to keep nails trimmed with simple implements available at pet stores. If you’re uncomfortable clipping them on your own, go to a professional groomer. Nail clipping is very affordable.
Do not keep your dog outdoors all day. This is common for people to do, but dogs should interact with others. Especially if it’s only one dog, it can get very lonely. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, hurt by other animals or even abducted.
Some dog breeds are more likely than others to develop certain health issues. Check out their heritage and try to prevent problems that you know they’re prone to. Your vet can also tell you how to give your dog the best odds for overcoming any conditions that are typical for his breed.
Is is your job to care for your dog in your dog/owner relationship. This article can help you know what you will need to do to provide the best life for your dog. Start using these tips to make your dog happier and healthier.