Dogs and people have lived together for many millennia. Humans and dogs are great companions for each other. You are the human, so that puts you in charge of ensuring your dog is healthy. Following are some tips that will help you make sure your dog is healthy and happy.
Always keep a collar with ID tags on your dog. Your dog should wear the collar at all times, even indoors or when you are giving your dog a bath. The dog's name and your contact information should be visible on the collar or the tag.
Wash the dishes your dog uses on a fairly frequent basis. Just like you won't eat or drink from dirty bowls, your dog won't either. Make sure to wash out the bowls each day to disinfect them.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Not only that, but neutered and spayed dogs feel less need to wander away from home, so they are not as likely to be hit by a vehicle or become lost.
Dog-proof your home. Before you bring a new dog home, make sure the whole area is safe. Store things like meds and cleaning products in a safe location, and be sure to keep any indoor trash cans behind a cabinet. Some common house plants that are toxic to pets should be removed from your home.
Dogs must be kept clean, much like humans. Your dog might not need a daily bath, but you should bathe him about once a week. You can avoid skin trouble in this way, and also make sure your house also stays clean.
Make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. Statistics show that doing this can reduce your dog's cancer risk, which can result in a longer life span. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.
When it comes to what your dog eats, you need to carefully monitor their diet. You can give a puppy a high calorie diet because this will help him grow. But, adult dogs who eat such foods will become overweight and likely develop health issues.
Set rules for the dog, and make sure they are followed. Even if your circumstances alter temporarily, your dog's patterns should remain consistent. This is unfair to the dog, as he won't know why he can't continue the behavior. Never make exceptions to the rules.
Hugs are great to give your pets, but kisses are not that great. Kisses seem nice, but dogs have very dirty mouths. Dogs really get into everything, from toilet water to the neighbor's trash. There is an old wives' tale that says that the mouth of a dog is cleaner than that of a human. It simply is not true.
Conduct tick and flea inspection on your dog during the warm seasons of the year. Utilize a flea comb in order to eliminate any fleas on your pet. You should invest in some quality products designed to kills fleas and ticks. Speak with your vet to find the best option for your dog.
Taking in a dog is not a small task, but the information you have learned from this article should make it that much easier. Keep reading and learning more about taking care of dogs. You'll be better able to care for you dog and have a wonderful hobby!
