Importance of Neutoring

Every year millions of dogs are put to death because there are
way too many dogs. Puppies are born but there are not enough
people to take care of them. They are thus put to death. In
order to minimize these deaths, dogs should be spayed or
neutered to avoid such unhappy deaths.

When we hear the word spaying, we are basically explaining the
removal of the uterus and the ovaries in bitches. The world
castration refers to removing a male dog’s testicles. Neutering
is basically a general term that describes both these procedures.

Neutering your dog has many benefits. For bitches that are
spayed before their first heat cycle at 6-9 months are less
likely to develop breast cancer. They also are less likely to
develop infections of the uterus which can be severe and cause
death. Spayed bitches tend to have less mood swings than bitches
who haven’t been spayed.

Castrated male dogs are less likely to mark their territory by
urinating in the house and are less likely to roam around the
neighborhood. They are also less likely to develop aggressive
behaviour towards other dogs. It is best to castrate your dog
during the ages of 9-12 months before he becomes sexually active
and develops bad habits. Male dogs are less likely to develop
prostate problems or testicular cancer.

Having your dog neutered will help your community spend less on
controlling unwanted animals. Breeding that is not done by a
breeder results in dogs that bite and attack. Unplanned breeding
has become a major problem and increases the dog population in
shelters. Stray dogs are a nuisance and get into garbage
containers and defecate in public areas. Have you dog neutered
to avoid unwanted deaths!

Avoiding Sickness

The last thing you want is your dog to be sick. There are many
ways to keep your dog healthy.

Having a veterinarian is one of the most important things that a
dog owner should have. The veterinarian is your dog’s doctor and
will know all your dog’s problems. It’s a good idea to find a
veterinarian that you know will take good care of your dog. You
and your dog should feel comfortable with the vet. Your dog
especially needs to be comfortable when he visits the vet so
that he understands that no matter what happens there is nothing
to be afraid of. Always choose a vet who will share information
with you than one who doesn’t.

Vaccinations are important for dogs. Missing certain
vaccinations may cause you dog to become seriously ill and
perhaps even die. There are various times that certain
vaccinations must be taken. Some vaccinations are annual and
some are every one to three years. The most important vaccines
to pay attention to are hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus,
parainfluenza, distemper, bordetella and most importantly,
rabies. As puppies, these shots are taken almost every 4-6 weeks
and then are moved to become annual vaccinations. Dental hygiene
is also important. Dogs are prone to developing the same types
of dental diseases such as gingivitis and cavities. You probably
enjoy your dog licking you so if you want him to have fresh
breath, it is essential you brush his teeth daily and visit the
veterinarian for checkups.

There are many behavioural changes that you should be aware of
with your dog. These changes include depression, anxiety,
fatigue, sleepiness, trembling, falling/stumbling. If your dog
experiences any of these symptoms, keep a close eye on him and
take him to the vet as soon as possible.

There are also some external parasites that your dog may get
including ticks, fleas and ear mites. It is your responsibility
to remove these parasites from your dog. For fleas, there are
various shampoos and other items that can be used to remove the
fleas. Read the labels carefully as many products may
potentially harm your dog. Internal parasites are also a problem
with dogs. Worms tend to affect puppies most often but are
present in many dogs at various ages. The treatment of these
worms is basically through medicine prescribed by your
veterinarian. Heartworm checks are recommended on a yearly basis
to ensure that your dog’s heart does not fail.

There are some viral and bacterial infections that your dog may
show symptoms of. If treated early, there will be a faster
recovery rate for your dog. The symptoms include diarrhea, loss
of appetite, discharge from eyes or nose, stiffness or weakness,
fever (dog’s normal temperature is 100-102 degrees Fahrenheit),
vomiting, coughing, blood in the stool and labored breathing.

Overall, treat your dog as if it were your child. It needs
water, food, shelter and love. It also needs medical attention
if it is ill.