You may already have a well-behaved dog when you look in a dog. You may get something really different. No matter what the situation, you need to be a good pet owner, and the piece below shows you how.
Being a dog owner requires a financial commitment. Dogs need good food, medical care and other supplies. This can add up to $500-$1000 a year. Pet insurance can be very helpful since emergency medical care for your dog can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the circumstances.
You should take your dog to the vet at lease once a year. Your dog is not able to talk, so make sure that you get it a checkup periodically. Annual checkups can catch issues before they become major problems.
Be sure your dog spayed or neutered. Research shows that doing this small thing can give extended life to your animal live longer and reduce their cancer risk. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, lessening the chance of them getting lost or hurt.
It’s a great idea to keep a snap-shot of your dog handy (a digital pic on your phone is ideal) whenever you’re traveling with him. This ensures that, should he get lost, you have a current photo, ready for showing around or being used in flyers.
If you are going to taking your dog on vacation, keep a photo of him on your phone. This will be helpful should he gets lost.
Be wary of the ingredients in many flea treatments. A lot of them have chemicals that are 1000 times more potent than what is considered safe by the EPA and it may be a cancer risk for children. Talk to the vet about different forms of treatment that are other options for your dog.
If you aren’t sure of the amount of food your dog needs on a daily basis, talk to your vet. Though some folks feed whatever the package recommends, those guidelines are not always appropriate and can lead to overfeeding. Your vet should be able to let you know what your dog’s specific needs are.
Never allow your dog to leave your yard without a leash. You are responsible if your dog’s actions and safety.
Talk to your vet about which foods you should be feeding your particular dog. Be safe when it comes to what you feed your dog.
If you’re going to adopt a new dog from an animal shelter, you need to get a vet appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Dogs from pounds are exposed to more illnesses than others. It is best to make sure your new puppy gets all the shots needed before you bring it home.
Ask your vet about how much the dog should eat each day. While some individuals give their dogs food by following the package, these guidelines can be incorrect and lead to an overweight dog. Your vet should be able to let you know how much to feed your particular dog.
Make sure your dog’s nails are trimmed nails. If you neglect your dog’s nails, the result could be painful injuries to the nail beds and your dog’s paws. You can buy clippers and do them yourself. If you lack the confidence to do this job on your own, hire a professional.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. He should know the “heel” command, stay close to you and not veer far ahead or drag behind. That way, your dog is safe and the walks are better for you as well. Understanding that command is great, even if you choose to still walk with a loose leash periodically.
If you want to get a pet from a shelter, make sure you have a vet check him out right away. Dogs are exposed to more illnesses than others. You need to ensure your animal all of the shots it needs prior to bringing it home.
Make sure that your dog engages in sufficient amounts of exercise. Dogs need routine activity and play time; it’s good for their physical and healthy.No matter what, whether it’s going for a long walk or simply throwing a ball or stick, you’ll both benefit from it.
Take your pet to the veterinarian regularly. Dogs need to go to the vet for a check-up, but also to check for heartworm and to ensure they have all their shots. A puppy requires more constant vet visits. If your dog seems ill or becomes injured, you must take it to a vet immediately.
Make sure that your dog with the opportunity for plenty of exercise- both physical and mental. Teach your dog to get your newspaper and do other things that are useful in your home. This kind of play will make your dog to feel like a contributing member of the family and keep his mental functioning at a high level.
With all of this great advice available to you, you would be a fool to ignore it. Use it in all that you do and watch the difference in the behavior of your dog. You will also find that there is no better friend than a dog that loves you.
You may think it’s okay to share your own snacks with your dog. There are certain human foods that should not be fed to a dog. Onions, garlic and chocolate are just a few foods which are intolerable to dogs. They can make you dog seriously ill or even cause death if enough is ingested.