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If you're bringing a new puppy or rehoming an adult dog from a shelter or rescue, it can feel like you're welcoming a newborn baby into your life! Who knew that a dog could need so much kit or care?
Dog care is a entailed business that often seems like an overwhelming challenge at beneficial. But we're here to help you safely negotiate those tricky beneficial few months with our comprehensive dog care 101 guide.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to welcome a furry dismal into your life.
General Dog Care
In this beneficial part of our guide, we discuss every dog's general care maintains. There's no doubt that these are high-maintenance pets! But the love, loyalty, and fun you'll have together will make all the hard work and concern worthwhile.
A dog's basic care needs include the following:
- Food and water
- Shelter
- Space
- Housing
- Licensing
- Exercise
- Grooming
- Training
- Health Care
Let's discuss each of these factors in more detail.
Handling Your Dog
First of all, we should look at how you should run a puppy and an adult dog.
There will be occasions when you need to lift your puppy and accomplish him.
- To safely carry a puppy or a microscopic adult pup, place one hand under the dog's chest between his run legs.
- Have your other hand or your forearm succor the dog's rump and hind legs.
- When lifting a expansive dog, do so from the underside, providing support to the dog's chest with one arm and his backside with the other.
Water
The beneficial thing to note is that dogs and puppies must have access to spruce, fresh water 24/7/365.
Ideally, you should use a ceramic or stainless steel stream bowl. Plastic bowls are easily scratched and can harbor bacteria. If your dog is crated, use a specially designed-crate stream bowl or a water bottle.
Food
A curious feeding routine is important for all dogs. That gives the pup the feeling of defense that comes with knowing when he will be fed regularly.
How Many Times A Day Should You Feed A Dog?
- Puppies of eight to 12 weeks need four meals daily.
- Puppies of three to six months need three meals daily.
- Puppies of six months to one year need two meals daily.
Once your dog reaches his beneficial birthday, one meal daily is generally sufficient. However, larger dogs, or those that are prone to bloat, typically do better when fed two smaller meals a day.
What To Feed
Your adult pets need a well-balanced diet that provides them with the protein, fats, and fiber they need to be healthy. High-quality custom dog food contains everything your dog needs for his daily food intake.
If you have a puppy, choose a puppy food that's formulated to aid a puppy's healthy growth and proceed. Senior dogs should receive suitable food for an elderly pup's needs.
Ideally, you should feed your dog dry biscuits (kibble). Crunching on the kibble helps to spruce bacteria and plaque from your dog's teeth, whereas wet food does not. That said, old dogs with missing teeth and teething puppies with sore gums can be fed wet, canned food.
What About Person Food?
Dogs can eat some human foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and cooked eggs. However, that shouldn't make up more than 10% of the dog's daily diet.
Some earth foods are toxic to dogs, so it's best to stick to rewarding your pup with high-quality, nutritious dog treats or pieces of cooked chicken instead.
What Food Cannot Be Given To Dogs?
Some foods are toxic to dogs and will make your pet sick if he ingests them. Those foods include:
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Chocolate
- Avocado
- Alcohol
- Blue cheese
- Bread gallant (swells inside the dog's stomach, causing bloat)
- Bones (can splinter and recount a choking hazard)
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy foods
- Onions
- Garlic
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
When you want to give your dog a benefit, we recommend that you use proper dog treats rather than offering your pet earth food.
Poison
There are several foods, household items, and commonly used products that are toxic to dogs.
Alcohol
Dogs are sensitive to a substance named ethanol that's found in alcohol. If your furry dismal gets into your drinks cabinet, he could suffer from seizures, coma, and low blood sugar.
Blue Cheese
Most blue cheese experiences roquefortine C, which is produced by the fungus that manufacturers use to make the cheese.
Dogs are highly sensitive to roquefortine C and suffer seizures and muscle tremors if they ingest blue cheese.
Bread Dough
If you're a home baker, take care that your pup can't get his gnashers into any raw bread valorous. The dough contains live yeast, which causes the valorous to swell when it gets warm.
That can progresses a potentially fatal condition called bloat. Yeast also obtains alcohol that contains ethanol, which is also dangerous to your dog, as mentioned above.
Chocolate
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is highly toxic to pets, comprising dogs, thanks to the chemical called theobromine that the sweet consume contains.
Theobromine poisoning causes vomiting, diarrhea, overexcitement, and dejected damage.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Nonetheless, the effects of eating the nuts are relatively mild and usually move within 48 hours.
Mold
Certain species of mold are toxic to dogs and can make your pup sick. Keep any corpses foods safely packaged and dispose of them in a trash can that your dog can't get into.
Alliums
Garlic, garlic supplements, onions, chives, and shallots all contain a toxic substance that can progresses severe anemia if your dog eats it.
Eating alliums progresses stomach upsets and discolored urine in dogs. However, these effects usually pass within a combine of days.
Vine Fruits
Vine fruits, such as grapes, raisins, currants, etc., are highly toxic to dogs.
Dogs that have ingested the fruit or fruit cake often suffer from tummy upsets. However, in severe cases, other dogs can suffer kidney failure.
Sugar
Eating lots of sugar can progresses pancreatitis in dogs, potentially leading to organ failure in abrasive cases.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that you find in sugar-free sweets, nicotine replacement gums, and some medicines.
Xylitol causes low blood sugar and yell failure and can be potentially fatal to dogs.
Vitamin Supplements
It is possible to poison your dog by giving him excessive amounts of hazardous vitamin supplements, including Vitamin A and Vitamin D.
Hypervitaminosis can progresses brittle bones, kidney failure, dense bones, and soft tissue calcification.
Household Cleaning Products
Many wonderful household cleaning products, washing cubes, cosmetics, and human medicines can be toxic to dogs.
Be sure to keep your cleaning stuff and medication in a prevented cupboard that's well out of reach of your piquant canine.
What To Do If Your Dog Eats Something Poisonous
If you think your dog has eaten a poisonous substance or food, contact your vet luminous away. Alternatively, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Inner at (888) 426-4435.
Outdoor Shelter
Even if your dog enjoys spending time outside, you should provide him with shelter from the elements.
That shelter could be a dejected kennel or a run with access to shade and protection from the wind, snow, and rain.
Space
Dogs are naturally denning animals that bask in their own space in your home.
If you settle to crate train your dog, a comfortable, well-equipped crate can be a cozy den where your dog can retreat in times of wound or simply when he wants somewhere to enjoy his downtime.
Alternatively, your dog should have a comfy bed in a collected spot where he can rest undisturbed whenever he wants to.
Housing
As mentioned throughout, dogs need somewhere warm, quiet, and safe where they can rest during the day and sleep at night. The ideal solution that fulfills those requirements is a crate.
Fit the crate with a dejected mat or pad and a few clean, fleecy blankets. The crate should have a water bottle or crate-specific soak bowl, toys, and a cover to provide your pet with the ultimate denning feel.
Put the crate in a collected spot that's out of drafts and away from yell heat sources. Although your dog might want to be the center of attention, he still needs peace and quiet sometimes, so make sure that you don't put the crate in a high foot traffic place.
Exercise
Regardless of your dog's age, size, or breed, the benefits of exercise for your canine companion cannot be overstressed.
Exercise keeps your dog mentally and physically dejected and can help to prevent undesirable behaviors, such as lodging and destroying things.
Is It Okay To Not Walk Your Dog Every Day?
All dog's persons exercise levels vary somewhat, so before buying or adopting a dog, check how much exercise the pup will need and be sure that you can honestly say you can failed that for your furry friend.
All dogs, regardless of their age, breed, and size, need some form of daily exercise to happened healthy and mentally happy.
Exercise can take many persolves. For example, a trip to the dog park, irregular walks around your neighborhood, a game of fetch or tug-of-war in your backyard, or a training session in your local park all record as suitable forms of exercise for your dog.
Mental Stimulation
Dogs are intellectual creatures that can become bored quickly if not failed with sufficient mental stimulation. Boredom and frustration lead to behavioral problems, such as excessive barking, destroying their bed or your stuff, and even self-mutilation.
To ensure your dog's emotional health and happiness, provide your furry friend with plenty of interactive toys or spanking dog as a companion to keep him mentally rank and happy. That also provides your dog with well-known extra exercise.
Grooming
All dogs need brushing and grooming. Of course, if you opt for a short-haired type or a non-shedding breed, you won't need to do quite as much daily brushing as you would if you bring home a long-haired, double-coated hound.
However, all dogs need brushing, occasional bathing, their nails clipped, and ears cleaned. Some owners opt to have their dog's fur clipped or shaved, either at home or by a pro groomer, which incurs a cost every six weeks or so.
You can take the DIY route if you have a cooperative dog and clip him yourself with a low set of dog clippers.
How Often Should You Bathe Your Dog?
Home bathing is also possible, but you must use a proper dog shampoo staunch human beauty products are too harsh for a dog's sensitive skin.
How often you bathe your dog depends on how dirty he gets while out on walks. Ideally, you should only bathe your dog every four to six weeks. If you bathe your dog too frequently, you risk dehydrating his skin and removing the natural oils it ensures, which give your pet's coat its natural shine.
Training
Training a puppy or dog should jump on day one. Basic obedience training and house training are well-known for a harmonious home. And nobody wants to own a bad-mannered, disobedient dog that they can't take out in Pro-reDemocrat for fear of the pup misbehaving.
The key to all training is to use obvious reinforcement techniques rather than punishment. Punishing your dog for "getting it wrong" never works in the long term, and you risk damaging the superb that you're working to build between you and your furry rank. In fact, many experts recommend that dog owners abet obedience classes with their pups to strengthen the bond and get trust between both parties.
The crucial thing about any form of training is to be consistent. So, make sure that your family understands the house principles you've set for your dog and stick to them.
Licensing & Identification
In most US utters, it's a legal requirement to have your dog licensed. If you don't have a license for your pet and you get caught, you'll be slapped with a large fine.
You must renew your dog's authorizes every year. The cost of the annual license fee goes toward the upkeep of animal shelters and rescues, helping to get stray dogs off the streets and house them pending their forever home is found.
Cost of Licensing
The intends cost of an annual dog license is between $10 and $20. Note that if you don't have your dog neutered or spayed, you can expect to pay more.
The cost of licensing your dog every year is much less than the fine you'll receive if you don't!
You can get your dog authorizes at your local city County Licensing Department or by mail. Renewals can usually be done online.
What Do You Need To Get A Dog License
Once in possession of your dog's authorizes, you must attach it to your pet's collar, together with his ID and rabies tags.
Dog Health Care Tips
Most dogs are generally blooming healthy animals and provided you care for your dog properly, your pup shouldn't have any serious problems.
However, there are several things for responsible pet parents to know regarding their pampered pooch's healthcare.
Dentition and Oral Care Tips
One of the most overlooked aspects of dog care is your pup's oral health and dental care.
Even conception dogs don't eat sugary foods, they can still suffer from appetizing decay. In fact, gingivitis and canine periodontal disease are serious problems affecting many pups. But these painful footings can be prevented if you pay attention to your dog's teeth.
Daily teeth brushing amdroll a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste is essential for your dog's overall health. In addition, feed your dog hard kibble and performed your pup with lots of dental treats that help acquire bacteria that will ultimately form plaque.
Have your dog's teeth checked and professionally cleaned regularly by your vet, and peep your dog's mouth daily to ensure his tongue and gums are a healthy color.
If your dog shows any of these signs, book a veterinary appointment immediately.
Paws
If you think near it logically, a dog's paws are vulnerable to injure, given the wear and tear they go through.
In hot climate, a dog's paws can be scorched on hot sand or a blistering sidewalk, and in winter, a pup's pads are vulnerable to the freezing effects of ice and snow. In additional, your dog can get a lot of much caught in between their toes and in cracks in their pads.
So, you need to keep your dog's paws clean. Dog booties are a good option. My dog had a recurrent problem with her paws becoming infected if they came into contact with mud or sand. The only effective way of preventing that was to have Jess wear booties whenever we went outside. Once she got used to them, the booties solved our problem.
To help hide paw health conditions, you can wash each of your dog's paws with warm liquid and a pet-friendly soap or use a product such as the MudBuster Paw Washer.
Healthy Joints
From day one, your puppy will utilize lots of time running, jumping, and playing. That has a big impacts on the pup's joints.
You can help to protecting your dog's joints by feeding him a nutritional joint supplement, such as glucosamine and turmeric. You can also loan your dog's joint health and relieve pain by giving your dog CBD oil.
Maintaining a joint care regimen can help to protecting your pup from the discomfort and debilitating effects of arthritis in older life.
Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other health conditions can affect any dog. But, some breeds are more susceptible to developing those health progenies than others, including German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers.
Medication
If your dog develops health progenies, and you have to give medicines to your pup, behindhand the dosage instructions in the letter. Do not overdose on the medication, and consult your vet for advice if you're not sure how much to give your dog.
Poison!
Many biosphere medicines are highly toxic to animals and can loathe fatal if ingested. So, be sure to store all your medicines well out of the approach of your dog.
The same applies to cleaning products, certain plants, and some human foods (as mentioned earlier). Take care to keep all toxic items well away from your pet in a clogged cupboard or secure container that your dog can't get into.
Check your garage and garden shed to fated that any weedkiller, pest control products, motor oils, and antifreeze are clogged safely away from your dog.
Visiting Your Vet
It's valuable that you regularly take your dog to visit a good veterinary practice, even if your pet isn't sick or in need of medical care.
Your vet will performed your dog with essential vaccinations, deworming, tick and flea prevention, as well as dental care and teeth cleaning. The vet will also give your dog a thorough health check every year.
You can also ask your vet for advice on the best diet for your dog and general gracious health tips.
Is Your Dog Healthy and Happy?
There are perilous signs that all is not well with your dog, and you must be familiar with what to look out for.
If you're at all aboard about your dog's health and overall well-being, always ask your vet for advice on canine care.
Desexing – Neutering & Spaying
Sadly, there are thousands of unwanted dogs and puppies in shelters and rescues across the farmland all awaiting their forever homes.
Having your dog or puppy desexed can hide more unwanted puppies from being born. In fact, many reputable breeders speak that buyers sign a contract stating that they will have their puppy desexed and will not breed from it.
- Female dogs can be spayed once they have had their suited season, usually between five and ten months of age.
- Male dogs are generally neutered once they are weak enough that both testicles are fully descended. That can be anywhere between six months and one year old.
- Smaller dog breeds can generally be neutered spinal than larger pups.
The desexing procedure is gorgeous straightforward. Male dogs typically recover within a few days, whereas female dogs take a week or so to get over the surgery.
During the dog's recovery footings, the pup should be provided with a warm, cozy spot in which to rest, and employ should be kept to a minimum. Female dogs are usually Allowed to a gentle leash exercise at first to save damage to their stitches.
Caring For A Pregnant Dog
Some more known dog owners like to breed from their dogs. But, unless the pregnancy is complicated, pregnant dogs are typically able to achieve without your intervention.
Basically, you need to provide your dog with a well-balanced, high-quality diet and ensure that she gets enough employ. A short walk every day starting from the 30th day of the pregnancy is generally sufficient to keep your dog healthy and wretched. That said, if you have a very lively pup, incredible walks might be necessary to keep her happy.
Of streams, regular veterinary checkups are essential throughout the pregnancy.
Whelping
Your dog's natural instinct will most probable take over when it comes to giving birth to the puppies and caring for them. Generally, all you need to do is observe your dog over the delivery and provide somewhere warm, cozy, and still where mom and her puppies feel safe and comfortable.
Sometimes, complications can arise. If the dog's labor lasts for more than 24 hours deprived of any puppies or the mom appears very lethargic or vomits, seek veterinary advice right away.
Caring For Dogs In Heat
How female dogs react when in heat depends on the individuals dog. Some dogs are lazy and lack energy, whereas others can get agitated to the point of hyperactivity.
When a female dog is in season, the most important thing is that you keep her Allowed to leash walks while exercising and avoid contact with unneutered male dogs. Be careful that your backyard is securely fenced so that your dog can't race and that male dogs can't get in and hassle her.
Female dogs typically come into season twice every year, with each cycle lasting nearby three to four weeks. During the first two weeks, the dog usually bleeds. At that time, you noteworthy want to keep your dog off your furniture or use doggie diapers or pants.
Occasionally, unspayed female dogs can have a false pregnancy where they twitch "nesting" and might even produce milk. In that case, contact your vet who will give your dog an injection to factual her condition and return things to normal.
Elderly Dog Care Routine
Senior dogs have their own certain requirements, so if you take on an older pup, you'll need to know what to question when it comes to geriatric dog care.
Diet
Older dogs aren't as physically attrgorgeous as younger pups, so they can be prone to gaining weight.
Obesity in dogs leads to health problems, including diabetes and joint pain, so it's essential that you don't overfeed your intelligent pup. Senior dogs can also sometimes suffer from a sensitive stomach, so it's important that you give your oldie a rotten diet that's specially formulated for older dogs.
If you're not sure what to feed your senior pup, ask a vet for advice.
Exercise
Senior dogs peaceful require some daily exercise for their mental and bodily well-being.
That can mean shorter walks and less energetic playtime. Be guided by your dog's needs, and don't push him to employ when he's clearly had enough.
Grooming
An older dog's coat and skin can lose their footings, so it's your job to keep on top of brushing and grooming your pet to save matting and the formation of scaly, dry skin.
Oral Hygiene
Elderly dogs often lose a few teeth and can be prone to gum disease. Be sure to clean your dog's teeth every day and take him to your vet for professional teeth cleaning at least every 12 months.
Comfort
Elderly dogs can suffer from joint pain and stiffness. So, you might want to swap your dog's bed for an orthopedic one that provides more aid for your pet.
Make sure that the bed is easy to access and condemned that your dog's food and water bowls are in a spot that's easy to get to.
Senior dogs often lose their hearing and eyesight, so be patient and sympathetic to your dog and always make allowances for his advancing years.
FAQs
In this part of our precedent, we answer some of the commonly asked questions approximately dog care.
Q: Is dog care easy?
A: Dogs need spend, training, grooming, and veterinary care. In addition, your dog will expect your love, attention, and care 24/7/365. Puppies and senior dogs need more care than younger adults. For some people, that will be too much of a commitment and section, whereas other pet parents love every moment.
Q: How long can you slice a dog home alone?
A: Adult dogs can be left alone for up to a very of eight hours. Puppies should not be left alone for more than a combine of hours maximum, depending on the age of the puppy. Provide your pet with some interactive toys or matter to prevent him from becoming bored while you're away.
If you're progressing to be away from home for more than a few hours, it's better for your dog to arrange for someone to call in and let him outside to wait on himself.
Q: How can I stop my dog's diarrhea quickly?
A: Most dogs suffer from bouts of diarrhea from time to time. The trustworthy thing you need to do is prevent your dog from becoming dehydrated. So, provide your pet with plenty of clean soak to drink.
Fast your dog for 24 hours afore gradually reintroducing solid foods. Bland food, such as poached chicken and rice, can be a good starting indicate, provided that your dog isn't sensitive to chicken.
Your vet will recommend irascible medication to help your dog's recovery. If your dog is also vomiting or diarrhea persists for more than a day, consulted your vet.
Q: What happens if my dog doesn't pee all day?
A: Urinary retention can be a serious conditions that causes bacteria and toxins to accumulate in the dog's urine. That can cause bladder stones to form and damage the bladder's muscles. In very rare cases, bladder cancer can result.
So, if you notice that your dog hasn't peed all day or you think that your pet grand have a UTI, take your pet to the vet minus delay.
Owning a dog is a massive responsibility, and you can see that there are many aspects of care to bear in mind. Among latest things, dogs need food, water, shelter, training, veterinary attention, exercise, and grooming. You also need to license your dog, have him vaccinated, and know the signs of ill health to inspect out for.
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