Owning a dog is a very serious responsibility. You need to have a happy, healthy dog. However, you can’t take good care of your dog if you don’t know what you’re doing. In this article, you’ll find some important tips.
Be sure your house is dog-proofed. Prior to bringing the pooch home, check that the whole home is safe. Put all medication and cleaning supplies away, and keep your indoor trash can inside a cabinet. Make sure no toxic plants are in the vicinity of your dogs.
Your dog needs an annual physical exam from the vet, just as you need one from your doctor. Even the best dog owner will find it difficult or impossible to detect the first signs of health troubles, like a tooth infection or arthritic joints. A yearly checkup will help you find any problems before they become huge issues.
If you’re taking your dog on a trip, be sure that you have a recent picture of them on-hand. This will help in the rare situation that you get separated from your dog. You will have a current picture of your dog to show to people.
Be careful of the ingredients in many flea treatments. Many have ingredients that may put kids at risk for various cancers over 1000 times what the EPA may consider to be safe. Discuss any concerns with your veterinarian, and see if he has more holistic treatment options that might help to keep your pet free from fleas and your family safe.
Ask your vet about which foods he can eat. Depending on the type and age of dog, if you purchase the wrong kind of food it may upset their stomach. Use care when feeding your dog.
Take your time to teach your dog what kind of behavior is right or wrong as soon as it occurs. If you let it fester it can only make the problem much worse and eventually the dog becomes extremely difficult to train. If your dog is not under control, he could end up hurting you or someone else.
Daily brushing for your dog does more than simply prevent shedding. Brushing every day will also help give them a gorgeous, glossy coat. This is because the motions you go through while brushing evenly distributes the skin’s oils and helps keep the skin healthy, shiny and soft.
Be sure to schedule a check up for your new friend with a trusted veterinarian. As soon as you bring your new dog home, make an appointment with your vet. Your vet will administer the necessary shots and make sure your dog is in good health. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.
If you are not sure whether dog ownership is a good idea for you, then you might want to try being a foster care provider for a needy dog. There are many less than fortunate dogs in shelters that would love to find a forever home. Fostering is a good way to do a good deed and determine if you want a dog of your own.
The suggestions in the article will help you a lot if you apply them! Implement the tips included above, and you will be happy with the results. If you won’t do whatever it takes to give your dog the best life possible, why have one at all?