It is a huge responsibility to own a dog. Dog’s are like children, with different noises and needs. While it is a tough job, it is possible to succeed by using smarts and patience. Continue reading to learn some tips on how to care for your dog.
It can be quite costly to own a dog. When you add up the medical care, food and supplies in general, your costs could run from $700-$1000 annually. Also, should an emergency arise, this can cost thousands so you might consider pet health insurance.
Make your home doggie-proof. Make sure any area your dog will be in is safe. Hide cleaning supplies and medicines and hide trashcans in a cabinet. Many common household plants are poisonous, so keep them away from your dog or get rid of them.
Just like people need regular yearly physicals, dogs need the same thing. Because your dog can’t speak with you, you may have trouble knowing when your dog is feeling pain like if it has arthritis. Taking your dog for a yearly checkup allows relatively minor problems to be detected before they turn into major issues.
Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered. Research suggests that this small thing can give extended life to your dog by reducing cancer risk. Also, dogs that are fixed lose their desire to stray from the home, lessening the chance of them getting lost or hurt.
Since dogs cannot talk, you need to learn your dog’s cues. If your pet hesitates when approaching a person or a pet, don’t push them to go near them. This could cause the dog to bite. You need to keep your eyes open for these signs.
If you have medications at home, ensure that it is safely hidden away and out of the reach of your dog. Getting into those pills could seriously impact your dog’s health and even cause death. If your pet does manage to ingest some medicine, contact the vet right away.
Your lifestyle should be a determining factor in the breed of dog that you choose. Joggers should get a high energy dog, for example. On the other hand, if you are the type of person to sit at home, you need a smaller breed that will enjoy lounging around with you. Keeping a mismatch out of play makes both of you happy.
Speak to your vet about your dog’s eating habits. The amounts on the label might not apply in your dog’s situation. Your vet will know how much to feed your particular dog.
Real Bone
Genuine meat bones may be tempting, but it’s best to stick to rawhide. Pieces can break off of the real bone, which may cause your dog to choke. Rawhide has been proven to be healthy for your dog. It is excellent for its teeth too, so do not give in to the temptation to give your dog a real bone no matter how hard it begs.
Put a lot of thought into the well-being of your dog. Your dog must be cared for as carefully as you would take care of a child. He must have what he needs to thrive. Although it takes work, you can handle it. Advice has been provided to you here to help you meet your obligations.