Dogs require more than just food and a few pats on the head. Your dog also needs love and care all day. How can you know what your dog needs? The following article below has the information you can use when owning a dog.
Be careful when selecting canine flea treatments. Quite a few of them use ingredients that are very unsafe for kids, including an ingredient that has been linked to cancer. Ask your vet for recommendations. Be sure to keep children away while you’re applying any flea treatment.
You need to take your dog to the vet at least once a day. Since dogs cannot talk, it may be hard to determine when arthritis is setting in or a tooth begins hurting. Annual checkups can catch these things before they develop into something serious.
If you keep some medication in your home, make sure that your dog does not have access to it. Call your vet immediately if you suspect that the dog has swallowed the medication.
If your dog spends time outside, he should have a good house. You can purchase one or build one yourself if you are handy. If his feet are wet during very cold weather, it will stress him and lead to health problems. Keep your dog safe from the elements by providing shelter.
Your daily lifestyle should help determine what dog breed is a good match for you.For example, if you love to run, you might want an active dog, not a toy-poodle. If you like to stay at home, seek out a small dog that loves to snuggle on the couch. You should find a dog that is complementary to your lifestyle.
This will show your dog that he is doing just what you are looking for. It teaches your pup that they will receive attention if they behave as you want them to.
If you want to get a pet from a shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. Dogs that live in shelters may be sick or may have been around other sick dogs. Giving your dog shots before taking it home will keep everyone healthy.
Ask your vet about how much food your dog should eat each day. While there are those that feed their dog whatever it says on the package, they are sometimes incorrect and may make your dog overweight. Speak with a vet about what makes sense for your dog.
Brushing your pup daily can do more than keep them from shedding all over your home. Brushing them daily can also help your dog to have a shiny and beautiful coat. The reason for this is that brushing distributes a dog’s fur.
Put a leash on your dog at all times when walking him. They should walk by your side, instead of behind or in front of you, and they must respond to “heel.” This keeps you and your dog safe as you walk. Your dog needs to get used to this.
If you are going to get a dog from the shelter, find a vet who can examine your new dog. Shelter dogs could be sick or exposed to harmful bacteria and viruses; these can result in dangerous illnesses. You need to be sure that you get your dog gets their shots.
Schedule a vet appointment for your new dog.The vet will do a full health check and create a schedule for his vaccinations. You also have your dog neutered or spayed to cut down on pet overpopulation.
You need to ensure your dog will come back if he runs away; that is why you need to have a collar with his information on it. A good way to ensure your dog is returned if he is lost is to attach an identification tag to his collar. The tag needs to have your name and phone number on it. You may also want to install a micro-chip into your dog.
Your dog has to be leash correctly. This will make going for walks more enjoyable for you. Even if you’re using a loose leash from time to time, it should still know the command anyway.
Do not leave your dog outdoors all day long. Dogs are social creatures and need companionship and interaction with others. Your dog may be lonely if it is left outside by itself. Also, they could be bitten by ticks, you need to keep your dog inside.
Make sure you make and keep yearly vet appointments for your dog. This allows the vet to catch any diseases in the early stages before they can cause enough damage for you to even notice. An annual check-up for your pet can help to avoid future expense and needless suffering for your dog.
By taking time out to learn all there is to know about caring for dogs, the better off you and your pet will be. Your dog is ready to shower you with unconditional love. In return, why not do all you can for your pet’s health and well-being? If you were a dog, would you not want your owner to take the time to learn about you?