Love Your Dog

Give Your Dog Some Health Care

2006-08-10T01:47:00.000-07:00

Dogs are sometimes considered a member of the family especially when the animal is brought to vacations and other activities. The best way to ensure the pet is strong is by implementing some measures to reduce the chances of getting sick. You can get all the information and guidance from the veterinarian including choosing the right dog for your the family.

You might find the right dog at the pet shop. Some people in the neighborhood may also be selling or giving the pups away. While is some cases, a stray might follow the you home and this is the beginning of the relationship.
There are a few things that you must pay attention to before getting a dog. If there are some documents or papers regarding family line, this will be a strong indicator that this pet will not fall easily to disease. If is is a stray, make sure the tail wags and the eyes are bright.

The dog should be brought to the vet immediately for closer examination. The veterinarian will run some tests to make sure there are no parasites or viruses present and perhaps even administer a booster shot if necessary.
Booster shots especially for puppies usually age over a period of three months. During this time, the animal must be kept away from other dogs and do not bring him to other places. The best way will be to keep the dog on a leash to prevent the animal from running around or digging in the yard and eating something that could be harmful.

You must find some nice warm shelter such as bedding if the dog will stay inside the house and a kennel when the pet is left outdoors. The pet should also be given proper exercise by walking it in the morning and in the evening.

There are many food products around. You can check with the veterinarian, which food is the best that gives the right amount of nutrients. Proper nutrition may include giving the pet some multivitamins as long as these are recommended by the veterinarian. Be careful not over feed the animal since obesity can also lead to other problems for the dog.

Aside from checking for any visible signs of problem with the dog, you can do better by bringing the pet in for the regular examinations with the vet. Shots and other cleaning can be done once a year or every three years depending on the strength of the drug. Give your dog a bath once a week. There are shampoos and soaps that are available in the supermarket, the clinic or at the pet shop. You can try some brands and just replace it if the product isn’t that good for your dog.

There are a lot of dogs that are not given proper care in the United States. You can have the pet spayed or neutered to control the animal population. These services are available at the clinic or in the animal shelter nearby your home.

Owning a dog is a big responsibility. The best way to make sure this pet will live for many years will be to provide some preventive health care. You can can read up or learn some things from the vet which will surely be useful.

Dog Need Food Supplements?

2006-08-08T09:08:00.000-07:00

Dogs need vitamins and minerals in order to stay strong. This is the reason that scientists have invested a lot of money in research for proper nutrition as the owner does the same by buying this from the supermarket.

Eventhough some think that giving the dog vaccination is enough, there are other things needed to make the hair grow and the bones strong. These supplements come in different forms.

You can buy this in groceries, the pet shops or in specialty stores that are either in powder or tablet form. Should the dog refuse to take this orally, you can mix this with the food. Most of the tablets are good for one month before you buy a new bottle.

Humans drink milk or take Vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid. There is also similar formula for dogs that are available in 60 to 180 tablets per bottle. This should also be given once a day and more costly as compared to multivitamin which is purchased at the store.

Aside from tablet or powder, some supplements are also available in liquid form. Since the dog may experience flaking, itching or shedding in a certain area, you can apply this by hand or through injection.

Can supplements given to one breed of dog be used on another? The answer is yes but this should be first consulted with the veterinarian to get the desired results.

What are the other uses of supplements? This can also be used to help the dog deal with aging, poor oxygen availability, stress and a weaken immune system. When the dog experiences injury such as a dislocation or a fracture, you can also give the animal some supplements to relieve the pain. This can be rubbed and used to treat joint stiffness, osteoarthritis, pains and inflammations.

There are two kinds of supplements tavailable in the market. The most often used are made of artificial ingredients. This is also what humans use to give them that much needed energy at work..Lately, people have discovered a new supplement which is made of natural ingredients. These are often from the east which can be given the same way as conventional medicine.

Some of these ingredients are herbs, seeds, wild yam, corn silk and cat’s claw. This can be used to clean the urinary tract or bowel system, help with aging problem or strengthen the immune system. That are not much price differences between these two supplementaries and some even use a combination of both to give the dog the much needed vitamins and nutrients to stay active and strong.

Studies have shown there is nothing harmful in giving supplements to the dog. You should just stick with the proper dosage since an overdose may cause the animal to have a chemical imbalance inside which could turn out to be dangerous to the dog.

Supplements are there to add a special boost in the dog’s system. These were also designed to produce certain things that the animal doesn’t have enough of. Some people may say the giving the pet the right food is enough.
This is not something breeders will not agree since these people will use everything possible for the dog to win in competitions and produce good offspring.

Keeping Your Dog In Tip Top Shape

2006-08-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Love-Your-Dog blog. This blog will provide you some useful tips and guidances on how to express love to your dog, by taking a very good care of him/her. Taking care of your pets is like taking care of the people that you love. Avoid excesses and you will have one happy pet in your hand. Of course, that is easily said than done. What exactly should you avoid and what should you give? Below are some really short but sweet tips that can help you take care of your pet and mayhap even save his or her life in the process.

1. Chemical Complaints
There are many chemicals that are used in households that may be potentially poisonous to your pet. One example of this is the antifreeze that you often put on your driveway during winter. Make sure that you keep your pet away from these chemicals as these could kill them instantly. Make sure that they are out of the reach of not only children but also your pets at home.

2. Chocolate Dilemma
Although we can eat as much chocolate as we want, dogs are not as lucky. It seems that chocolate has an ingredient called theobromine that is really harmful for pets… so much for chocolate sharing!

3. Appropriate Food
Although generally, animals can eat whatever we eat especially dog and cats, it is still advisable to give them food that are made especially for them. If you feel that cat or dog food is not something that you want your pets to have, ask the veterinarian for some suggestions of food that you can prepare or buy for them.

4. Temperature Trouble.
Never forget to let your pet inside the house during winter season. Like people, they also run the risk of getting hypothermia when exposed to the cold for so long. You should also make sure that they are kept warm even when inside the house. Although there are some breeds that can tolerate cold temperature, there are some who cannot abide the biting cold.

5. Emergency Number
If you have 911 on your phone book, make sure that you also your veterinarian’s version of 911 too. Keep the emergency number at a place where everyone can see it and let people know about it… members of the family, babysitters. This will be of great help in times when the veterinarian is needed immediately and you are not in the house

6. Keep Close Ties With Your Vet
Visit the veterinarian every month and have him check your pet even if nothing is really wrong with him or her. This will ensure that your pet is kept healthy and strong. It is better to already nip illness in the bud rather than know about it months too late.

7. Proper Hygiene
Make sure that your pet is well-groomed at all times. You don’t really have to go to a special pet salon and have them groom your pet to perfection. You don’t even need professional service. You can do it yourself. Just make sure that you bathe them at least three to four times a week. Do not forget to cut their nails as this is one of the most basic transmission points of bacteria and diseases.

8. Travel Blues
If you should travel, make sure that you have all the necessary equipment. Pets are basically not allowed on the airplane. They may need some sort of cage while they are being transported by air. There are some airlines that allow for a minimal number of pets in flight. Ask if you can be accompanied by your pet when you make a reservation. That way, they will be able to already include you in the count.

Love Your Dog.