Dogs are not merely part of family, but are very faithful and loving fellow. They stay always by your side if you are sad or happy as well as love you unconditionally.
Post Navigation
Tips to help keep your dog healthy
The main responsibility of the owner of a dog is to give his/her dog with all it needs, for living a healthy and happy life. Below are some important dog care tips, which help you to keep your pet dog happy.
Do not switch your dog’s food abruptly
In an attempt to give their pet some variety, many owners will change brands or types of food abruptly. This usually results in a bout of diarrhea, since the animal’s intestinal tract is not used to the new food. Although this is a relatively minor illness, the owner is usually faced with a huge mess. When switching foods or adding something new it is best to do it gradually over a week to prevent GI upset.
Pancreatitis, a serious inflammation of the pancreas, can be caused by feeding the pet a large helping of a holiday meal, fatty meat trimmings, or bones. It is very painful and results in severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration which may require several days of hospitalization and intravenous fluid therapy.
Don’t feed dog with bones
Feeding dog with bones can lead to intestinal obstruction requiring emergency surgery, or “peritonitis”, a serious infection of the abdominal cavity that can happen if the wall of the stomach or intestines is pierced by a sharp point of the bone. Bones can also lodge in the oral cavity and obstruct eating and drinking.
Vaccinate your puppy
Parvovirus is by far the most common disease of puppies that can be prevented by vaccination. The disease is highly contagious and causes extreme weakness and severe, bloody vomiting and diarrhea. Many puppies have to be euthanized either because they are too sick to survive or their owner’s can not afford treatment which can cost hundreds of dollars.
A simple series of vaccinations starting at about 8 weeks of age and given every 2-3 weeks until the pup is 16 weeks old is very effective in preventing this serious illness and is much less expensive than a week in intensive care!
Give your pet a heartworm preventative
Heartworm disease is another example of a serious disease that is easy to prevent. It is transmitted by mosquitos. The adult worms live in and damage the right side of the heart and the arteries leading to the lungs. Treatment can be expensive and may have serious side effects. Both dogs and cats are at risk for this disease, including indoor-only pets, since mosquitoes frequently get inside of homes.
Several excellent medicines are available and are 100% effective in preventing this disease.
Restrain your pet in your vehicle
Many owners love to take their pets for car rides but have never given a thought as to what would happen if they were involved in a traffic accident. An unrestrained pet is likely to be severely injured or even ejected from the car. Seat belts for dogs are available at pet stores and may help to prevent injury.
Never let your dog lean out of an open window, it’s an accident waiting to happen
A little swerve or a quick stop will send the animal flying. Many animals have been severely injured or killed falling from a moving vehicle. Often times they break both front legs or are run over by the car behind them. It is also very dangerous to let a dog hang its head out of a partially opened window. Serious injury to the eye can occur if it were to be struck by a bug or other object.
Pet proofing in your house
Because of their inquisitive nature, many dogs are harmed by things commonly found in the house and yard. Many owners are lulled into a false sense of security because their pet is well-behaved for years on end without getting into anything. They begin to think that their pet would never misbehave.
The important message here is that if tempted, even the most well behaved animal can do something to injure itself. It only takes one time for a pet to eat something it shouldn’t and then the owner is faced with a seriously ill pet and a large vet bill. To prevent poisonings and other injuries, owners need to take the same precautions in keeping harmful items out of a pet’s reach that they would for a small child.
Dogs commonly get into the kitchen garbage pail
If ingested, items such as bones, corncobs, shish kabob skewers, and plastic food wrap can cause serious illnesses such as pancreatitis, peritonitis, or an intestinal obstruction.
Dogs also love to consume food left out on the counter or tablet or they may get into the newly purchased bag of dog food mistakenly left out of the pantry. This usually results in a bout of diarrhea and vomiting or a more serious condition such as pancreatitis.
So, before you leave your dog home alone, look around the kitchen and make sure there is nothing left out that your dog could get into, empty the trash can and securely close all cupboard doors.
Other items that dogs are commonly poisoned with include rat poison, insect baits, antifreeze, cleaners and other home chemicals, and human medications. Some owners have induced serious stomach ulceration in their dogs by giving them medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxin. Always check with your veterinarian before giving your pet any human medication.
