How to take care of a dog you might be asking yourself. Well dogs depend on us for love and care! They are loyal and can feel your love and hatred. It is essential to keep them happy and take good care of them. Here is a complete guide on how to take care of dogs.
Clean Environment
Provide a clean and well protected living environment to your dogs. Your dogs should have a separate kennel for themselves. Clean the kennel regularly. Wash the bedding at least once in two days. Wash the kennel with water at least once a week. If your dog is not potty trained they may do it inside the kennel. In such cases, clean the kennel daily. Else, your dog may fall sick. Also, make sure the kennel is away from hazardous elements like electric boards, transformers, etc.
Fresh Water
Make sure fresh water is available to your dogs all the time. You can place the drinking water tub inside the kennel or anywhere in the garden. In either case, make sure he knows about it. Change the water daily. Do not refill the water. The water becomes dirty easily. Therefore, empty the tub and clean it before refilling.
Veterinarian
Consult a veterinarian and have your dog checked regularly. Enquire him about the vaccinations. Also, the veterinarians will inform you about deworming and parasite control. Store the vaccination records of your pet in a safe place. Take these records while you travel. Some parks allow you to take your pets only if they are vaccinated.
Prevent obesity
Always provide healthy and quality food to your dogs. Feed them based on their age, size, breed and level of activity. You can also consult the veterinarian and learn about the nutritional needs of your dogs.
Touch his nose
The level of moisture on the dog’s nose varies from time to time, that is, it changes according to the seasons. However, the nose of a healthy dog is always cool. This is because healthy dogs sweat a lot on their noses.
Pet First Aid
Prepare a first aid box for your dog. The kit is essential when you take your dog for camping or hiking. The pet first aid kit should contain ice pack, gauze pads, cotton balls, adhesive tapes, disposable gloves, scissors, alcohol wipes, towels, antibiotic ointment, soap for washing, tear gel, styptic powder, etc.
Pet Insurance
The accidents and emergency may cost up to $1500. Therefore it essential you buy a pet insurance. These insurance help save a third of your financial needs during emergency. For instance, the allergic reactions and treatment may cost up to $3000, ear infections may cost upto $800, etc.
Brush his teeth regularly
Often brushing the teeth of the pet is overlooked. However, it is essential to avoid expensive treatments in the future. Create a routine to brush his teeth.
Emergency plan
Always have an emergency plan. Create the plan based on his lifestyle. Include how you feed your dogs, how much you feed them in the plan. Give a copy of these emergency requirements to someone very close to you. When you are late from your official tour the person should be able to take care of your dog following the plan.
Play
Play with your dogs, especially when they are young. Play with them by touching their ears, mouth, and feet. Your nail trims become easy if you play by touching them. The frequent touches desensitize them. Also, look into their ears and mouth frequently. This makes it easier during vet visits. Also, your pet is less stressed during regular checkups.
Keep the toxins away
Keep the chemicals used for household activities like toilet acids or detergent liquids out of reach to your dogs. You can use baby proof locks to keep these items away from them.
Wash his things
Wash the things that your dog plays with regularly. Make sure you clean them at least once a week. If you don’t clean them regularly, your dog may get allergies.
Keep his food away from yours
Human foods like avocados, chocolates and onions are toxic to dogs. These foods cause serious health issues as they contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar like substance and is toxic to dogs. Consult your vet before feeding him with your food like chicken, plain rice or canned pumpkins.
Take him for a walk
You have to take him out every day for his mental and physical health. The walk will help him to burn off his excess energy. Also, his bad behaviors like digging, barking and chewing will decrease if you take out for a walk regularly.
Stimulate his brain
Just like humans, dogs too need mental stimulation. Mental stimulation is essential for them to stay healthy and happy. Play new games with him. Gift him new toys every now and then.
Eating speed
Check if your dog is a super eater. Super eaters are those dogs who eat their meals quickly. Super eaters have increased risk of getting stomach problems. In such cases, slow down their eating speed. The most affordable and easiest way to slow down their eating is to put a large tennis ball into their plate. This way the dogs have to pass through the ball to reach their meal. The ball is an obstacle. They take time to reach their meal and their eating speed decreases.
Exercise with him
Spend some quality time with him. Race him to a tree or climb the stair along with him.
Other general tips
- Have patience with your dog. Do not shout or yell at him. He can sense your anger. Repeated shouting and yelling may make him sick.
- Sit with him when he is eating
- Be friendly to him
- Applaud him when he does things the first time. Cheer him up for his clean habits. Bring treats and reward him during his training lessons.
- Correct his bad behavior of immediately.
- Moisture his paws during winters
- Limit their time in chilly weather
- Get him a sweater and keep him warm during winters
- During summer, provide him plenty of water.
- You can microchip your dog
- Keep him on a leash all the time
