Dog Ownership - A Long-Term Commitment
My-Dog.info > Getting a Dog or Puppy
As a loyal friend and guardian to your dog, you have certain
responsibilities to provide food, shelter, and veterinary care to
ensure your pet's health and safety. As dogs are "man's best
friend," so are we "dog's best friend," and we
should be willing to attend to their needs before our own. Dog
ownership is a long-term commitment resulting in mutually
rewarding companionships for both people and dogs.
Getting Acquainted
Whether you purchase a registered AKC dog from a reputable
breeder, or rescue one from the animal shelter, it will be
totally dependent on you for its care and well-being. It is
important to build mutual trust and loyalty from the start, by
spending as much time together, and training it to be responsive
and obedient. The local humane society or a local dog club may
offer obedience classes. A well-behaved dog will ensure a good
relationship with your neighbors, and will be a joy to own.
Provide a warm, dry place for your pet to rest. Dogs adapt
well to crates, as long as they are large enough to turn around.
This will prevent unacceptable behavior, such as chewing
furniture, and dogs seem to feel more secure in a small, close
area which they can escape to for peace and quiet.
Never leave two or more pets together unattended unless you
have observed them frequently and are sure they are compatible.
Be sure to take your dog outside often (at least three times a
day) to urinate and defecate to avoid accidents, and always
provide clean, fresh water. Dogs quickly adapt to a routine, and
come to expect the same activities on a daily basis.
Unless you plan to raise puppies, it is important to spay
(removal of ovaries and uterus) or neuter (removal of testicles)
your dog. This will prevent objectionable behavior, such as
roaming and fighting, and help your pet enjoy a longer, healthier
life. In addition, spaying of females lowers the risk of mammary
cancer.
Purchase a license if your city or town requires it, and
attach it to the dog's collar, along with an identification tag
containing your name and address in order to expedite finding a
lost dog. Microchip I.D.'s are now available from your
veterinarian.
It is a good idea to name a caretaker for your four-legged
friend, in case of your death, or hospitalization, just as you
would for a child.
Feeding
There are endless choices in dog foods. It is important to
choose specially formulated diets for growth, reproduction, or
maintenance, depending on the dog's stage of life. Purchasing pet
foods labeled as ?complete and balanced? can help ensure that
your dog's diet is nutritionally adequate. There are three types
of commercial pet foods available today -- dry, semi-moist, and
canned. As long as they are complete and balanced products, all
three are equally nutritious and each has its own advantages and
disadvantages. One advantage of dry food is its abrasive action
which helps keep teeth clean. It is important to maintain a
regular feeding schedule, and always provide fresh food and water
with each feeding.
Obesity is a major problem with dogs in our society, since
owners tend to feed table scraps in excess. Serious health
problems may result from obesity. Extra weight puts a strain on
the animal's heart, lungs, skeleton, and muscles, and lowers its
resistance to disease. An occasional treat is fine, but many
human foods can upset the dog's metabolism, and it is best to
avoid bad feeding habits. Regular exercise and proper nutrition
are both essential to maintain optimal weight and health.
Health Care
Veterinary examinations are critical to a dog's health. It is
important to keep a detailed medical history and establish a
veterinary-client-patient relationship to ensure a long, healthy
life for your dog. During the initial exam, your veterinarian
will be able to establish a preventive health care program for
your pet.
Vaccination for rabies is basic to preventive health care, and
required in most areas. Rabies is a deadly disease, transmitted
by saliva, and frequently found in wild animals, such as skunks,
foxes, and racoons. For the health of yourself, your family and
neighbors, and your dog, it is essential to keep the rabies
vaccination up-to-date. Your veterinarian may recommend other
vaccines, such as a combination of distemper, parvovirus,
leptospirosis, hepatitis, coronavirus, or parainfluenza,
depending on your dog's activities and expected travel.
Parasite control is another area to discuss with your
veterinarian. A stool sample can be tested for the presence of
harmful parasites, such as ascarids (roundworms), whipworms,
tapeworms and hookworms. Your veterinarian will prescribe
treatment if necessary, and may recommend heartworm prevention
medication following a negative blood test to determine the
existence of heartworms. Many of the new heartworm preventatives
also prevent some of the most common intestinal parasites.
Flea control may also be discussed, as there are new products
which may be prescribed by veterinarians to control or prevent
flea infestation. Veterinarians may prescribe specific diets
determined by your dog's needs, and a dental exam is always
recommended, to detect periodontal disease, loose or abscessed
teeth, receding gums, or other indications which require
attention.
Your Veterinarian is the Best Source of Information About All Animal Health Matters.
In a medical crisis situation, call your veterinarian
immediately if you detect any of the following symptoms:
- abnormal breathing
- active bleeding
- bone exposure
- puncture to abdomen, chest, or neck
- watery or bloody discharge
- partial or complete paralysis
- difficulty urinating
- profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- poison ingestion
- bloated or tender abdomen
- rectal temperature over 103 degrees F or under 99 degrees
F
- dehydration
- abnormal color
- disorientation
- collapse
Never Give Aspirin or Any Medication Without Consulting Your Veterinarian.
Grooming
It is important to establish a grooming regimen with your dog.
Whether a short- or long-haired variety, your dog will benefit
from frequent brushing, which stimulates the coat and skin, and
your house will be cleaner, since less shedding will occur. If
you elect to clip your dog in the summer, keep in mind that there
is a risk of sunburn, if he spends much time in the sun.
Bathing is only suggested on rare occasions, since frequent
baths remove natural protective oils from the skin. If he is
dirty, or shows evidence of fleas, a dog may be bathed in
lukewarm water using mild shampoo. Rinse the soap thoroughly and
towel dry.
During grooming sessions, look for parasites which cause your
pet discomfort. Fleas are common, but can be controlled by
commercial powders, sprays, collars, or dips. Contact your
veterinarian for recommended treatment or prevention with
long-lasting topicals or oral products. Ticks may be removed by
saturating with alcohol, and carefully pulling off with tweezers.
Mites are too small to detect, but symptoms include frantic
scratching, biting, and chewing. Your veterinarian can help
diagnose mites.
Eyes should be cleaned of any discharge with a soft cloth
moistened with water or saline solution. Ear discomfort is
indicated by scratching or head shaking. Infections can settle
deep in the ear canal and should be treated by your veterinarian
immediately.
Since dogs depend on their teeth for survival, the mouth
should be examined periodically for signs of gum disease, and
tartar accumulation. This should be a major part of the annual
veterinary examination, and any problems should be addressed
immediately.
Few dogs exercise on hard surfaces to keep their nails filed
down, so it is your job to clip their nails, to keep them
comfortable. Neglected nails may cripple a dog.
Prevention
Accidents can be prevented by thinking ahead and avoiding
dangerous situations. Automobiles are the number one killer of
dogs, so keep him leashed, or fenced in at all times. Invisible
fencing is a popular alternative to traditional fencing styles.
Keep poisons out of reach. Many household plants are toxic to
dogs, including poinsettias, ferns, philodendrons, dieffenbachia,
and other varieties. Cleaning solutions such as detergents,
bleaches, oven cleaners, etc. may pose hazards as well. Make sure
bottle caps are tight and the rags used to apply these chemicals
are stored safely out of reach. Treat animals like children and
keep medicines locked up, and never leave candy, especially
chocolate, where dogs may have access to it.
Outdoor hazards include windshield cleaners, antifreeze, weed
killers, used motor oil and insecticides. Antifreeze has a sweet
taste, and just a few drops can be fatal to your dog. Other
hazards include rodenticides used to kill rats and mice. If any
poisoning occurs, call your veterinarian immediately, and provide
a sample of the poison with the labeling to aid in proper
treatment. In an emergency, call the ASPCA National Animal Poison
Control Center at 800-548-2423.
Keep sharp objects, i.e., knives and forks, carpet tacks,
paper clips, etc., out of reach, in addition to children's toys
or small objects which may become lodged in a dog's throat. Never
leave a dog unattended on a balcony. A precocious pet may squeeze
through the bars and fall, which could fatally injure him.
Avoid extremes in temperature. Of course, never leave a dog in
a parked car in hot weather, even with the windows open, and
never leave him outside without water and shade. Similarly, in
frigid temperatures, bring him indoors, and be sure he always has
shelter from wind, rain, and sun, even in mild temperatures.
Old Age
Dogs are considered "old" around eight or nine
years, but many live into their mid-teens, with proper care and
nutrition. Senior citizens have more needs, and require more
attention. Their sight and hearing may diminish, and they will
sleep more and move more slowly. Steps may become a hardship, so
sleeping arrangements may need adjusting. They need to go out
more often, as bladder control is usually weakened. They still
need moderate exercise, frequent grooming, and appropriate
nutrition. Since they may have fewer teeth, a soft diet may be
necessary. It is especially important to avoid obesity, since it
will affect your pet's quality of life. More frequent veterinary
visits may be required to deal with tumors, arthritis, or heart
disease. Some dogs require daily medications to treat the
infirmities of old age. Together you and your veterinarian can
have a positive influence on your dogs happiness and comfort for
many years to come. The rewards of dog ownership will last a
lifetime.
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