Basic Dog Care

Here is an article I wrote on Basic Dog Care. It only scratches the surface but if you would like to comment on it, that would be great.

Whether your dog is a hunting dog, show dog, working companion, or just your best friend, the kindest and most responsible thing you can do for him is to provide proper health care. Knowing about common dog ailments and being aware of appropriate prevention and treatment can better help you provide care.

Your canine friend's ailments
Many Diseases are commonly found in every dog breeds. Your puppy may suffer from those as well. So, it's always useful to know about them; you can then anticipate the disease rightly if your puppy is in danger.

Canine Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Leptospirosis, Kennel Cough, Parvo, Corona, Rabies, and Ear infections are all somewhat common dog issues. While some merely make your dog uncomfortable, others are potentially fatal.

Signs of Illness in your Dog

Many diseases are commonly found in every dog breed. So, it's always useful to know about them; you can then anticipate the disease rightly if your puppy is in danger.

Top Ten Signs That Your Dog Might Be Sick

Drinking or Urinating More
Weight Loss/Change of Appetite
Weight Gain
Decreased Exercise
Stiffness, Difficulty Rising
Sleeping More or Other Behavior Changes
Lumps or Sores
Dry or Itchy Skin
Dry, Red or Cloudy Eyes
Digestive Problems

Regular visits to the veterinarian are important to prevent or correct serious health problems. To provide proper care and comfort for your dog, be aware of potentially serious situations and take preventative measures.

Vaccines: Through mother's milk, puppies receive disease-fighting antibodies, which last 6-16 weeks. Vaccinations then take over. Puppies may be vaccinated as early as 4-6 weeks, depending on each situation and the veterinarian's advice. Boosters should be given throughout your dog's life, including the later years when your dog may become more susceptible to some diseases. States vary as to what and how often boosters for various vaccines should be given, so check with your states board of health.

Many dogs suffer from ear infections or otherwise itchy ears. To prevent ear problems:

Examine your doggie's ears at least weekly.
Try to prevent water from getting in your dog's ears when bathing the dog.
Try not to stick anything in your dog's ears to clean them. It is better to fill your dog's ear canal with cleaning solution then agitate the ear canal area by gently squeezing the outside of the ear for a few seconds. You should not close off the ear as you might create a hydraulic pressure on your dog's ear drum. Then let your dog shake their head to get rid of the cleaning solution and debris in the ear. Use a cotton swab on the outer ear to clean off the dirt and wax.

Regular veterinary advice and maintenance programs are necessary to prevent health disorders.

Diet

Always know what your puppy loves to eat but what you feed your dog will make a major difference in your dogs quality and length of life. Dog lovers always want to give their pets the best treats to reward good behavior. Always combine flavor with nutrition and her tail will tell the rest!! With so many dog treats and foods available in the market today, it can become quite hard to choose. It is usually best to shop for food and treats in a smaller pet store as they will usually have a wider choice of high quality food. Generally the staff will be a little more knowledgeable about the right food for your dog. Give your puppy the best treats made from the best stuff!! Always take a look at the ingredients of any food or treat you give your dog. If you do not know what it is, you probably should not be giving it to your dog. If you see by-products of any type, wheat, corn, beet pulp, you might want to consider whether you should give that to your dog. Same goes for yourself, but that is a different article.