Dogs can give you a great, loyal companionship that is similar to ones found in human friendships. However, in order to get the most out of your dog and for him to be happy, you need to understand the proper way to care for the dog. Continue on and begin your journey to taking care of dogs.
Make your home dog-proof. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should be sure that the area you're bringing it to is safe. All cleaning materials and drugs must be put away, and put your trash receptacle inside a cabinet. Some plants can be lethal, so move them out of your dog's reach.
Consider the situation before allowing a dog to kiss your face. Your dog's mouth is fairly dirty at any given time. Dogs rummage through trash, drink toilet water and lick other dog's body parts. It saying that the dog's mouth is much cleaner than a human's is folklore. It simply is not the case.
A physical is good for you, and a yearly vet trip is good for your dog. Since your dog doesn't talk, you may have difficulty figuring out if a tooth starts hurting or where arthritis is developing. Regular checkups will help you find these issues prior to them becoming a serious problem.
Dogs don't talk so you should learn his non-verbal language. If your dog is fearful or shy, do not insist that they interact. This could cause your dog to harm a person or another dog. Look for your dog's non verbal cues and react accordingly.
If you are going to taking your dog on vacation, take a pic of him on your phone. If the worst happens and your pet gets lost, you have a current picture that you can show others or use to make "lost" posters.
Keep your medications out of paw's reach. Swallowing a couple pills could can serious health issues, even heart attacks and seizures. Call the vet immediately if you suspect that the dog has swallowed the medication.
Talk with your vet about the foods you should feed your dog. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.
Never give your dog a real bone to chew on. Genuine bones can chip, and the pieces may become stuck in your dog's teeth or digestive system. It has been shown that rawhide bones are safe and great for their teeth, so be sure to not give your dog that ham bone next time.
Owning a dog is a great experience and will definitely enrich your life. What any person that wants a dog should do is learn whatever they can about caring for one before they start caring for it. Even if you have a dog already, you need the knowledge you just read. Keeping the advice from this article in mind will help ensure that your dog grows up happy and healthy.
