When you rescue or adopt dogs, you act as their primary caretaker. Therefore, keeping them safe and healthy is your responsibility. It is something you must take seriously as their lives depend on your behavior and actions.
Your pups will bring you years of joy, laughter, and happiness and you’ll want to do your best to provide them with nutritious wholesome food, love, and a safe living environment throughout their lives.
As a first-time dog owner, you may not know where to start. This is why we put together these ten tips that will help you bring joy, health, and security into your dog’s life.
1. Dog-Proofing
Before you get a dog, you’ll want to dog-proof your house and backyard. Some of the most important things involved in dog-proofing your house are similar to baby-proofing. You will have to keep all dangerous household items (such as knives) locked up.
- Secure the Trash: The trash can is the primary location all dogs love to venture. However, it is a source of many diseases. Therefore, make sure you place the trash can in a way in which your pup can’t reach it or use a trash lid to cover the trash can.
- Hide Medicines and Cleaning Chemicals: All dogs love to eat and do not know the difference between edibles and non-edibles items. Therefore, it is your duty to make sure you lock away any medicines or cleaning chemicals.
- Blunt it: Just like kids, dogs can run into objects as well, especially when they are overexcited and not paying attention to their surroundings. Make sure there are no extremely sharp edges in your house.
2. Vaccination
When you get a new puppy, you should immediately take him to the vet. With the vet, you should establish a vaccination schedule. Vaccines are meant to save your pooch from dangerous diseases such as Parvo, Rabies, and Distemper.
Most puppies get their first dose of vaccines when they are six weeks old, and then the schedule continues every three weeks for about ten weeks. Adult dogs need vaccination as well. Therefore, make sure you keep track of the vaccination schedule.
3. Right Food
The right food is essential for a healthy puppy. Therefore, it’s important to maintain a balanced diet for him. Take your dog’s breed and health requirements into consideration and choose the food with the right ingredients. You can also consult with your vet to help you choose the right type and quantity of food.
4. Neuter Or Spay Your Dog
The spaying and neutering procedures are safe and beneficial in the long run. Female dogs who have been spayed are at low risk of developing uterine line cancer and neutered dogs are at low risk of getting testicular cancer.
Spaying or neutering your four-legged friends also helps to control overpopulation and poor quality of life.
5. Oral Hygiene Is A Must
Many new owners negate the importance of oral hygiene. The teeth hold a lot of significance in your dog’s health since they can host many germs. Therefore, brushing your dog’s teeth every other day is crucial.
Some dogs do not allow anyone to brush their teeth. If your pooch is one of them, you can give him chewable dental sticks or treats that are designed to help get rid of plaque and tartar from his teeth.
Make sure to see a vet if you notice bleeding gums, bad breath, and discolored teeth.
6. Exercise Is A Must
The importance of exercise is not restricted to humans. Our furry friends need exercise to burn off their extra physical and mental energy as well. Bored and unexercised pups can develop bad habits such as barking, chewing, and digging.
Physical activities such as fetch allows both you and your pooch to bond as well as get some energy out of your pup. If you have particularly active dogs, taking them out to hike is a great idea.
7. Temperature Regulation
Each breed has a certain temperature range they are comfortable with. Therefore, as a responsible owner, make sure your pet is getting what they require.
If it is too hot and sunny outside, it is best to make sure your pet stays indoors. This is because when you take your dog out for walks, their paws are likely to get burned due to the extra heat on the pavements.
Similarly, if it is too cold outside, make sure your canines are wearing enough layers to keep warm. Don’t assume that the dog’s fur will protect them from the cold. Every dog has a cold tolerance limit.
If your dog is traveling with you in a car, make sure it is not too hot inside the car, especially on a sunny day. Also, leaving your dog alone in a closed car can be very dangerous.
8. Parasite Prevention
Parasites such as ticks and fleas might seem harmless. Many people assume these parasites only cause discomfort and are not an actual health hazard. However, that is far from the truth. Ticks and fleas can cause serious illnesses such as heartworm diseases and babesiosis.
Make sure that your puppy’s coat is free from these parasites. If you can see some in his coat, you can use shampoo design to kill ticks.
9. Preparing For The Worst
No matter how much you doggie-proof your house, you can still face a potential situation when your canine companions ingest poison. When this happens, call the Animal Poison Control Center or take your pooch to an emergency vet clinic.
Even if your furry friends have ingested a small piece of poison, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. You never know how the poison will react inside their body.
10. Warning Signs
Similar to humans, when dogs have fever, it might be the root of other diseases. It’s best to monitor the following symptoms and take your canine to the vet if you see any of them.
- Change in the odor of the pee or the poop
- Changes in appetite
- Discharge from mouth, eyes, or nose
- Vomiting
- Bald patches
- Licking or biting a specific body part
- Extreme weight loss
- Bad odor from the body
- Coughing
Summing Up
Taking care of your pooch is an important responsibility that cannot be taken lightly. Make sure you follow all the tips given in this article to ensure a happy and safe life for your furry companions. After all, the happier your dog will be, the happier you’ll be.