Whether you're a new dog owner
or have had dogs around you for
many years, learning about
proper dog care is essential if
you're to give your dog the
greatest possible chance to
enjoy a long and healthy life.
The most basic area of dog care
is feeding. Unfortunately, many
dog owners believe that as long
as their dog is being given
enough food, everything's ok.
Too
many dogs suffer from brittle
bones, bad teeth and joint
problems due to being fed the
wrong kind of food and therefore
not receiving the nutrients that
are necessary for them to grow
and maintain healthy bones,
muscles and teeth. Foods that
contain artificial colorants and
preservatives often lead to
allergies developing and feeding
a dog on raw meat alone simply
won't cover his daily calcium
needs. A dry food that's
specially formulated to cover
the nutritional needs of your
dog depending on his age and
level of activity is always the
best choice. Cheap foods may
seem like a good alternative but
are often the most expensive
choice in the long run. Consider
that the dog will generally need
more of the cheaper varieties as
much of what's in these foods is
'padding' and that the padding
will just lead to him having
more bowel movements than would
otherwise be necessary. Grooming
is an important area of your
dog's care.
All
dogs, regardless of their coat
type, should be groomed at least
once a week. Obviously, some
breeds will need daily grooming
but even flat coated breeds,
like Rottweilers and Labradors
should be given weekly grooming
sessions. During the grooming
session, utilize the time to
check for any other health
problems that may be affecting
your dog. His skin should be
checked for signs of sores or
dryness; his ears should be
checked for inflammation or pus;
his legs and tail should be
checked for any damage; and his
body should be checked for
unexpected lumps and bumps. If
fleas or ticks are found on the
body, these should be treated
immediately. Ticks can be
removed by covering the body in
Vaseline so that the tick comes
to the surface to breath; fleas
can be dealt with by using
special preparations available
from your local pet shop or
veterinary surgery.
Regular exercise is, of course,
important to your dog who should
be walked at least once a day,
preferably twice. Don't just
stick to roads as your dog will
enjoy being able to run and play,
and vary your route so that he
doesn't become bored by his
exercise. Get to know your dog's
routines. That way, if you
notice any ongoing changes you'll
be able to contact your vet for
advice. It's always better to
make one call too many than to
ignore a problem because they
rarely disappear without
treatment.
Copyright2005 Aki Desorcy Aki
Desorcy is the Author of
http://www.dog-treats-n-dog-care-tips.com
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