Dog Care Tips: The Ultimate Pet Parent's Guide

Whether you are a new pet parent or an experienced one, taking good care of your pet baby is a big responsibility. However, in the hustle-bustle of life, often essential caring activities get neglected. It can affect their physical and mental wellbeing. 

Have you ever noticed these subtle changes in your dog's behavior?

●     Withdrawn attitude

●     Inactiveness or lethargy

●     Depressed behavior

●     Hiding or walking away from you

●     Your favorite pair of shoes or socks torn apart

●     Reduced appetite

These are some of the signs that indicate your pet baby is feeling neglected.

Don't worry; we got your back!

We have carefully listed an ultimate pet parent guide to help you with your dog care responsibilities.

Here are Some Dog Care Tips to Help You Be a Better Pet Parent

Dog Health

●     Get a complete health checkup of your dog once a year. It helps you to stay informed about various health risks for your pet baby.

●     Follow the dietary instructions given by the vet to keep your dog healthy. Overfeeding can cause obesity and other health ailments like cardiovascular disease, joint diseases, lower immune system, etc.

●     Touch your dog's nose regularly. If it's moist on touch, your dog is healthy. But if you notice a thicker mucous or crustiness around the nostrils, consult your vet immediately.

●     Get pet insurance as therapies and treatment for dogs can be taxing on your pocket. So, get pet insurance that covers unexpected costs, prescription medications, long-term health conditions, and more.

●     Brush your dog's teeth regularly. Dogs are always at risk of gum diseases and teeth problems. Use a toothpaste made specifically for dogs and brush their teeth regularly.

●     Prepare a 'First-Aid Kit' before taking your dog camping or hiking. As a responsible pet parent, you must include items in it like

·         Ice Packs

·         Cotton Swabs

·         Absorbent Gauze Pads

·         Tweezers

·         Oral Syringes

·         Disposable Gloves

·         Otc Antibiotic Ointments

·         Alcohol Wipes

·         Artificial Tear Gel

·         Towels

·         Styptic Powder

·         Pair Of Scissors

·         Bathing Detergent

·         Fresh 3% Hydrogen Peroxide To Induce Vomiting

·         And Veterinarian Emergency Clinic Information

●     Have an emergency plan for your dog care. Please make a list of all valuable information about your dog's lifestyle, health, food habits, and routines, along with vet contact details, and give it to at least two people close to you.

●     Play with a purpose in mind. While playing with your dog, rub their feet, paws, and nails to desensitize them from being touched in these areas. It helps you when you have to trim their nails later. Also, look into their mouth and ears while playing. It makes routine exams by the vet less stressful for them.

Housekeeping and Puppy-Proofing

●     Keep your trash bins covered and out of reach of your dog. Dogs find the smell of trash delicious, but it's toxic for them.

●     Do puppy-proofing to protect your dog from any accidents: cover electrical sockets and sharp edges, bolt toilet seats and refrigerators. Also, keep your shoes, household chemicals, and pesticides locked away.

●     Rinse toys and bedding's in regular intervals. Germs, dirt, pollen, etc., can cause seasonal allergies in your dog. So wash their belongings weekly with a pet-friendly detergent. Also, keep your dog clean and wash its dirty collar or leash using a dog shampoo.

●     Avoid giving human food or table scraps to your dog. Human food items like chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus food, sugar-like substances, etc., are all toxic for your pet. Additionally, avoid giving table scraps as it is unhealthy for them.

Exercise and Mental Stimulation

●     Take your dog on regular walks at least twice a day.

●     Switch your dog toys routinely and give food puzzles to stimulate their mental health.

●     Make exercising fun for your dog by doing things together. You can climb stairs with your dogs, take them for a run, or on an adventurous hike with you.

Bonding

●     Spend quality time with your dog and play games with it. Give them treats, love, and attention to help them thrive.

●     Be patient with your dog if you are teaching some new tricks, doing potty training, etc. Your dog can act out sometimes but don't feel frustrated with it. Take a break and focus on their body language to understand them better.

●     Hang out with your dog when they eat. Dogs are pack animals by nature and consider you part of their pack. But don't disturb or interrupt them eating.

Training

●     Avoid scolding or shouting at your dog when they do their business in the wrong places. Training can be difficult for dogs, especially potty training.

●     Make training a game for your dog and use treats, rewards, and praise to reinforce positive behavior.

●     Decide the house rules for your dog in advance and stick to them.

●     Use one word or shorter command sentence to make it easy for your dog to follow.

Winter Care

●     Limit your dog's time outside in chilly/icy weather. Winters can be harsh for them as they get frostbite in their paws, ears, and tails.

●     Get a pair of dog boots to protect their paws from ice and winter salt. Use non-toxic pet-safe salt for your drive and walkways as it can cause cracks or burns to your dog's feet.

●     Moisturize their paws with pad moisturizer products to protect them from getting cracked and painful in cold weather.

●     Get a thick coat or dog sweater to protect your pet baby from hyperthermia.

Summer Care

●     Keep a source of easy-to-access clean freshwater throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors, for your pet. Dogs can get dehydrated in the summer heat.

●     Provide your dog shade and kiddie pool with water or ice in the summers to help your dog enjoy safely outside.

●     Protect their paws from heat burns on hot surfaces. Instead, take them on walks to mud paths or grass-yards.

●     Never leave your dog in the car unsupervised. It can cause heatstroke to them. 

Dog Safety

●     Get your dog registered and microchipped. It can help a veterinary hospital or animal shelter scan all information from it if you lose it accidentally.

●     Make your dog wear a dog tag on its collar. It's like a dog ID containing information like your phone number, dog's name, and vet's phone number.

●     Keep your dog on a leash in public places. It protects them from any accidents or injuries such as dog fights, vehicle impacts, etc.

●  Always consult your veterinarian before changing the diet of your dog or trying new medications. Also, maintain up-to-date medical records of your dog.

Conclusion

Your pet baby is your family member; give the love, attention, and support it needs to stay happy and healthy. Use the tips to take excellent care of it. If you want any further information, send your questions through the comment section below.

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