Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘dog FAQ’

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Look after your dog by following these simple tips and understand more about the importance of pet health.

1. I’m getting my puppy today – what supplies should I have ready at home?

The first thing you’ll need is a travel crate for your dog’s trip home. Be sure to have some good puppy food at home and small bowls for food and water, as these are your puppy’s essentials. Your vet, breeder or shelter personnel can tell you which brands of food are the best. Other items you’ll need to get in advance of the new puppy’s arrival are: an adjustable collar, a lead, toys and bedding. Don’t forget to make an appointment with your veterinarian for your puppy’s first check-up!

2. Tell me more about microchips.

Microchipping is very popular these days and it is an essential part of dog health care. A microchip is a very tiny device that is injected underneath the dog’s skin, usually at the neck. If your dog is lost, then any veterinarian or shelter can use a scanner to read the information on the microchip and then return the dog to you. Do you need to microchip your dog? If you are always with your dog, then a microchip might not be necessary. Please remember though that microchipping is harmless and safe, so it is definitely worth considering. Even those dogs that spend most of their time with you can slip their collar and run off.

4. I think my dog has worms – how do I know for certain?

Every owner that is trying to look after their dog with dog health care advice should consider the potential for worms. Some of the most common worms that a dog can potentially have are: heartworms, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms. Many of these worms can be dangerous for your dog and cause internal irritation. It is therefore essential that your vet routinely checks for worms.

5. Is there a good enough reason why I should get my dog fixed?

It is true that unless you are planning to breed from your pet dog, getting it spayed or neutered is the right route to go down. Just think of all the millions of stray animals and those that get kicked out of homes – don’t add to this problem, which is why getting your pet ‘fixed’ is the best solution. Neutering and spaying don’t take very long at all these days and providing there are no complications, your dog will be able to come home the same day.

In addition to its being an effective pet population control measure, spaying and neutering can also benefit your dog’s health. If you have your dog neutered or spayed before it reaches 6 months of age, then its risk of developing certain types of cancers and infections will be cut in half.