Keeping
Your Pet Healthy - A New Dog Owner Guide
By Bart LeToad
Keeping your pet well groomed is an essential part
of being a new pet owner. We have compiled a few tasks that
each owner should do on a regular basis. If you make sure
these things get done, you will keep your pet happy and healthy.
Trimming your dogs’ nails is critical in keeping your
pet free from toe infections. You should
always keep your pet dogs nails trimmed to the proper length.
Taking a daily walk with your pet will help wear down their
nails. If trimming their nails doesn't make you queasy, you
can pick up a pair of nail clippers at your favorite online
pet store and trim them yourself. You want to be sure not
to cut them too short as their nails will bleed and cause
them discomfort. If you don't feel that you can trim their
nails or that your dog might be aggressive when you're trying
to trim them, you can take your pet for a minimal charge to
your groomer or veterinarian.
Keeping your dogs ears clean is necessary to prevent excessive
wax build up and prevent diseases or pests from settling in.
Since most dogs’ ears lie down and cover the bigger
opening they aren’t susceptible to most ear problems.
However, dos with ears that stand up are especially vulnerable
to many dangers. Most online pet stores carry a variety of
dog-ear cleaners, which are very simple to use. In most cases,
you simply put a small amount of ear cleaner on a cotton ball
and swab the outer surface of the inner ear. Regular cleaning
of your dogs’ ears will reduce the chance of ear infections
and help eliminate pests such as ear mites.
If you're not comfortable cleaning your dogs ears, you can
always take your pet dog to your groomer or veterinarian and
they will clean your ears for you. If you're cleaning your
dog’s ears and notice that they have long hairs you
can remove those gently by using a set of hemostats. In most
cases, we believe this to the groomers or veterinarians’
job.
Giving your dog a bath is a great way to bond with your pet.
You can purchase shampoos and conditioners designed and formulated
specifically for your pet. It is not recommended to use flea
and tick shampoos unless your pet absolutely needs it to get
rid of those nasty pests. One of the most important things
you should be aware of when giving your pet a bath is to make
sure you thoroughly rinse your pet so that it does not cause
any skin problems. Leaving the shampoo on your pet can cause
extremely dry skin, which will cause your dog to scratch
and ultimately end up in a nasty skin infection. Any dog that
has a thick or matted coat should always be brushed out before
giving them a bath. This ensures that you can adequately bathe
all layers of your dogs fur. Bathing them before you do this
will only make the problem worse Towel drying your pet dog
is recommended, but you can use specially made doggie hair
dryers.
Be careful not to bathe your pet too frequently, only once
every couple of months unless they are extremely dirty.
Brushing your dog regularly will keep shedding at bay and
also help the coat to shine. Regular brushing of your pet
stimulates natural oils in the skin and help to keep it healthy
in shining.
Frequent brushing will also help eliminate problems such
as matting and tangles. While brushing you also get hands-on
time, which keeps you well informed of your dogs health. This
allows you to notice if there's a new growth, cut or bite
that you've never noticed before. If you see anything unusual,
be sure to inspect it further and take your pet to the vet
if necessary.
These simple tasks will keep your pet healthy and free from
major medical problems. It is important to be diligent about
the things you can control, because there are always circumstances
you can’t. Take care of your pet and they will reward
you for years to come.
About the Author:
New Pet Owners Should Also Read Up On: Invisible
Fence Reviews, Dog
Training Collar Information & Petsafe
Products
Source: www.isnare.com
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