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Caring for your dog

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ACCOMMODATION: Your dog is now part of the family. Give him his own special place in the house and provide a bed somewhere free of draughts and near the centre of family life, without being in the way. At times when you need to leave your dog outside the house he must have access to suitable shelter which in most cases means a properly constructed kennel of suitable size. It must be both waterproof and windproof with a wooden floor raised from the ground. Never allow your dog to sleep on concrete for any length of time, even in summer. Protection from the heat is also necessary.
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DOGS AND CHILDREN: Young children must always be carefully supervised when around animals. They must learn never to tease the dog but to treat it kindly and with respect.
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FEEDING: Most adult dogs thrive on commercially prepared foods, but at the same time they do enjoy some variety. Follow feeding instructions on tin or packet, and acertain your dogs ideal weight, as like people, dogs differ in their dietary needs. A stew of cooked meat with added rice and vegetables is nourishing and economical. All dogs need access to a little grass which they eat from time to time to maintain their natural digestive balance. A bowl of fresh water must always be available.

Important: Never feed your dog raw sheep meat or raw offal of any kind. Everything that comes from the inside of an animal carcase, such as liver and heart, must be well cooked, preferably by boiling, before being fed to a dog. This is a legal requirement to prevent the dog from becoming infected with the hydatid tapeworm which can seriously affect humans.

Most dogs love a bone, but avoid cooked bones and never give dogs chicken, chop, fish or rabbit bones. The only safe bones are brisket and big raw beef shank bones which do not splinter.

DE-SEXING: An unspayed female dog can produce two litters of puppies a year. Large breeds have big litters - maybe 10 or more at any one time. They make a lot of work, cost a vast amount of money to feed, and finding homes for them all is difficult, often impossible. Un-neutered male dogs make up the largest proportion of impounded dogs. Be a responsible dog owner and have your dog desexed as soon as it is old enough - around 6 months of age. You will improve its health, minimize aggressive behavior and the tendency to roam. You will have a far better companion and you will also help to alleviate the stray dog problem.

EXERCISE: The daily outing is the high point of your dogs day. Suitable exercise for his size and breed is essential for his physical and mental wellbeing. It is your Ôtogether time for play and socialisation and its good for you, too.

OBEDIENCE TRAINING: This is a gentle means of giving a pup or dog the guidance it needs to prevent the development of unacceptable behavior. It is a constructive, progressive process which is good fun for both dog and owner. Basic obedience training is the key to having a well behaved dog. Once trained, the dog is more controllable, more dependable and happier in itself as it has a better idea what is expected of it. The effort is small but the benefits last a life-time.

DOGS IN CARS: Dogs love riding in cars, but on a warm day the temperature in a parked car can reach danger level in a matter of minutes, even with partially opened windows. With only hot air to breath, your pet can quickly suffer brain damage or death. Dont kill your pet with kindness. On hot days, leave him at home. Emergency Treatment: If your dog is overcome by heat exhaustion you must lower his body temperature immediately. Get him into the shade and apply cool water all over his body. Let him drink small amounts of cool water and get him to a veterinarian quickly. It could save his life.

YOUR DOGS HEALTH:

Vaccination: As a puppy your dog should have been fully vaccinated against Distemper, Parvo Virus, Hepetitus and Kennel Cough, but he still needs a booster each year so an annual visit to your Veterinarian is advisable.

This annual visit is a good opportunity for a check of your dogs teeth, skin, ears, eyes and general health. It is also a chance to talk over any concerns you may have. Your veterinarian is your dogs best friend. Keep his telephone number handy. Some common problems are:

Worms: Adult dogs rarely suffer from roundworms but tapeworms are common. They appear as tiny live white worms on the droppings or on the anus under the tail. Dead segments look like small dry grains of rice and may also be found in the bedding. The hydatid tapeworm is too small to be seen with the naked eye and is acquired only by the dog eating raw offal. It is advisable to dose your dog with a broad-spectrum wormer every six months.

Skin troubles: Often caused by fleas but sometimes by allergies and/or diet. Many dogs have an allergy to milk so if your dog develops skin trouble or diarrhoea, and you are in the habit of giving him milk on a regular basis, try removing it from his diet. Treatments for skin problems are as varied as the causes. Seek veterinary advice.

Ringworm is not a worm at all, nor even a parasite, but a fungus infection that attacks the hair follicles and spreads quickly. Seek veterinary advice.

Teeth: If your dogs breath smells the reason may be due to the formation of tartar on his teeth. Your veterinarian will check this for you.

Ears: Ear mites are responsible for canker which causes dogs great suffering and may lead to permanent ear damage. The dog shakes its head and carries it at a different angle. There may be discharge and loss of balance. Seek prompt treatment.

Grooming: Some dogs require more bathing than others so do this only when necessary. Daily brushing and combing will help to keep your dog clean and comfortable. If your dog has a long, heavy coat, daily care is essential. Keep a watchful eye on his nails as they grow quickly if your dog runs mainly on grass. Your veterinarian will show you how to clip them or do the job for you. Paint or tar can be removed from an animals coat either by clipping off the hair or by rubbing with olive oil or medicinal paraffin. Never use kerosene, petrol or turps.

REGISTRATION: Every dog owner must register his/her dog when it reaches the age of three months and re-register each year with their local authority. Dogs must wear a collar bearing the current registration disc. A separate disc bearing your own telephone number will give your dog added protection. Some councils charge a lower registration fee in respect of de-sexed dogs.

BONES OF CONTENTION...

Barking Dogs: Keep your dog indoors at night. This way he will bark only when necessary and will not annoy the neighbours. He will be a better protector because he cannot be bribed, stolen, or injured. If daytime barking is a problem see "Stop Barking" leaflet".

Roaming Dogs: Dogs who roam the neighbourhood unattended annoy neighbours in many ways - they foul properties, chase cats, cause traffic accidents and so on. They join up with other dogs and form packs which may attack other animals and stock. If your property is securely fenced, your dog de-sexed and regularly exercised under your supervision, roaming is unlikley to be a problem. If your dog is an expert jumper or digger - refer to leaflet Preventing Rovers Roamings.

LOST DOGS: If your dog goes missing contact your local dog pounds, your local RSPCA Branch or Member Society and any other animal welfare groups. It is important to visit the pounds in person because the description you give of your dog may not match up with the rangers description. Your dog will be held at the pound for 7 days only, after which he will be euthanased or adopted out to a new home. Also check the Strayed & Impounded columns of the papers and insert an advertisement yourself. It pays to offer a reward as many dogs are stolen specifically in order to obtain reward money from the owner.

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