Whether you call yourself a dog parent or a dog owner, you have to agree that it can be difficult to keep tabs on every single thing. You have to keep track about grooming (especially if you have a show dog), walks, play time, food, vet check-ups and so much more. It’s easy enough to get lost with these tasks but if there’s more or if you recently moved in with a dog or plan on getting one, this article is just what you need. In here, we will discuss on how to know when to trim dog nails, when to check them for ticks and what things are the easiest to overlook when you have a dog. Let’s begin!
Endoparasites (worms)
As you know, worms (called endoparasites) are very dangerous to an organism of a mammal. They can cause diseases, disrupt the digestive tract and cause pain which is really unfortunate. However, a lot of dog owners overlook the simple fact and fail to notice that their pet has worms. Why? Well simply because they refuse to acknowledge and look at their poop. Even though it definitely isn’t the most pleasant thing to do, you should check it every once in a while. If, upon visual inspection, there are no animate worm-like figures, you could put it aside for now. However, if your dog is acting weird and having diarrhoea or other digestive issues, make sure to inspect their “by-products”.
Nails
One more thing that a lot of dog people tend to neglect too much. They leave the nails and allow them to grow for far too long. Yes, cutting a dog’s nails that are black and just taking care of them, in general can be a difficult task. Nevertheless, if you leave them for too long, it causes discomfort and even pain for the pet. In addition, it does hurt your own personal belongings because any interaction of the pet’s paw with a surface results in scratching or other damage. Avoid leaving the nails untrimmed for too long. Get a grinder and make sure they’re smooth and short. It helps the pet.
Bathing schedules
Let’s not mix up bathing with showering. The latter is just rinsing your dog with water and cleaning the dirt. Bathing is using a shampoo or a particular chemical agent to cleanse them. Too many dog owners bathe too often. As a rule, you shouldn’t bathe your dog more than once per month. If you do that, their coat will lose its glow and all of the essential and vital oils that it has within. In general, bathing (with shampoos) too often isn’t good for the pet.
Ticks
Ticks pose a huge danger to dogs and humans alike. Just like endoparasites damage the digestive tract and the gut, the ticks (ectoparasites) sit on the surface of the skin and transmit as well as carry around microbial diseases. Dogs are extremely prone to tick bites because they are not too tall and love to play and roll around in grass. And that is the premiere hotspot for ticks. Because of the threat and danger that it presents, you should always inspect your pet for ticks after you’ve been out for a long walk or after they’ve played around in the grass.
Weight management
When they look at you with those puppy eyes, it’s hard to resist them. However, you must train yourself to resist these charms and be disciplined about treats and meals. If your canine is up there in age or if you continuously give them delicious treats that are rich in fat, you’re asking for trouble. Too many dogs are overweight because their owners/parents have little concern for putting together a proper diet. It has to be well-rounded and balanced in order to ensure properly functioning immune system as well as various body functions.
Dental health
As a final note, we’d like to point out that dental health is neglected by some pet owners. They just forget the importance of dog’s teeth. It is hands down one of their most important “tools” for interacting with the rest of the world. Every person should regularly brush their dog’s teeth. You should have a regular and a finger brush at your disposal. If your dog is very reluctant when you try to brush them, use a chewy teeth cleaning toy. Throw it to them, the dog gnaws on it and it cleans the teeth and the gaps as well.
