20, Oct 2022
A Dog’s Basic Needs Every Pet Owner Should Know

As a pet parent, you have to make sure that your dog obtains the best care possible. You need to be informed about the fundamentals of pet care and fulfill your pet’s necessities if you wish to keep them healthy. Your dog will grow as long as you supply the proper nutrition, preventative care from vets, and a place to call their home. The good news is that providing your dog with these necessities is not difficult at all.

Your Dog’s Essential Needs

You have to have a strategy when you first bring home a pet to keep them healthy and satisfied. Nothing is worse than realizing that you could have avoided time and misery by doing something fairly easy. Listed below are the things to keep in mind to ensure your dog’s well-being.

1. Health Checks

Preventative health care should be discussed with your vet when you first receive your pet. Your new dog will have a complete physical check by your veterinarian, that will also deal with any worries you may have concerning any medical problems. Take advantage of this opportunity to be sure you have everything covered by taking anti-worm, anti-flea, or anti-tick medication. Ask a veterinarian if you have any concerns; they are qualified to care for behavior problems. Even if you do not spot any signs of illness in your pet, it’s highly recommended to have them examined every 6 months at daytime emergency care.

2. Vaccination

When pups are 6-8 weeks old, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks, then yearly or every 3 years, vaccinations are needed, depending on the risks to your dog and what your veterinarian recommends. There are still outbreaks of illness that are becoming less common, although vaccines are being utilized regularly. As part of your dog’s yearly examination, your veterinarian will do a health examination and inform you of any changes in their health. Learn more about vaccination and cat & dog parasite prevention.

3. Internal Parasite Control

The initial worming must begin at 2 weeks of age and proceed biweekly for 12 weeks, then monthly when they reach 6 months old, and afterward every 3 months for intestinal worming or once a month for heartworm. An annual vaccine for heartworm can also be done if your monthly preventatives are usually ignored, although intestinal worming will still need to be completed every 3 months. Using Interceptor just once a month is an easy and effective option. By incorporating this with Nexgard for ticks and fleas, you can look after everything. Find out more about this on this page.

4. Dental Care

Preventing gum illness by brushing your dog or feline’s teeth every day using pet toothpaste and a soft brush is a fundamental part of caring for your pet. The oral illness needs general anesthesia to safely clean all surfaces of the teeth once established; therefore, avoiding it is far better than curing it. If you don’t have time to brush your dog’s teeth, raw meaty bones, oral diets, and water additives might be able to help.

5. Proper Nutrition

Like humans, the famous quote “you are what you eat” is true for dogs. They must be supplied with a high-quality, well-balanced diet even though they are often very experimental in what they will try to eat. Make sure you use top-quality healthy proteins instead of cheap cereals like soy and corn in your food preparation or buying pre-made products. Your dog’s teeth will thank you if you focus on what you’re providing and avoid treats with artificial components. For some dogs, a prescription diet is essential to treat problems not covered by non-prescription dog food.

6. Bathing and Grooming

Brushing or grooming your pet frequently is important if he has a long coat to prevent matting, which can cause discomfort and irritation to the skin. To keep a healthy coat, you should take your pet to the groomer at least once every 6 to 8 weeks if their hair is continuously growing. You should not shower your pet more than once a week unless your veterinarian suggests it. If they need a bath, use a gentle pet shampoo. Some pets only need a good cleaning and may not even require one.