Caring for a dog is a lot of work and you should not underestimate the responsibilities of being a dog owner. This isn’t something that you can just do from day one. The following article will help you to be the best dog owner possible.

Take the time to make sure your house is dog-proofed. Check your whole home to be sure it is safe prior to bringing a dog home. All cleaning materials and drugs must be put away, and put your trash receptacle inside a cabinet. Certain plants are toxic, and it’s best to move them, too.

In the same way that a yearly physical is helpful to you, a yearly trip to the veterinarian is a must for your dog. Your dog is not able to talk, so it is not easy to know when he’s got arthritis or an aching tooth. A yearly checkup will help you find any problems before they become huge issues.

Make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. This helps reduce the probability of cancer and extends the life of your dog. Also, dogs that have been neutered or spayed stick closer to home, limiting their exposure to dangerous traffic and other hazards.

If you’re on any kind of medication, even if it’s over-the-counter, you need to keep it away from your dog. Taking just a few such pills can have devastating consequences for a dog. You should contact your vet right away if your dog swallows some medication.

Talk to the vet about which foods you should avoid giving the dog. Puppies may lack the development needed to tolerate certain kinds of food without getting sick. Always exercise caution when it comes to your animal’s food.

If you aren’t sure of the amount of food your dog needs on a daily basis, talk to your vet. Some people feed the dog based on their food package recommendations, but these can be wrong and cause them to be overweight. Speak with your vet and work out an appropriate eating plan for your dog.

Try giving the dog rawhide versus actual meat bones. Pieces can break off of the real bone, which may cause your dog to choke. In contrast, rawhide has health benefits for your pet.

Make an appointment with a good vet right after getting a new dog. Do this as soon as your dog arrives at your doorstep. Your vet will be able to give a clean bill of health, and appoint a schedule for vaccinations. Remember that there is a tremendous dog overpopulation problem, so you should have your dog spayed/neutered.

Do not keep your dog outdoors all day. Yes, people do this too often, but dogs require interactions with people and other dogs for their well-being. Your dog will get very lonely if it is left outside by itself. Keeping them out for too long also exposes them to the elements, so its best that you bring them inside so they don’t get sick being outside in really bad weather.

This great knowledge you have gained will help you love your dog that much more. All that it takes is some patience and love. You’ll know that your dog appreciates it by the way it acts. Keep reading to learn more, too.

Hopefully, you found this rewarding. Want more?

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