Basic Dog Care The following article outlines general care items. Clicking on the Index links will take you to the section described
Basic Dog Care Index You and Your Veterinarian Giving Medication Signs Of Distress Spaying and Neutering Your Dog General Information

Choose a veterinarian that your like and trust with your dog. Check with friends first if you are a new pet owner. If you go to an office that has several veterinarians, then try to make an appointment with the same doctor each visit so he becomes familiar with your dog. Make sure you come to the visits prepared and don't be reluctant to ask for information about your dog and potential problems your should look out for.

Prepare for the Veterinarian Visit:
- Stool sample for examination of intestinal parasites.
- Inoculation records.
- Ask about flea and tick prevention and control programs.
- Heart worm tests records and ask about types of preventives.
- Ask about Parvo Virus and symptoms to look for, also ask about any illnesses common to your breed.
- Ask about minor injuries and how to treat them.
Let them recommend a good antiseptic cream.

Up to Basic Dog Care Index

Liquid - Use a syringe (without the needle) to give liquid medication. Be careful not to stab the back of the dog's throat. It is recommended to insert the syringe while the dogs mouth is closed directly behind his canine teeth. Inject the medication slowly.
Pills - Position the dog upright sitting down, tilt the dog's head back, lift the lips away from his teeth and hold his upper jaw by the gums directly behind his canine teeth and push down on his lower jaw with your other hand to open the mouth. Place the pill in the very back of his throat, close his mouth and keep it shut.
Stroke his throat softly until pill is swallowed.
If you have a dog who is not use to taking medication and he is to difficult to handle, try crushing the pill or opening capsules and mixing with peanut butter or baby food. Mix it up and stick it on the roof of the dog's mouth. As the dog licks the peanut butter off the roof of his mouth, it will melt and he will swallow the medication with it.

Up to Basic Dog Care Index

A dog may show signs of distress in many different ways. You want to be familiar with the most common signs of distress because they indicate your dog could have a problem that may need immediate attention. This is a general list below that shows signs of distress and the possible problems they may indicate. These same signs could indicate problems other than those listed so be sure to consult your veterinarian.

• Dog choking, gagging, drooling or pawing at the mouth.
• Possible foreign item stuck in throat or mouth.

• Hot ears. Hot to the touch.
• Possible fever, but dog could have fever and not have hot ears.

• Straining but not having a bowel movement.
• Possible constipation or an obstruction of the bowels or diarrhea.

• Dog cries, crouches or tenses, trembles, heavy breathing.
• Possible poison, bloat, pain from swallowing sharp object. Intense pain usually abdominal.

• Convulsions, thrashing about on the floor, glassy-eyed, foaming, rigid.
• Possible epilepsy or poison, hypoglycemia.

• Nervous panting and pacing.
• Possible pain or discomfort of some sort. Watch carefully.

• Squatting numerous times but not urinating or just dribbling.
• Possible bladder or kidney infection.

• Scooting across floor on rear.
• Possible blocked anal glands or caked stool in hair around rectum.

• Skin inside of ears is bright pink instead of pale. Bad odor from ears or constant scratching of ears.
• Possible ear infection or ear mites.

• Pal mucus membranes, heavy breathing and extremities cold.
• Possible shock.

Up to Basic Dog Care Index

 

• Removing the chance of accidental breeding.
• Eliminating two three-week-long sessions per year of her being in season.
• Eliminating the problem of vaginal discharge during her season.
• Preventing false pregnancies and infections of the uterus.
• Reducing the chance of mammary tumors.
• Eliminating the nuisance of male dogs in the neightborhood congregating at your home during season.

• Removing the chance of his accidentally siring a litter of puppies.
• Eliminating the desire to roam from home if there is a female dog in season in the neighborhood.
• Eliminating the need to mark his territory with urine if he scents a female dog in season.
• Decreasing, in some cases, aggressive behavior towards other male dogs.

 

Up to Basic Dog Care Index

• Dog's normal breathing rate - 15 to 20 per minute.

• Dog's normal heartbeat - 100 to 150 beats per minute. Take pulse under chest or under rear leg where it joins the body.

• Dog's normal temperature - 101 to 102 degrees.

• Color of mucus membranes ( includes the gums, tongue, inside of eyelids) should be a nice healthy pink. Memorize the color of your dog's membranes when he is well (color varies from dog to dog), so that you will know when there is a change in the color.

Up to Basic Dog Care Index