Coming home to a four-legged furry animal waiting at the door with its tail wagging and paws pounding to hug you is heartwarming for every pet parent.
But with raising a dog comes huge responsibility, i.e., taking proper care of them. Dogs are more high-maintenance, which is why you need to take care of them way more than you’d do if you petted a cat.
Aside from their physical needs, you must ensure their emotional needs are met. This entails everything from providing them with nutritious food to a safe home.
If, like the majority of new pet parents, you’re hunting for ways to keep your pooch healthy, you’ve come to the right place. This guide contains a pet owner’s checklist that every dog owner must follow to raise their dogs the best they can.
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Pet Owner Checklist: 4 Ways to be a Responsible Dog Owner
Before we get into the details, let’s make one thing clear: caring for your dog shouldn’t be seen as a chore. Rather, you should take care of your pooch in a way that enriches your and your dog’s lives.
Water, food, and shelter aren’t the only things canine companions need to survive. Like humans, they require nurturing, mental stimulation, and physical care to be healthy and happy.
As a dog owner, if you provide them with all these things from the get-go, know that you’re setting the right foundation for the long lifespan of your dog. That said, let’s check out the ways you can be a responsible dog owner.
1. Take Your Pooch on Daily Walks
An important part of the physical maintenance of dogs is to take them on daily walks. Some dogs, like terriers, enjoy long walks because they don’t get tired quickly, whereas other dogs, like Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, prefer short walks. Therefore, the duration of walks varies from breed to breed.
However, you can take your pup for either two short walks or one long walk daily to keep them healthy.
2. Take Your Dog to a Veterinarian for Routine Checkups
Routine veterinary checkups are important to ensure your pup is protected from diseases and provide early treatment if they suffer from any serious disease. For adult dogs, you should take them to the vet once every year, whereas twice a year is recommended for senior dogs.
And when you visit the vet, make sure to ask them about the dosage of cephalexin for dogs to avoid overdosing. That’s because Cephalexin, available at online pet stores like PetCareRx, is a veterinarian-approved formula known to treat bacterial infections, respiratory tract infections, and soft tissue, ear, skin, and urinary tract infections. Although it’s safe for pets, you should always consult a vet regarding the dosage to avoid overdose for their safety.
Aside from Cephalexin, PetCareRx offers pet food and several other pet medicines for deworming, arthritis, urinary health, and so on. Reviews indicate that nearly 600 customers trust PetCareRx for their pets because of the quality products it sells.
3. Groom Your Dog Regularly
Dogs aren’t self-groomers, as are cats, so grooming them is your responsibility.
Nail trimming, toothbrushing, and bathing are basic dog maintenance chores you must perform on the reg to keep your dog healthy. In regard to bathing them, always use a shampoo that is specifically designed for use on them.
Also, clean their ears regularly using ear drops manufactured for them. Since using cotton swabs is prohibited, ask your vet the right way to clean your dog’s ears.
As far as nail trimming is concerned, ensure your dog’s nails are of a healthy length and trim only if they are overgrown.
4. Do Not Neglect Your Dog’s Dental Health
A vital part of being a responsible dog owner is taking proper care of your pooch’s dental health.
Dogs whose dental health is neglected often suffer from periodontal disease, which puts both their mouth as well as their overall health in danger. As periodontal disease affects the bone and tissue, it could expose your dog to the risk of kidney, liver, lung, and heart disease.
Scheduling dental visits annually will keep your puppy’s mouth healthy and prevent dental diseases like gingivitis and periodontal diseases.
Other than annual dental cleanings, you should brush your puppy’s teeth at home thrice a week, at least. Regular brushing prevents tartar and plaque buildup in your dog’s teeth. Using human toothpaste is a big no-no in regard to cleaning your dog’s teeth. You should always use toothpaste formulated for dogs or cats to avoid health issues.
Taking Good Care of Your Pooch Will Keep Them in Good Health
Dogs offer valuable companionship to humans, especially older adults. On top of that, they are known to reduce loneliness, stress, and depression and improve the cardiovascular health of those who own them.
In return, they don’t ask for much except love, affection, and care. Taking care of dogs isn’t limited to scooping their litter box or feeding them nutritious food; rather, it’s beyond that.
From providing them with a dedicated space in the house to training them, dog owners have to take care of a lot of things when raising dogs. Initially, things may appear daunting, but remember to be patient with your puppy.
And whenever in doubt regarding their health or training, always consult the vet.