Keep your dog snug in cold weather ...responds to queries raised by animal lovers across the city

Keep your dog snug in cold weather

...responds to queries raised by animal lovers across the city

How do I choose a dog bed or a dog house? A household pet needs only a padded mattress. Put it in a secure part in a corner of the room. As tempting as it might be to allow your puppy to sleep on your bed, remember as an adult dog it will expect the same privilege. A dog kept outdoors, requires a tight, dry house to protect it from wind and weather. The house should be big enough for your pet to stand up and turn around easily, but not so large that its body heat won’t keep it warm. Loose bedding and a cloth over the door can help keep your dog snug in cold weather. The house should be built for easy cleaning and treating with insecticides to control parasites. As a first time dog keeper, give me some basic guidelines for its care. Visit your veterinarian annually for an exam and vaccines. Get your dog dewormed. A variety of food at least 3 times a day, Treats of homemade tough, dry biscuits for your dogs tooth hygiene. Control fleas and other external parasites. Check your pet for ticks, and remove them immediately. Exercise your dog at least once a day. Should I use dog shampoo on the head as well? No. All shampoos should be used neck and below. Be careful, on the head and ears, use a human baby shampoo rinse and make sure no soap goes into the eyes and ears. What should I do about my cat’s matted fur? Matted or severely tangled fur is a perfect breeding ground for parasites and encourages inflammatory skin diseases. If your cat has matted fur, do not try to cut it off as you may injure the cat. Mats are difficult to comb out and may be painful. You may have to have the vet sedate and shave the cat. Normally cats groom themselves. So matted hair would indicate illness / weakness / deficiency. What is the time to consider euthanasia? This is the hardest choice a pet lover has to make. At some point in every pet’s life, comes a time when his/her owner starts to think about letting go, and ending the pain, whether from sickness, or old age. Ask yourself some hard questions. Why is she still here? Is she here because she wants to be here? Or is it because you want her to be? If extended treatments are helping her stay alive, ask yourself this: Are these treatments adding length of life without adding quality? Does the pleasure of living outweigh the pain? Is it time to let go? You may find you have your answer. My dog has been licking its paws, scratching a lot, squealing and biting its fur. Why is this? These are all signs of allergies or parasite infestation, specially fleas. How much exercise does my dog need? The need for physical activity varies greatly among breeds, and individual dogs. Try to provide regular exercise daily in the form of a walk but not straight after meals. Outdoor dogs get much more exercise than indoor pets, since their social habits keep them walking their territories constantly. To stimulate indoor dogs to be more playful, provide toys. Two dogs will practically exercise themselves playing together.