Late spring, summer, and early fall are usually the months when fleas and ticks are at their worst. Some areas have nice climates year round, these areas have year round fleas as well. Your dog may be an inside dog; that does not mean that he is immune. Just taking your dog out to use the bathroom can start a flea infestation. A variety of other animals (stray cats and dogs, squirrels, etc) comb neighborhoods, these can very easily drop unwanted visitors at your door, literally.
There are products on the market to help control the pests that get on your animal as well as those that get in your yard, your vet can recommend the best products for you to use for your dog's safety.
You also need to do some other 'home maintenance' things. Some of these include: 1. Anything your pet spends much time on should be cleaned as best it can. For instance, if he uses his own bed, wash it in hot water and dry on high heat. If he spends time on the couch, vacuum it regularly (your vet may recommend a mild pesticide be use on the couch (and other places your dog uses a lot), depending on infestation and severity. 2. Vacuum your entire house, washing any throw rugs. Often flea eggs are dropped from the pet into the carpet through shedding. Just because they are no longer on your dog doesn't mean that they are not viable. These eggs will hatch and grow just as they would if they were on your dog. 3. Brush your dog frequently. Combs designed for lice removal in humans make excellent combs for flea and flea egg removal in short-haired dogs. Longer hair is more difficult unless you have a very passive dog that will allow you to comb down to the skin with the tiny combs but are better done with flea combs designed for dogs. Bathing should be done at least bi-weekly and a good conditioner (oatmeal-based is great) should be applied to help sooth your dog's skin. 4. Keep your lawn mowed, believe it or not, this helps with flea infestation.
I Can't Get My Dog's Liquid Medicine Down Face it; there are times that we have to medicate our dogs. Usually it's just not much fun; flailing legs, squirming bodies, and twisting heads are not a joyful experience for either one of you. These tips should help you accomplish this feat. Remember to follow all medication instructions and dosage requirements. 1. Have a treat ready if the medication doesn't have to be taken on an empty stomach. 2. Measure the medicine into the dropper. 3. Sooth your dog through calm movements and soft words. 4. Wrap one arm around the dog's neck, between your thumb and first finger, take hold of the lower jaw. 5. Tilt the nose up, but not straight up. 6. Insert the dropper's tip toward the back of the cheek without opening the mouth. 7. Slowly squeeze the dropper's 'bubble' letting a constant, slow flow of the medication into your dog's mouth. He will swallow instinctively.
Extra tips, in case your dog is a bit harder to control: 1. Flailing dogs can be wrapped in towels (or blankets for larger dogs). 2. Give high praise and a treat when the process is over (as long as the medication does not need to be taken on an empty stomach). 3. Keep the dog's body in front of you. 4. There are new ways to flavor pet medications. Certain pharmacists and veterinarians can perform this service for little cost.
Using these instructions and tips, you should be able to successfully give your dog the medication he needs in a less traumatic experience for both of you. High praise for anything good always reinforces good behavior, so every successful attempt should be treated as an exceptional feat for him. He will continue to improve, eventually making the process quite simple.
Most of us, who have owned dogs ever since we can remember, could never imagine our lives without them. Even for those people who have only recently acquired a dog, the bond of friendship will be developing very quickly as the dog integrates into their lives and their homes. A dog really is a man's best friend even if the expression has been done to death!
For those people who have never owned a dog but are thinking about acquiring one, it may be more difficult to make a decision. There are all sorts of considerations including the extra work involved, the responsibility and the extra attention that will be demanded of you. However, if you are prepared to commit to the above, your dog will reward you tenfold.
The five most popular reasons for getting a dog include:
Companionship: You dog will be your shadow; he will want to share every experience with you, traveling in the car, playing in the park, walking on the sidewalk, sitting at your feet and will spend his life at your side. Obviously the amount of companionship you require will be dictated by you but your dog will be there for you no matter what.
Loyalty: Your dog will never judge or criticize you and will always be on you side. There are very few animals that display the level of loyalty that the dog does whilst expecting the smallest of rewards. A cuddle, a rub of the belly, a gentle stoke, some food and water usually will suffice to achieve a lifelong friendship and unquestioning loyalty.
Protection: No matter how large or small your dog is, he will protect his owner and his territory (your home) from strangers. With is acute sense of smell and hearing you will know well in advance whether someone is coming up your drive or about to ring the doorbell. A barking dog does more to deter intruders than the most sophisticated alarm equipment.
Absolute love: Your dogs love for you will be unconditional. He will love you even if you behave badly toward him, when perhaps you are not in a good mood or have had a bad day. Your dog is only interested in making you happy and will forgive and forget even the most unreasonable behavior very quickly. Your dog doesn't care how little or how much money you have, whether you have a job or not or what type of person you are; he will love you no matter what and only expects you to live him back. What a wonderful world this would be if people were able to behave in the same manner.
Joy. The word joy is old fashioned but there simply isn't another way of describing what you will feel when your dog greets you with a wag of his tale and an expression of sheer delight when you return home.
When you have experienced the unconditional love and loyalty a dog offer, you will wonder how you lived without it.
Both Kerry Plowright & Jeff Nenadic are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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