Pet Care - Dogs

General

Before a dog is purchased you need to ensure you have thought about the responsibility of dog ownership carefully.

A dog should never be bought on impulse, dogs are a big commitment and should be considered carefully.

Housing

Dogs may be kennelled outdoors if the kennels have been constructed well. However most dogs are housed within your home.

Puppies should be introduced into their sleeping area as soon as they are brought home. Kennels should be warm, dry and draught free.

If using an outdoor kennel it should be protected from rain and excessive sun. Washable rugs, cushions or blankets should be used for extra comfort and warmth and bedding should be cleaned regularly.

Food

Dogs should have a good quality complete dried food. Dry food is much better for the dog's teeth as it doesn't contain much moisture and therefore less tartar is going to form on the teeth which will cause dental disease.

Dogs should have access to a fresh supply of water at all times.

Neutering

Male dogs can be castrated from five months of age. If you do not intend on using your dog for stud then castration is advised. It helps to prevent aggression, dominance and medical conditions such as prostate & testicular cancer.

Female dogs can be spayed (Ovariohysterectomy) from five months of age. Ideally they should be spayed before their first season at five months of age. If they have already had a season you must wait for twelve weeks following the season before they are spayed. Spaying is advised unless you intended breeding from the bitch. Breeding is not recommended unless you are fully aware of the breed standards, what protocols need to be followed to maintain the breed standard and you know how to care for a whelping bitch. Spaying is also recommended to prevent medical conditions such as a pyomuetra (a puss filled uterus), mammary carcinomas (breast cancer) and phantom pregnancies. These are very expensive conditions to treat and are also life threatening. These can be prevented by surgery.

Vaccinations

A puppy is usually vaccinated from eight weeks of age depending on what vaccine manufacturer your vet uses. Puppies should not be placed in public places until they are fully vaccinated. One vaccine is administered at eight weeks of age and the second vaccine four weeks later at 12 weeks of age. When the puppy is fully vaccinated you can start walking in the great outdoors. To keep your dog fully vaccinated a yearly booster is then required. Diseases you are covering for include canine distemper, canine infectious hepatitis, Leptospirosis, canine parvovirus and Para influenza. Kennel cough is a vaccination which is also recommended. This is administered on an annual basis. Please be aware that dogs cannot just pick kennel cough up in kennels, it is a much more common disease now and is contagious between other dogs that may just be out walking. It is not just contracted in kennels! Vaccinations are particularly important if you are going to put your dogs in kennels. Kennels will not accept your dog unless it is fully vaccinated.

Micro chipping

Micro chipping is highly recommended in dogs. A small chip is injected just under the skin. If any animal charities or veterinary surgeons become in possession of your dog whether it has strayed or been injured it will be scanned automatically. Once the screener has identified the dog's number, the national database is contacted and your dog is automatically traced back to you the owner.

There are increasing numbers of dogs being stolen around the country. Micro chipping is a permanent identification marker.

Worm treatment

Dogs should be wormed every three months with a good quality wormer such as 'Drontal' which covers dogs for Roundworms and Tapeworms. This comes in a tablet form.

Worm treatment is particularly important to maintain good health of your dog, but is particularly important if you have children as worm larvae cause blindness in children.

Flea treatment

Flea treatment should be administered to your dog on a regular basis to prevent any flea infestations and any other mites.

Depending on which product you use it should be supplied once a month or once every two months. Some products are applied as a spot on and some are administered orally. Your veterinary surgeon would advise you on the dosage instructions.

If flea treatment is not kept up to date dogs may suffer with all sorts of skin problems. Flea bites can lead to severe itching and inflammation of the skin gradually resulting in dermatitis.

Grooming and bathing

Brushing dogs on a regular basis is essential. You should start grooming them from a young age so they are used to grooming and being handled.

Grooming removes dust, dead skin, loose hairs, grass seeds and tangles. It also assists to shorten the coat molt, which occurs each autumn and spring.

Dogs should be bathed when necessary, using a shampoo specifically designed for dogs. When bathing a dog in cooler weather, towels or a hair dryer can be used to remove excess water and assist in drying the coat.

Insurance

Insurance is advisable for all dogs. As an example if you purchased a Labrador puppy and at six months old, it starts limping and hip dysplasia is apparent, could you afford to pay £2000-£3000 to correct the problem? Most people could not.

We recommend you to take out insurance. Care must be taken as to which insurance company is chosen. You must ensure they cover the conditions for life and not just for a year. Although you have a years worth of treatment, life cover gives piece of mind. A lot of the cheaper insurance companies only cover for a year, so ensure you read the small print.

Best Friends are delighted to offer their own range of insurance for dogs, for more information please visit www.bestfriends4life.com

Exercise

Dogs should be exercised on a daily basis, this should involve a walk and playing games. Ideally dogs should be taken to council designated areas where they can be safely let off the leash to run free with no risk from motor traffic.

Training

Socialisation and early training is essential. Dog owners must teach their pets the rules of acceptable social behaviour and conduct training, which is based on kindness and positive reinforcement.

Anti social behaviour such as barking, jumping up, begging, pulling and general disobedience can be avoided and corrected by early training. You should attend puppy training classes once your puppy is fully vaccinated.