Pay attention to the nutrient value in order to get what is best for your puppy or mature dog. Your choices are either dry food, canned food or fresh food. Between canned and dry food, dry food is the easiest to use and most dogs really like it.
The problem with canned food is that dogs love the juicy taste, making a transition to dry food more difficult. While fresh food has many advantages, it can become an expensive proposition, especially for a larger dog. When you switch the kind of food you feed your dog, it must always be done gradually.
Brushing should be done every couple of days and also include some massage time. Dogs really enjoy it! You can use this time to get to know your dog’s body and help prevent any health issues by simply noticing differences in your pet’s appearance.
Your dog’s undercoat should also be brushed at least once a week. It will make your dog feel better and result in a shinier coat. And anything you brush out means there is less fur to pick in your home!
Washing your dog should not be done more than once a month – and under warm water only. Use a good healthy soap or even baby shampoo. If need be, you can also rinse your dog on a weekly basis.
If your puppy is from a large breed, consider using washing stations in pet stores. They’re a bit more expensive, but they do supply the soap. What’s more, the fact that it’s at your level will be better for your back versus a shower. However, if you do go that route, you should do it when your dog is still a puppy so that he gets used to it as soon as possible.
Perceived health problems are sometimes temporary, often disappearing within 24 hours. So monitor the situation closely before rushing off to the vet. Vaccines must be done on a yearly basis. If your dog is active and often goes into the woods, he might encounter an animal that might give him rabies. And if ever there’s an emergency requiring a surgical intervention on your dog, no vet will want to operate if the vaccine is not up to date.
