Lessons Learnt

Common Questions and Important lessons

1. What is the best diet for a dog?

A healthy diet is the best diet for the dog which means a diet that maintains or improves overall health. That provide the body with essential nutrition fluids, macronutrients such as protein, fats, and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and adequate fiber and energy.
choosing what is best can be challenging, the first step is to consult your veterinarian. Here are some points to consider when you choose a food for your dog:
• Health: A balanced, nutritional diet is critical to maintain good health.
• Activity level: Working dogs and service dogs have different caloric requirements than household pets.
• Age and size: Nutritional requirements differ between puppies and adults, large breed and small breed dogs.
• Food allergies: Some dogs are allergic to specific proteins or ingredients such as eggs, corn, wheat, soy, or milk.
• Taste: No matter what you think, dog food has to taste and smell good – to your dog.
• Your lifestyle: How much time do you have available to spend cooking and shopping for your dog
Raw dog food can be homemade, store-bought, freeze-dried, or dehydrated. A raw diet usually includes organ meats, muscle meat, whole or ground bone, raw eggs, dog-safe fresh fruits and vegetables, and a dairy product such as yogurt. Raw diets are not appropriate for dogs who share their homes with young children or people with compromised immune systems.
The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the unregulated feeding of raw foods and discourages “the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens, because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs, as well as humans.”
Dry food or kibble has ingredients that vary by brand, but all are required to be balanced and meet the nutritional needs of a dog.

2. How often should I take my dog for vet check-ups ?

How often your dog sees their vet depends on their age, lifestyle, and whether they have any underlying health conditions.
Adult dogs should see their vet once a year even when they appear healthy. During your dog’s annual exams, your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination to check for any signs of illness, dental problems, or changes in weight and behavior.
If your dog has any underlying or chronic conditions, they’ll likely need to visit their vet more often.

3. What are some signs of a healthy dog ?

It’s essential to stay attuned to your dog or cat’s well-being. Sometimes, seemingly minor changes in their behavior, daily routine, or appearance can signal something more serious. Understanding what signs to watch for and knowing when to act can positively impact your pet’s health.
If your pet is unusually tired or lacks energy for more than a day or two, they may have an underlying health issue.
Increased thirst or frequent urination can signal several health issues, including diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections. If your pet is drinking more water than usual, urinating more often, or having accidents in the home, consult your veterinarian.
Significant weight changes can indicate a range of health issues, including metabolic disorders, intestinal parasites, cancer, and hormone-related problems.
Although your pet’s appetite may normally vary, a sudden decrease or increase can indicate pain, dental discomfort, illness, or hormonal imbalance.
Occasional coughing or sneezing is normal for pets, but persistent coughing or sneezing can signal infections, allergies, foreign objects, tracheal injury, or cardiovascular problems.
Watch for the following changes in your pet’s mobility:
• Trouble walking or rising
• Limping
• Unusual stiffness
• Avoiding certain activities, such as playing, jumping up or down, or climbing stairs
• Changes in your pet’s skin, such as lumps, bumps, rashes, hair loss, or persistent itching, should not be ignored.

4. How can I maintain a dogs dental health ?

To improve your dog's dental health, focus on their diet, brush their teeth regularly, consider using oral products, and seek veterinary treatment when needed.
Hard foods that cause friction on the teeth are good for your dog's teeth. Raw carrots, dry dog food, and dental chews are all good options. You should avoid offering bones, antler chews, and other hard materials that could cause gut obstructions or damage the teeth or mouth.
Plaque isn’t mineralized, so that it can be removed with regular tooth brushing. However, once it becomes mineralized calculus, it can only be removed with an ultrasonic scaler.

5. What are some of the best grooming methods ?

Bathing your pet when needed is an important part of general pet care. For dogs with healthy skin and a healthy coat, the most common reason to bathe is to remove an unpleasant odor or because they’ve accumulated dirt on their coat.
The benefits of bathing can include cleaning the skin and coat which helps to remove loose hair, scale and debris and improve the hair coat’s shine.
For dogs with specific skin conditions, bathing may be part of their medical treatment plan.

Most cats will spend a significant part of their day grooming. The cat’s tongue is covered with backwards-pointing spines, perfectly designed to groom coats effectively, removing loose hair and dirt.

6. What are some common health issues should I look out for ?

Generally, if your dog is behaving unusually, it’s a good idea to take them to the vet for a checkup. The sooner you can figure out what’s wrong with your dog, the sooner you can get them the treatment they need.
Dogs can’t tell us how they are feeling, so the only way to know if your dog is sick is by paying attention to the potential signs. Some of the most common sick dog symptoms include
- Changes in energy level
- Sudden changes in daily habits, behavior, or personality
- Changes in urine, stool, or frequency in urinating or defecating
- Evidence in pain while walking or running
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
- Excessive salivation or thirst
- Dry and itchy skin
- Excessive vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- fever

7. Dogs exercise

Lack of exercise in dogs can cause everything from health problems to behavioral changes.
To keep your dog healthy, try to follow the general concept we humans have learned: “calories in minus calories out equals weight gain or loss”. More calories eaten than burned causes weight gain, while the opposite leads to weight loss. If your dog has been getting a bit plump lately, it may be an indication that more exercise (calories out) is needed.

Behavioral problems, and especially destructive behavior, are commonly a result of not getting enough exercise. Many dogs, especially high-energy breeds, become bored and frustrated if they don’t get enough outdoor exercise and mental stimulation.

Dogs that are hyperactive and those that show poor manners are often exercise-deficient. This is commonly seen in young dogs and dogs from energetic breeds.

8. How can I prevent my dog from fleas and ticks ?

Fleas and ticks are ectoparasites, meaning they are pests that live on the outside of their host. For fleas and ticks to survive, they must bite their host and then feed on the blood.
It’s important to start flea and tick prevention for your dog when they’re 8 weeks old and keep them on prevention year-round throughout your dog’s life.
There are a variety of products to help keep your dog free of parasites. These products can be in the form of pesticides, repellents, or growth inhibitors. Each tackles pest at different life stages to prevent infestations.
Some products are only effective against one parasite (typically fleas). Combination flea and tick preventatives for dogs contain multiple ingredients to battle different types of pests.

9. How can I help my dog maintain a healthy weight ?

A dog switches temporarily to a weight-loss or weight management pet food to help achieve a healthier, more comfortable weight.
These pet foods will include specific variations to help your pet, such as increased fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients to help your dog or cat feel more satiated and fuller, reduce begging, and maintain muscle, while reducing caloric intake
Maintaining a pet’s healthy weight requires a combination of proper nutrition, activity and preventive care. Some important steps include:
• Regular Veterinary Visits: Pets should see a veterinarian regularly for check-ups, at which time owners can ask about nutrition and discuss weight-loss and management plans, if necessary.
• Practice Portion Control: At home, it’s important for pet owners to practice portion control with cat and dogs and ensure that they are measuring out the recommended serving size for their pet. Everyone in the household is responsible for keeping pets safe and healthy and should accurately keep track of how much food a pet is getting each day to avoid overfeeding.

10. What to do in case of an emergency ?

Emergencies with pets often happen at the most unexpected times. Injuries and sudden illnesses can be frightening for both you and your pet. Having an emergency plan in place will help to minimize some of the stress while getting your pet help as quickly as possible.
Your pet will be scared and may be in pain. Use caution in moving them to avoid getting bitten.
Cats should be put in a carrier for safe transport.
Dogs should be on a leash with a snug-fitting collar or harness.
If your pet has ingested a toxin, try to gather all the information you can about the substance, the amount potentially ingested, and the time it was eaten. Bring the package if possible or take a photo of it.
Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by your veterinarian.

11. How do I improve my dog's social skills ?

Socializing a puppy during the first few months of life sets them up for success as they integrate into the world. It helps puppies become comfortable with the different sights, smells, sounds, and inhabitants (objects, people, and other animals) they’ll encounter throughout their life.
How to socialize an adult dog:
-Go for walks to take in the sights, smells and sounds of the neighborhood.
-Introduce your dog to another adult dog, such as during a nice, relaxed walks.
-Introduce your dog to another adult human by inviting a friend over.
-Introduce your dog to puppies and children.
-Visit dog parks at a slow, leisurely pace.
-Attend doggy daycare so your dog can show of their new social skills.

12. What are some behavioral issues and how can I address them ?

You can only redirect and correct bad behavior as it happens. If you try to address your pet’s unwanted behavior hours later, he won’t know what’s going on and it won’t change future behavioral issues.
When your pet is behaving badly, redirect his attention by issuing a command like sit, stay, down, off, or quiet.
When your pet complies, reward him with a treat. If he doesn’t comply, use your hands to gently push your pet into a sitting or lying position. Say the command one more time and then reward your pet. Doing this consistently every time your pet misbehaves will make it easier to correct his bad behavior.

13. Are there any specific supplements or medications you recommend for my dog?

It's always important to discuss supplement recommendations with your veterinarian prior to adding a supplement to your dog's diet.
The most common are multivitamins, supplements to support arthritic joints, and fatty acids to reduce shedding and improve a coat's shine.
Two common types of supplements recommended for dogs suffering from gastrointestinal issues are prebiotics and probiotics.