Dog Ownership: A Long-Term Commitment
Provided by FDA
As a loyal friend and guardian to your dog, you have the responsibility to provide
food, shelter and veterinary care to ensure your pet's health and safety. As dogs
are "man's best friend," so are we "dog's best friend," and we should be willing
to attend to their needs before our own. Dog ownership is a long-term commitment
resulting in mutually rewarding companionships for both people and dogs.
Getting Acquainted
Whether you purchase a registered AKC dog from a reputable breeder or rescue your
new best friend from the animal shelter, your dog will be totally dependent on you
for its care and well-being. It is important to build mutual trust and loyalty from
the start by spending as much time together and training your pet to be responsive
and obedient. The local humane society or dog club may offer obedience classes.
A well-behaved dog will ensure a good relationship with your neighbors and will
be a joy to own.
Provide a warm, dry place for your pet to rest. Dogs adapt well to crates, as long
as they are large enough to turn around in. This will prevent unacceptable behavior
such as chewing furniture, and dogs seem to feel more secure in a small, close area
where they can escape for peace and quiet.
Never leave two or more pets together unattended unless you have observed them frequently
and are sure they are compatible. Be sure to take your dog outside often (at least
three times a day) to urinate and defecate to avoid accidents, and always provide
clean, fresh water. Dogs quickly adapt to a routine and come to expect the same
activities on a daily basis.
Unless you plan to raise puppies, it is important to spay (removal of ovaries and
uterus) or neuter (removal of testicles) your dog. This will prevent objectionable
behavior such as roaming and fighting, and will help your pet enjoy a longer, healthier
life. In addition, spaying of females lowers the risk of mammary cancer.
Purchase a license if your city or town requires it. Attach the license to your
dog's collar along with an identification tag that includes your name and address
in order to expedite finding your dog if it gets lost. Microchip I.D.'s are also
available from your veterinarian.
It is also a good idea to name a caretaker for your four-legged friend in case of
your death or hospitalization, just as you would for a child.
Feeding
There are three types of commercial pet foods available today: dry, semi-moist and
canned. As long as they are complete and balanced products, all three are equally
nutritious, yet each has its own advantages and disadvantages. One advantage of
dry food is its abrasive action, which helps keep teeth clean. It is important to
maintain a regular feeding schedule and always provide fresh food and water with
each feeding.
Obesity is a major problem with dogs in our society, since owners tend to feed table
scraps in excess. Serious health problems may result from obesity. Extra weight
will put a strain on your dog’s heart, lungs, skeleton, and muscles, and lowers
your pet’s resistance to disease. An occasional treat is fine, but many human foods
can upset the dog's metabolism – so it is best to avoid bad feeding habits. Regular
exercise and proper nutrition are both essential to maintain optimal weight and
health.
Health Care
Veterinary examinations are critical to a dog's health. It is important to keep
a detailed medical history and establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship
to ensure a long, healthy life for your dog. During the initial exam, your veterinarian
will be able to establish a preventive health care program for your pet. Vaccination
for rabies is basic to preventive health care and is required in most areas. Rabies
is a deadly disease, transmitted by saliva, and is frequently found in wild animals
such as skunks, foxes and raccoons. For the health of your dog, as well as your
family and neighbors, it is essential to keep the rabies vaccination up-to-date.
Your veterinarian may recommend other vaccines, such as a combination of distemper,
parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, coronavirus, or parainfluenza, depending on
your dog's activities and expected travel.
Parasite control is another area to discuss with your veterinarian. A stool sample
can be tested for the presence of harmful parasites, such as ascarids (roundworms),
whipworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Your veterinarian will prescribe treatment if
necessary and may recommend heartworm-prevention medication following a negative
blood test to determine the existence of heartworms. Many of the new heartworm preventatives
also prevent some of the most common intestinal parasites.
Flea control may also be discussed when you visit your veterinarian, as there are
new products which may be prescribed to control or prevent flea infestation. Veterinarians
may also prescribe specific diets determined by your dog's needs, and a dental exam
is always recommended to detect periodontal disease, loose or abscessed teeth, receding
gums or other indications which require attention.
Trust Your Veterinarian
Your veterinarian is the best source of information about all animal health matters.
In a medical crisis situation, call your veterinarian immediately if you detect
any of the following symptoms:
- Abnormal breathing
- Active bleeding
- Bone exposure
- Puncture to abdomen, chest or
- Watery or bloody discharge
- Partial or complete paralysis
- Difficulty urinating
- Profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- Poison ingestion
- Bloated or tender abdomen
- Rectal temperature over 103°F or under 99°F
- Dehydration
- Abnormal color
- Disorientation
- Collapse
And remember: never give aspirin or any other medication to your pet without consulting
your veterinarian first.
Grooming
It is important to establish a grooming regimen with your dog. Whether a short-
or long-haired variety, your dog will benefit from frequent brushing, which stimulates
the coat and skin — and your house will be cleaner, since less shedding will occur.
If you elect to clip your dog in the summer, keep in mind that there is a risk of
sunburn if he spends too much time in the sun.
Bathing is only suggested on rare occasions, since frequent baths remove natural
protective oils from the skin. If he is dirty or shows evidence of fleas, a dog
may be bathed in lukewarm water using mild shampoo. When you are done, be sure to
rinse the soap thoroughly and towel your pet dry.
During grooming sessions, look for parasites that cause your pet discomfort. Fleas
are common, but can be controlled by commercial powders, sprays, collars or dips.
Contact your veterinarian for recommended treatment or prevention with long-lasting
topicals or oral products. Ticks may be removed by saturating them with alcohol
and carefully pulling them off with tweezers. Mites are too small to detect, but
symptoms include frantic scratching, biting and chewing. Your veterinarian can help
diagnose mites.
Your pet’s eyes should be cleaned of any discharge with a soft cloth moistened with
water or saline solution. Ear discomfort is indicated by scratching or head shaking.
Infections can settle deep in the ear canal and should be treated by your veterinarian
immediately.
Since dogs depend on their teeth for survival, their mouths should be examined periodically
for signs of gum disease and tartar accumulation. This should be a major part of
the annual veterinary examination, and any problems should be addressed immediately.
Few dogs exercise on hard surfaces to keep their nails filed down, so it is your
job to clip their nails in order to keep your pet comfortable. Neglected nails may
cripple a dog.
Prevention
Accidents can be prevented by thinking ahead and avoiding dangerous situations.
Automobiles are the number-one killer of dogs, so keep yours leashed or fenced in
at all times. Invisible fencing is a popular alternative to traditional fencing
styles.
Keep poisons out of reach. Many household plants are toxic to dogs, including poinsettias,
ferns, philodendrons, dieffenbachia and other varieties. Cleaning solutions such
as detergents, bleaches and oven cleaners may pose hazards as well. Make sure bottle
caps are tight and the rags used to apply these chemicals are stored safely out
of reach. Keep medicines locked up, and never leave candy, especially chocolate,
where dogs may have access to it.
Outdoor poison hazards include windshield cleaners, antifreeze, weed killers, used
motor oil, insecticides and rodenticides used to kill rats and mice. Antifreeze
has a sweet taste, and just a few drops can be fatal to your dog. If any poisoning
occurs, call your veterinarian immediately and provide a sample of the poison with
the labeling to aid in proper treatment. In an emergency, call the ASPCA National
Animal Poison Control Center at 800-548-2423.
Keep sharp objects like knives and forks, carpet tacks and paper clips out of reach.
And don’t forget about your children's toys or other small objects which may become
lodged in a dog's throat. Never leave a dog unattended on a balcony. A precocious
pet may squeeze through the bars and fall, which could fatally injure him.
Avoid extremes in temperature. Never leave a dog in a parked car in hot weather,
even with the windows open, and never leave him outside without water and shade.
Similarly, in frigid temperatures, bring him indoors. And even in mild temperatures,
be sure he always has shelter from wind, rain, and sun.
Old Age
Dogs are considered "old" at around eight or nine years of age, but many live into
their mid-teens with proper care and nutrition. Senior dogs have more needs and
require more attention. Their sight and hearing may diminish, and they will sleep
more and move more slowly. Stairs and steps may become a hardship, so sleeping arrangements
may need to be adjusted.
Senior pets also need to go out more often, as their bladder control is usually
weakened. They still need moderate exercise, frequent grooming and appropriate nutrition.
Since they may have fewer teeth, a soft diet may be necessary. It is especially
important to avoid obesity, since it will affect your pet's quality of life. More
frequent veterinary visits may be required to deal with tumors, arthritis or heart
disease. Some dogs even require daily medications to treat the infirmities of old
age.
Together, you and your veterinarian can have a positive influence on your dog's
happiness and comfort for many years to come. The rewards of dog ownership will
last a lifetime.
