Apart from the risk of public health and infectious diseases, you want your dog to perform his functions duly which requires him to be in good health. Whether it’s a security dog, a hunting dog or just a pet, caring for them is basically the same. It isn’t something you’re completely oblivious about; you can take very good care of a dog the very first time you own one. Think of it as caring for a child, humans are wired to do it perfectly. Physical and emotional needs which ranges from nutrition to shelter and maybe clothing in some cases however, caring for a dog is no small responsibility.
What should you do?
As you bring up your dog, every other daily activities running smoothly, his/her health has to be considered specially, this means you cannot leave him to get infected then treat; your aim is to get him/her as far away from getting ill as possible. For example, you don’t just get him/her a place to stay, you ensure that the place is clean and doesn’t put him at risk of obvious diseases. His/her water bowl should not just be filled with water but clean water, his/her diet should be regular and of good quality, you should exercise his/her regularly and most importantly get him/her immunized and vaccinated against common dog infections.
Watch for gum disease
All those are basic stuff, they are more or less instinctive care behavior for us towards our pets but then there are more specific pet needs. For the dog owner who doesn’t know much, he/she may not be aware that dogs are prone to developing gum disease and ignore dental care, which can result in dogs losing their teeth prematurely and even progress to other organs in their bodies. Hence, your dog should be registered with a veterinary doctor for regular checkups. Dogs get sick too, infact many of the chronic illness humans have affect dogs too. Dogs can develop arthritis, bladder stones (urinary obstruction), cancer, deafness, depression, enteritis, ear and eye infection, allergies, liver disease, paralysis, obesity, diabetes and can be infected by parasites and viruses. The point is, as much as you take care of your health, you should watch out for your dog’s; be on the watch for ticks, don’t be careless about rodenticides as they can be fatal to dogs, fungal infections can be deadly, as in those tiny harmless looking mushrooms can be fatal to you and your dog.
…and allergies of course
Watch out for allergies. Many dogs present as allergic to certain foods and chemical, 10 percent of allergies seen in dogs are unfortunately food induced. When you notice your dog seriously uncomfortable, itching, scratching and shaking like it’s going mad, then suspect an allergy to whatever was recently introduced to him or his environment. Allergies can result in gastrointestinal disorders as well as ear inflammation and diarrhea in dogs, it is a genetic problem and cannot be corrected, the allergen or trigger just has to be avoided. Allergies are quite complex to deal with, its better you take to your vets about weird reactions of your dog to food and other things.
