Info for dog owners

The price of veterinary treatments for dogs has risen considerably in recent years.

This is partly due to the many technological advances in the veterinary field. Though this new technology raises the cost of treatments, it also improves the quality of treatment your dog gets.

Advantages of pet insurance

One of the major advantages of taking out a pet insurance policy is that in most instances the cost of getting your dog the best treatment in the event of an accident or illness.

Pet insurance will give you peace of mind that if something does happen to your dog that you will have funds available for its treatment and recovery.

Daily care for your dogs

Caring for your dog involves a number of things that range from providing a home to budgeting for your dog's needs.

Owning a dog means accepting responsibility for your dog and caring for it to the best of your ability.

You will need to budget for food, toys, veterinary costs and any other costs you might incur. Your dog needs exercise and stimulation to keep its body and mind healthy.

This will provide you with a great opportunity to bond with your dog and you could even get a workout too!

Dogs need regular grooming which can be divided into four areas:

Bathing

Your dog will need to be bathed and this helps preserve its shiny coat but take care when selecting shampoos as the wrong products could result in a rash or even in permanent skin problems. You should give your dog a bath at least once a month.

Brushing

Brushing your dog regularly will help preserve its coat by removing dead hair and spreading its natural oil (sebum) giving its coat a lovely shine.

Daily brushing is ideal, but make sure that you at least stick to the minimum of once a week.

Coat trimming

Not all breeds of dogs will require trimming, but in general your dog's coat should be trimmed every 4 - 6 week.

Nail care

The easiest way to trim your dog's nails is to exercise it until you can't hear its nails tapping on the ground.

If the nails become too long, the 'quick', this is the fleshy tissue on the inside of the nail, will grow out to help nourish the longer nail.

It is recommended that you get your vet to trim your dog's nails when need be, but with enough exercise a trip to the vet won't be necessary.

What food not to feed to dogs

As dogs' digestive systems are different to ours, you need to be aware of what your dog can and can't eat.

Some things will only cause an upset stomach, but others can have severe effects that could jeopardise your dog's life.

What foods to keep away from your dog:

• Alcohol - can cause intoxication, coma or even death.
• Bones from fish, poultry or other meat sources - can cause an obstruction or even perforation of the digestive tract.
• Cat food - too high in proteins and fats.
• Anything containing caffeine - affects dogs' hearts and nervous systems.
• Fat trimmings - can cause pancreatitis.
• Milk and dairy products - many dogs do not have enough of the enzymes that break down the lactose in diary products.
• Mushrooms - which can contain toxins for dogs.
• Garlic and onions (in any form) - contain sulfoxides and disulfides that can damage your dogs red blood cells and cause anaemia.
• Table scraps in large amounts - simply because they are not nutritionally balanced and should never make up more than 10% of your dog's diet.

Dental advice for your dog

Dogs are vulnerable to a variety of dental illnesses, but they can't tell us what is wrong, that is why dog owners should know some of the symptoms to look out for.

Dogs, like their owners, also get cavities in their teeth. You should clean their teeth twice a week and feeding it dry dog food and bones will also help keep its teeth healthier.

Bad breath is a symptom of plaque build up in your dog's mouth. This can cause periodontal disease, if untreated it can spread into the bloodstream and then to your dog's kidney, liver, heart and even their brain.

Treatment

Brush your dog's teeth regularly following the steps:

• Position yourself and your dog, so that you can access the dog's teeth easily while ensuring your dog is comfortable.
• Lift your dog's upper lips and begin to brush in a circular motion, like you would brush your own teeth.
• Be sure to brush where the tooth meets the gum-line.
• Don't forget to get the very back teeth, since this is where your dog is most likely to develop problems.
• When you are finished the top, move on to the bottom.

Only use dog toothpaste bought from a pet shop. NEVER USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE! There are a variety of flavours available so try to find one that your dog likes and brushing its teeth could be a lot easier.

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