Pet Care Tips, Advice and Information

No. A dog that eats only meat may get sick and not live a full life. Researchers have found that all-meat dog diets can cause serious calcium shortages and other nutritional problems, as meat is inadequate in calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, copper, iodine and vitamins A, D and E. an exclusively meat diet also contains excessive protein.
If you closely watch a wolf eating a rabbit, you would see that he first devours the entrails which are filled with digested vegetation. The so-called meat-eaters in the forests seek prey that eats vegetation in order to get a balanced diet themselves.

Sweet things are highly palatable for dogs as explained in ‘Feeding your Dog’. However table sugar is one of the disaccharides which are not digested by endogenous enzymes produced in the body of the dog but by the inadequate enzymes available from the epithelial cells of intestines. This results in bacterial overgrowth and sometimes, diarrhea. Further, sugar may cause obesity and dental caries. It is interesting to know that chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Dogs clear theobromine more slowly than human beings. Thus sugar should be avoided for dogs as far as possible.

Salt or sodium chloride is one of several minerals which constitute only a very small fraction of a dog’s body weight. Collectively, all minerals make up less than 0.7 per cent of the body. Thus the requirement of sodium is very little and can be obtained from the diet, especially in several vegetables. Any indiscriminate supplement is likely to be more harmful than beneficial. There is practically no loss of water along with this mineral through the skin, as perspiration is minimal in dogs, even in the hot summer months. Hence any excessive intake can cause skin problems, thirst, constipation and some other complications. Chronic intake of salt may include hypertension, resulting in heart and renal diseases. Hence it is desirable to avoid supplementation of salt in the food. Even if the body needs sodium, it does not need sodium chloride with such an alarming ratio of sodium.

People often cut the hair of their dogs during summer when it is very hot. This is wrong and undesirable. Actually Mother Nature provided hair to protect the dogs from intense heat, cold, biting insects like mosquitoes and flies. In preparation for the heat of summer, there is automatic shedding of the undercoat which conserves body heat. The outer coat left prevents the animal from the sun’s hot rays. Thus by clipping the dog’s hair in summer, instead of helping him, you will make him more uncomfortable.
Clipping the hair on account of a troublesome skin disease relating to some ectoparasites is quite a different matter.

A dog’s feet should be examined daily for the presence of thorns or sometimes small pieces of grit. This applies especially to hairy breeds like spaniels. Thorns, grit and hard-packed mud under the pads may contribute towards inter digital cysts, cuts, wounds or boils on the feet which would need veterinary attention. Thorns between the pads, which may be indicated by limping, should be removed. It is desirable to keep the hair between the toes trimmed short. Further, if the dog goes into muddy water, the feet should be washed and dried with a towel.
Normal exercise, especially on hard ground, will wear down the toe nails to a comfortable length, as happens with the wild animals in the course of their daily activities. If pet dogs are sufficiently exercised daily on hard ground, instead of spending most of their time indoors and that too, often on carpets, their nails will wear out comfortably too. Grass lawns do not help to shorten nails. It is important to know that there is fleshy area inside the nail, which contains nerves and blood supply; this is called the quick. For dogs living mostly indoors, regular trimming of nails is required. The job may need the help of your veterinarian. The fleshy area inside the nail is very sensitive and may cause bleeding if proper care is not taken to cut the nail a little at a time, especially when we cannot see the line of the quick in the case of dogs with dark-colored nails.
Generally, on the inside of the front legs and, sometimes, on the hind legs, just above the feet, there is an extra claw on each side called a dew-claw. Special attention is required to attend to these claws as they continue to grow because they do not touch the ground. If not attended to while growing, these curl around to pierce the flesh and cause infection. Such a condition needs the immediate help of the veterinarian.

This is incorrect. Plaque is a soft film combination of food debris, bacteria with their by-products and salivary enzyme secretions that are deposited on the surface of dental enamel. If plaque is not removed, it becomes mineralised and forms calculus which causes various dental diseases and leads to bad smell from the dog’s mouth. Dental calculus is seen most often in small-breed dogs. Preventive dental care is the best medicine to avoid cleaning of teeth by a machine, which requires general anesthesia. Home care is very important in preventing and minimizing calculus build-up. A dog’s teeth can be cleaned with a small child-size toothbrush, and using baking soda with water as toothpaste. If the animal does not tolerate a toothbrush, simply rubbing the tooth surfaces with a soft cloth dipped in the paste will help to remove the plaque build-up. This should be done at least once a week. In addition to this, professional teeth cleaning once or twice a year would be ideal to maintain a good oral health program.

In general a dog should be bathed as little as possible. The natural oil of a dog’s coat and skin is lost during bathing. The fat and fur account for the coat’s excellent protective quality against cold and rain.
Excessive baths may also lead to a dry skin and poor sheen of the coat. As a rule, a bath should not be given more than once a month, unless it is for specific purposes, such as treatment of skin parasites, and the like. Puppies should not be bathed until they are at least 12 weeks old, and have had their first immunization.
Special precautions:
1. Choose a clear sunny windless day for a bath as far as possible.
2. Medicated or other special shampoos are not needed for healthy dogs. Use either a mild soap or a baby shampoo or a reliable dog shampoo. Baby shampoos are mild and do not irritate the skin but are somewhat expensive. Use reasonably warm water for a bath. Rinse off the shampoo or soap effectively from the coat.
3. Thorough drying of the dog after a bath is important. Use a towel and avoid draughts, especially when the dog is drying off.
4. Bathe your dog only when he is dirty and not because it is Sunday.
5. Try to avoid soap suds going near his eyes and take care to keep water out of his ears.
6. Bitches should be given a bath after their heat period.

The normal temperature of a dog is about 38.3 deg.C or 101 deg.F. The temperature may rise slightly after exercise, but in a listless dog, even a slight rise probably indicates the onset of illness. A depressed temperature is normally found in a bitch before whelping, but it can also occur as a result of shock or collapse. When this happens, it is a very serious indication of ill health.
A dog’s temperature is taken by inserting a thermometer into his rectum. A thermometer with a short, stubby bulb should be used as thermometers with long, thin bulbs designed for use in human mouths are more liable to break than stubby-bulb thermometers. Shake the thermometer until the silver column of mercury reads less than 37 deg.C or 98.5 deg.F. Lubricate the bulb with a little Vaseline. Lift the dog’s tail and insert the thermometer into the anus gently, pushing in about one-third of the thermometer’s length. Keep the thermometer in for about 1/2 to 1 minute as per the directions on the thermometer. Remove and wipe the thermometer with cotton wool and read to the top of the mercury column. Never clean a thermometer with warm water. It may shatter. If the thermometer breaks accidentally while in the dog’s rectum, do not try to pull it out. The animal will usually pass it in his next motion.

1. Large breeds live longer than small breeds of dogs.
Every species of animals has its own life span and it is difficult to deduce any direct logical or medical rationale for the same. However research has revealed that giant dog breeds suffer from more musculoskeletal diseases related to weight-bearing factors, cardiovascular diseases and tumors. In general all dogs reach their maximum longevity if good care is taken of health, along with proper diet and exercise.
In small dogs, the metabolic rate appears to be an important factor responsible for greater longevity.
The average life span for dogs is 12 years. Most live from 8 to 15 years of age; authentic records showing dogs living over 20 years of age are rare. The longest reliable age recorded for a dog is that of an Australian cattle dog in Australia, who lived up to 29 years of age.
2. Dogs can distinguish different colors like human beings.
No. dogs are unable to distinguish colors. They are color-blind. All colors to them are varying shades of grey – ranging from black to white.
3. Dogs do not dream like human beings.
Actually dogs do dream. Sometimes we hear growls, whines and muffled barks when they are sleeping. We also notice tail-wagging or the legs making running movements. This has also been noted by recording brainwave activity during quiet sleep and while dreaming.
4. There is no particular way to lift puppies.
During the first few weeks the mother carries her pups by the scruff of the neck with her mouth. Picking up the pup with one hand is awkward and hurts the pup. Similarly, the pup should never be lifted up by its front legs or be picked up under the arms like a baby. Using its tail as a handle can injure him. The best way to pick up a pup is to use both hands. Place one hand between the fore legs to support the chest and the other hand under the belly to support the hind parts. Very young children should avoid picking up a pup. Puppies of smaller breeds suffer the greatest damage when handled or lifted by small children.
5. When dogs eat their own stools, there is no cause for worry.
This vice is often noticed and is called coprophagia. Sometimes a dog, especially a puppy, may be terribly hungry and may eat whatever comes his way. Inactivity and boredom could also be a cause; this clearly shows that the dog requires more exercise.
Deficiency of digestive enzymes, minerals or trace elements could also lead to this bad habit. Whatever the cause, this repulsive habit has to be corrected as it could lead to worm infestation if the stools of another dog are eaten. When the dog or puppy is caught in the act, an immediate, emphatic NO and a jerk of the leash will stop the animal from doing this. The diet should be checked to see if it is balanced or needs improvement. A stool examination is also desirable to exclude the possibility of worms. Giving papain enzyme or a little cooked raw papaya in food can be helpful. Taking the veterinarian’s opinion may be essential.
Another suggestion is to pour a little kerosene oil on the dog’s stool while he is defecating, and then allow him to turn around in an attempt to eat the stools. A few trials should stop his bad habit.

1. When dog eat grass, it is a sign of illness.
Many dogs eat a small amount of wild grass. This is harmless as long as the grass is not sprayed with pesticides. Some experts say that the dog eats grass when his stomach is upset and he feels uncomfortable. The grass causes him to vomit and feel relieved. Another view is that dogs eat grass for its fiber content. Some dogs may simply like the taste of grass. Research has also shown that eating of grass as a habit that originates from the wild dog that gorged her prey and then vomited in order to feed her pups. Eating a lot of grass may also be an indicator of an imbalanced diet.
However, it is not usually a sign of illness, as many dogs may eat small amounts of grass.
2. Every one year of a dog’s age is equal to seven years of human life.
This belief has changed. Earlier it was estimated that every one year of a dog’s age was equivalent to seven years of a human being. This is not, however, accepted now. The latest research has given the equivalent ages of dog and man as follows:
Dog’s Age                                Man’s Age
6 months                                             10 years
8 months                                             13 years
12 months                                           15 years
2 years                                                 24 years
4 years                                                 32 years
6 years                                                 40 years
8 years                                                 48 years
10 years                                               56 years
12 years                                               64 years
14 years                                               72 years
16 years                                               80 years
18 years                                               88 years
In other words, dogs at 1 year of age are at the same physiological stage of life as a 15-year-old person; at 2 years as a 24-year-old person, and each successive year of the animal is equivalent to 4 years of human beings.
All breeds of dogs do not grow at the same pace. In fact old age is different for each breed and each individual dog. In general large breeds have a shorter span of life as compared to smaller breeds. For example, a St Bernard may begin to start growing old at 6 years, while a smaller breed may not show signs of ageing until he is about 10 years of age.
3. Pure breeds are more likely to get fat.
This is not always correct. However some breeds like Labrador retrieves, cocker spaniels, dachshunds, basset hounds and beagles have a great tendency towards obesity. German shepherds, greyhounds and Dobermans are least likely to become obese. It has been seen that obesity increases with age, and it is more common in females than males. Obesity is more prevalent in dogs belonging to owners who are overweight themselves or elderly. Such persons are likely to exercise less, and as a result, their pets also get less scope to exercise.
4. A pet dog welcomes the entry of a new pup into the house.
This is not true. The best way to introduce the new pup so that the older dog does not fight or feel jealous is to let both of them meet outside the house in a place where neither has been before. This way the older dog will not feel that his home territory is being violated. An ideal place for such a meeting is a park. After a short introductory meeting, return home with the older dog. Ask a friend to bring the pup to the house after a short interval. The older dog may growl but continue to give him the maximum attention and present him with a treat or two. Growling a little to assert his dominance is normal for the older dog. He will, however, soon become friendly with the pup.
5. Dogs scratch the ground with their hind feet after evacuation to cover up their faeces.
No. this is not done to cover up what they have done. They do this to mark the earth by scraping with their hind and forelegs. It has been noticed that the dog often scrapes the earth when another dog is approaching.