There will be times in your dog's life that they will need treatment by a vet and it is your duty as a dog owner to ensure your dog is treated. This can sometimes be expensive but to help cover these costs, insurance companies offer a range of policies with different levels of cover.
There are various aspects of routine care that you need to ensure you provide your dog. Some of these are monthly, every 6 months, annually or one off treatments, find out more below.
Vital Statistics
Below are the average statistics of a healthy dog:
Life span: 10 - 16 years
Temperature: 100.5 to 102.5
Heart Rate: 180 beats/min puppies
60 - 160 beats/min most adult dogs
180 beats/minute toy breeds
Respiration Rate: 10 to 30 breaths/min
Gestation Period: 62 days
Weight: Varies depending on breed
Height: Varies depending on breed
Worming
Your dog will need to be wormed every 6 months. A variety of canine wormers are available and these can easily be administered in a small piece of your dog's regular food. Ensure you read the instructions on the label before you administer to you dog.
Vaccinations
Your puppy will need to be vaccinated when it has reached 6 weeks old and then one per year thereafter. This vaccination protects your dog against 5 very common and potentially deadly diseases; canine distemper, canine hepatitis virus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvo virus. In some countries you may also need to have your dog vaccinated against rabies.
Fleas & Ticks
You need to check your dog regularly for fleas and ticks. Fleas can be easily passed from dog to dog and ticks can be picked up when you are out and about on a walk. A range of flea and tick sprays, powders, drops and collars are available that are easy to apply and effective in getting rid of fleas and ticks. Ensure you read the instructions on the label before you administer to you dog.
Spay or Neuter
If you do not intend to use your dog for breeding purposes you may wish to have them spayed or neutered. Spaying a bitch will mean they do not come into season therefore you will not have the mess associated with this or any boisterous, noisy male suitors. Neutering a dog should calm them down and prevent them from pursuing bitches in season. Spaying or neutering may also reduce the risk of certain health problems in the future.
A licensed veterinarian will perform the surgery under anesthesia and they will be able to fully explain the procedure to you. If you are thinking of spaying or neutering a pet, getting it done at an early age is safe and effective so have a chat with your vet at your puppy's first visit.
Microchipping
You may consider having your pet chipped. This involves a microchip being inserted under the skin on the back of your dog's neck. This procedure is carried out by a vet and is quick and relatively painless.
If your dog goes missing and is handed in to a police station they can scan the chip using a special scanner and it displays your name and address so you can be contacted to come and collect your pet.
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