Two Basic Dog Training Regimens You Can Do At Home

Training any breed of dog could be initially intimidating.  The bond between a human and a pet is quite beautiful and when you get to teach your pet dog obedience, it becomes a great bonding activity and lets you get to know your pet’s personality too.  The activity also gives your pet some time to familiarize himself with you becoming his human companion.

Leash Training

One essential obedience ability that every dog needs to know while young is leash training.  Teaching your puppy to not pull on his leash or not go running off when offered some slack is very important.  This is for your pet’s well-being and safety.  Leash training shows your new pet that you are his boss and how to properly act when he walks with you.

Crate Training

A lot of dog owners have busy lives.  Their lives might not always allow them to house train their new pet.  Crate training is an important part of the entire house training process.  This becomes useful if you get stuck working all day, leaving no one to allow your pet outdoors if he needs to do his business.

So in place of that, your pet becomes familiar with utilizing his crate as a temporary bathroom if needed.  He will understand that he can only do his business outdoors or inside his crate.  A lot of pet dogs can be initially crate trained so that you can progress further as you potty train them.

If you have concerns about your pet’s behavior, contact your veterinary hospital Oconomowoc, WI.

The Appropriate Amount of Food To Feed Your Dog

The food consumption of an adult dog should be relatively dependent on his size and his physical activities. If your pet dog has a normal level of activity, then a maintenance diet is good enough for his daily needs. An indoor dog or dog with lesser activities may only require 10% of maintenance energy while active ones who regularly exercise outdoors should be given maintenance plus 20% to 40%. The more active your dog is the higher his maintenance energy needs.

As you learn more about your dog’s ideal amount of maintenance, you should adjust his portions. You may consult with your veterinarian to learn more and determine what best scheduling of feeding and the type of food to give.

Another factor to consider is the temperature. Keeping his body warm and cool needs extra energy to burn. The extreme cold or warm weather may increase his energy needs. 

If you have concerns about your pet’s diet, talk to your licensed vet Oconomowoc, WI about them. 

Limping In Dogs

Limping is one of the common reasons dogs are brought to the vet for a checkup. There are various reasons for limping in dogs. The severity depends to a large extent on the underlying cause-- some will require immediate medical attention while there are those which can be treated with rest, homeopathic treatment, physical therapy, and proper home care. 

Dogs limp when they favor an affected limb or foot by not putting weight on it. They may also be reluctant to engage in activities that they always loved doing, such as a romp around the yard, a game of fetch, or even just greeting you enthusiastically when you walk in the front door from work. They may also be hesitant to climb even a few steps and cry out in pain when the affected limb is touched or handled. 

Since there is a possibility of a serious underlying issue that is causing your dog to limp, you should take your pet to your veterinarian Oconomowoc WI the soonest as possible time.

Offering your cat a place to scratch

 

Your cat loves being able to scratch whenever she feels the need to and you are looking for the ideal ways to allow her to do so. What should you offer her to help her meet her needs?

 

Your little fur ball needs you to give her a way to scratch in your home without ruining your belongings. This means that you will be taking the time to think about what she needs to safely file her claws down and opting for a commercially made option will allow you to seek out a place for her to scratch in a safe way. Your pet will need you to look at what’s on the market so you can choose the ideal size, material, and shape to appeal to her. Your local veterinary clinic Oconomowoc WI can help you better understand what your pet needs from you.

What Natural Remedies Can I Give My Dog For Arthritis?

Arthritis is a common age-related condition in dogs. Affected pets suffer from pain and discomfort brought about by inflamed joints. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis, however, there are things that you can do alleviate symptoms, delay the progress and degradation of the tissues of the joint cavity. Many experts now believe the preserving joint health and integrity should start while pets are still young by giving joint supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin. These supplements are available in the pharmacy, pet stores, online, grocery, etc. but you should always consult your veterinarian Oconomowoc, WI before starting your dog on any type of supplement or medication. Take note that there are some risks associated with supplements such as when they can interact negatively with other medications that your pet is currently taking. Also, not all supplements are created equal. You should be sure of the source and the quality. Some dogs may also be suffering from underlying health issues that can increase their risks to developing side effects from certain supplements.

Heartworm Testing In Dogs

Experts recommend heartworm testing for dogs during late spring or early summer. It is during this time of the year when mosquitoes are very active and are able to transmit the organism that causes heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis. There are 3 developmental stages in the lifecycle of heartworms - adults, microfilariae, and larvae. The adults live in the pulmonary artery and the heart while the microfilariae are present in the peripheral blood. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, they can pick up the microfilariae which eventually mature to stage 3 larvae inside the body of the mosquito. This maturation usually takes about 3 weeks during warmer weather. When the infected mosquito feeds on a susceptible dog, it injects the stage 3 larvae. Inside the body of the dog, it will take 6-7 months for the stage 3 larvae to mature into adult worms. Before a dog is placed on heartworm preventatives, they should undergo testing for heartworm. Ask your veterinarians Oconomowoc, WI about the best way to protect your pet against heartworm disease.