Dog care broadly comprises of nutrition, proper exercise, grooming of the coat, ears and eyes, teeth, paws, and nails, bathing, vet visits and vaccinations, and training. The coat should be properly brushed or trimmed as per the length of hair to make it tangle free or prevent it from matting. It should be handled very carefully as it is a sensitive part of the animal. The dogs’ ears can be a haven for bacteria and yeast if not kept clean. Also, they tend to develop watery eyes mostly on cold mornings. The corner of their eyes thus needs to be cleaned off with a soft, wet cloth to ensure hygiene and it also prevents the dog from being lazy. Plaque easily builds up on the teeth of the pups and turns into tartar, or calculus.
These areas thus grow bacteria and make the teeth and gums hollow. Oral pain, halitosis, periodontal disease, and tooth loss can occur. The bacteria not only cause disease in the mouth but can also affect other parts of the body, like the kidneys and heart. The dog’s teeth should never be brushed with human tooth paste, special enzymatic toothpaste should be used. Real bones must be avoided as far as possible, they not only can lead to gastrointestinal upset, but may also cause fractures in the teeth. Dirt, grime or chemicals can get caught in the paws and can infect the animal, so they should also be properly cleaned as part of their grooming. Dogs will develop a reluctance to nail trimming once they experience pain from it so it should be done with caution. Dogs should be bathed once in a month. A soap-free shampoo should be used that is intended for dogs. Cases of osteoarthritis, a kind of joint disease is common in pet dogs in countries with extremely cold climate. Dogs with little or no hair should have woolens for protection against the cold. They should be kept indoors because dogs can become lame, unwilling to exercise and even turn aggressive due to it.
Veterinary doctors say the debilitating disease can also be caused due to age-related changes, injuries, developmental abnormalities and over-exercise. Adequate food supplements are must for dogs suffering from this disease. Pets should be made to do exercises like swimming which results in regular motion in the joints, and given massages. Puppies, like humans, also need basic immunizations with vaccines, especially during the first six months. On the other hand, Hyperthermia is an outcome of extremely hot climate which leads to inflammation in the body.
Dogs however do not sweat through their skin like humans, their heat is released primarily by panting and they sweat through the nose and the foot pads. If a dog cannot effectively expel heat, the body temperature begins to rise internally and an increased rectal temperature over 106° could entail trouble. Thick saliva or dark red gums should be watched out for particularly when dogs are in hot and humid weather. Their drinking water should be changed often to prevent infections. Training should be given to dogs such that to protect them against developing small dog syndrome and thus avoid behavioral issues as a result of that.
