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Many people have good intentions when it comes to taking care of their dogs but there are certainly some common dog care mistakes that pop up time after time! While many of these can be simply attributed to a lack of information, others are just silly and easy to avoid. If you’re not sure whether your dog is being cared for properly or not, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does my dog look healthy?
- Is my dog’s coat clean and shiny?
- Are they energetic?
- Do they greet me with a wagging tail first thing in the morning?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, chances are your dog is being taken proper care of. But if you answered “no” to any of these questions, read on to find out why and what you can do about it!
1. Not Brushing your dog’s teeth
If you don’t clean your teeth for more than 3 days, chances are you’re going to get a mouth full of cavities and bacteria which is exactly the same goes for your dog only difference is that they can’t tell you!
Dogs often swallow all their saliva when they sleep so that means whatever food debris that hasn’t been removed from their teeth during the day will turn into plaque by nighttime (gross!) When this happens over time, tooth decay sets in which can eventually lead to tooth loss or infection.
Taking care of your dog’s teeth by brushing them not only reduces the risk of tooth decay and loss but also improves their breath!
2. Not Spaying or Neutering your dog
This is another one of the “dog care mistakes” that can easily be avoided by just taking one look at your dog’s bottom! There are so many benefits to spaying or neutering that it would take forever to list them all here but some of the biggest ones include:
– Reduction in negative behavior such as roaming and aggression
– Preventing unwanted pregnancies and population control
– Prevents cancer (especially for females)
There are other reasons why un-neutered male dogs should never be left alone with another female dog as it may lead to an unplanned litter of puppies.
3. Not Vaccinating your dog
Dogs are just like little kids, they tend to put everything in their mouth which means that whatever bacteria or parasites they come into contact with will be absorbed into their bodies.
If you don’t vaccinate your dogs against common diseases such as Distemper and Rabies, there’s a chance it can spread to them and could potentially kill them so please don’t neglect this!
4. Feeding table food
You should never feed your dog table scraps unless it is specifically intended for dogs (and it must be approved by the vet). That means no bones, stews, grilled meat, or anything sticky either!
Remember that a dog’s digestive system is very different from a human’s and what may seem perfectly fine for you could make them very sick. Even though it might be difficult, try to feed your dog the same thing every day to avoid causing an upset stomach or poisoning.
5. Picking the wrong food
There are so many dog food brands made in the USA right now that it can be easy to get lost especially if you’re new to this. While top-ranking dog foods have all been approved by vets, some others have not so always read up on any product before purchasing!
Always buy something that assures quality ingredients and don’t forget to check for a seal of approval from a qualified veterinarian too!
When picking the best dog food for your pup, there are things you should always avoid such as:
- – Any food with corn or soybean meal
- – their high glycemic index can cause diabetes in dogs.
- – Animal byproducts are the “parts deemed not suitable for human consumption” which include intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and feathers.
- – Artificial coloring, flavorings, and preservatives. Dogs don’t need any of that nonsense so just stay away!
6. Not giving your dog enough exercise
Just like people, dogs can get bored with the same old routine which is why they will often find entertainment in doing something they shouldn’t! If a dog is cooped up inside all day without being let out to play or run around a little, there’s a good chance that they’ll damage your furniture by chewing on it.
Dogs need their daily dose of physical and mental stimulation just as much as we do so make sure you’re providing them with it!
7. Not getting your dog microchipped
These days losing your phone (with your address) is more common than losing your keys (with no way to contact you!) While some dogs do have tags attached to them, more often than not they’ll end up lost and that’s where a microchip comes in.
A lot of people say that it can be removed but if you get one with biocompatible materials, there’s less risk of your dog being able to tear it out! Get one inserted as soon as possible so you can rest easy knowing someone will always have a way of contacting you even if the worst happens.
8. Giving your dog too much food
While this might seem like a good idea at the time, overfeeding your dog is never a good thing. Most dog owners will give their pup something before they leave for work and then again when they get home just because it’s “cute” but more often than not, that can lead to obesity which affects one in five dogs these days!
Since there are no specific guidelines of how much food you should feed them each day so always check with your vet before making drastic changes to their diet.
9. Letting your dog walk without a leash
It happens more often than you think: people let their dogs run around in the park or neighborhood without a leash and when they do, it’s probably because they don’t want to “spoil them” by putting one on.
Unfortunately for them, there are still laws out there that require dogs to be leashed anytime they’re taken off of private property so please be careful!
10. Not removing dangerous objects
There are so many hazards out there for dogs that you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget something. Sharp or dangerous objects should always be kept away from puppies but once they get older, try to avoid having anything lying around that could harm them!
Even though your pup might look cute carrying a beer bottle in their mouth, the truth is that no dog should drink alcohol especially if it’s human grade. Not only will drinking too much cause liver disease but there’s also the possibility of intoxication which can make them act strange or aggressive!
And while it may seem like all fun and games when your dog brings back your slippers (or shoes!) they’re not toys so please put them out of reach. If your dog ingests any part of a shoe, it can cause choking or blockages which will not end well for them.
Every year, millions of dogs are put down simply because their owners weren’t aware of the “hidden” dangers that exist in our homes and communities. While it’s easy to be a responsible owner these days by just doing a quick Google search to find out how to prevent common dog care mistakes and consequent accidents from happening, please always keep this list handy so you’ll know exactly what to do if something bad happens!
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It’s been my dream to open a dog shelter. So thanks for this helpful information on how to better care for them such as being careful not to overfeed them. I think having a good feed dealer that supplies you with healthy good food is also a good thing to consider.