Northernlights equestrian
More Doggy Bits and Pieces
Diet and Nutrition
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. their dietary needs are dependent on their breed, size,age
and lifestyle, a working dog will have a much higher energy requirement than a family pet.
Two meals a day are easier on the digestive system than one large meal and can
help stop the habit of begging some toy breeds may need to eat more frequently.
commercial foods have an advantage over home-made diets, as the vitamins and energy levels
are easy to see and remain the same. A lot of pets have serious health problems due to
being overweight, this can easily be avoided provided the pets are fed and exercised properly
a good balanced diet is essential in promoting a healthy and long life.
Food is made up of 6 basic parts-water,protein,fat,carbohydrates,vitamins,minerals. All 6 play
a vital role in life but water is the most important and pets should have fresh drinking water available
at all times, getting your pets dietary requirements right from the beginning will add to yours and your dogs
enjoyment.
Caution do not feed your dog chocolate as it containsTheobromine and that could kill your dog or puppy,Chicken skins and onions can cause stomach problems, chicken and turkey bones splinter when chewed and could get stuck in the mouth or throat. stones get lodged in the stomach so best not to throw them for your dog also tiny balls could be swallowed and block the wind pipe be aware!
Internal Parasites
How do i know if my dog has worms?, Roundworms can be passed out in the faeces, or puppies
can vomit them up. A dog infected with tapeworms may have an irritated bottom,also tapeworm segments
maybe seen moving around the tail area they are small and white like grains of sand.
With roundworms,most dogs don't have any symptoms unless heavily infected this causes a poor coat
diarrhoea and vomiting, in very young puppies roundworms can cause fatal blockage of the intestines
There is a particularly important roundworm called toxocara canis that can pose a danger to humans
if the eggs are eaten they can develope internally and migrate through the body, the lava can cause
blindness, roundworm eggs can remain infectious in the ground for many years.
Can I prevent my dog getting worms?
Your vet will advise you about this, but dogs need to be treated for worms all of there lives. In addition
treatment for fleas is also a good idea as the flea is involved in the reproduction (life cycle) of the tapeworm
and dogs can catch tapeworms from eating infected fleas.
Dental care
Checking your dogs teeth at regular intervals is important in preventing dental problems before they become chronic
Feeding an incorrect diet and not brushing teeth can cause a build up of plaque. Plaque is a yellow /brown colour
of bits of food sailva and bacteria that sticks to the teeth if left,plaque can damage teeth as the bacteria in plaque
produces chemicals that destroy gum tissue, the bacteria then invade the gums and even the jaw bone causing the
teeth to fall out. Without healthy teeth and gums food cannot be chewed properly, this can affect the general health of
the dog. There are toys and chews that help keep the teeth clean, if you can brush your pets teeth on a regular basis
this is very helpful but be very careful as a lot of dogs resent having there mouths touched, special toothbrushes
and tooth paste are available for dogs ask at your vets, don't use toothpaste made for humans as its much too frothy,
If your dog is happy having his mouth opened, start by brushing the outside surface of a few teeth and gradually
increase the number that you clean. when your pet is relaxed with this, open the mouth wide and gently pull the top
jaw upwards, and carefully clean the top teeth, after brushing give your dog a favorite treat (not sweets) so he feels
he`s done well, if he does not like the insides of his teeth cleaned just clean the out sides.