Dogs and Water

Water makes up close to 80% of the dog’s body. It is necessary for almost all vital functions, regulates temperature, and filters waste from the body. If your dog loses even one tenth of the water in his body, he is in serious trouble.

Clean Bowl
Bacteria is microscopic, so you do not see it when it begins to develop. This means you need to wash your dog’s bowl before it looks like it needs to be washed. Bacteria can make your dog sick, and it can also make the water’s taste unappealing. If your dog does not like the taste of the water, he might not drink, and can become dehydrated.

Alone Time
Make sure dogs who are left alone have ample water to last while you’re gone. If the water bowl is empty when you get home, you should probably be providing more water. Also, lots of dogs have a tendency to knock over their water bowl. If this occurs, they are left the rest of the time you are gone without water. Especially heavy bowls, or very wide bowls with a low center of gravity are good for dogs who like to tip their bowls over. You can also leave more than one bowl out, just to make sure. Remember, one can never provide too much water for a dog.

Type of Bowl
Many vets suggest that stainless steel bowls are best. Ceramic and stoneware bowls can develop tiny cracks and chips which can harbor bacteria. Plastic bowls can develop scratches and divots which make nice homes for bacteria as well. This is not to say that you cannot have a plastic or stoneware bowl, but they must be used with accompanying vigilance.

Chained Dog
Dog chaining is not suggested and is illegal in many places. However, if you insist on chaining your dog, be sure that his water is located very close to the chain’s anchor. If the dog wraps his chain around the pole or tree to which he is attached, he may not be able to reach his water. Furthermore, bear in mind that dogs can wrap their chain around other objects, and even their own legs, or they can overturn their water with their chain, so it is difficult to predict the best spot to place their water bowl. The best way to make sure a chained dog is receiving sufficient water is to check them regularly, and never leave them chained for long periods of time. Read more about Dogs and Chaining.

Potty Mouth
Make it a habit to keep the lid on the toilet down, or to keep the bathroom door closed. Bacteria builds up in the toilet bowl and it can make your dog sick. Also, toilet cleaning products can make your dog extremely ill.

Beach Bums
Never let your dog drink water at the beach. Saltwater and brackish water will dehydrate your dog. Even freshwater rivers and lakes contain tons of microorganisms that can wreak havoc on your dog’s digestive system.

Exercise
The more exercise you dog gets, the more water he needs. When you go for hikes, long walks, or even just play sessions at the park, make sure you bring a portable dog bowl and a bottle full of clean water.

Dog Allergies

Dogs may suffer from various kinds of allergies. The food allergies are difficult to determine, as dogs are usually allergic to only one ingredient and not to the whole diet. So, isolating that particular ingredient becomes a long puzzle. Traditionally, it is said that a diet that a dog never eaten before, should be given to him as they will not cause the allergic reaction. People used to give lamb and rice to dog at first but since they are now part of most of the other dog foods, one can try rich-protein diet such as ostrich meat, alligator meat, duck, venison and rabbit along with rich-carbohydrate diet such as potato, peas and rice. Food ingredients such as beef, chicken, milk and wheat can be added back into the diet one at a time to see the reaction of the dog. If food allergies reoccur then, the ingredient added last is taken to be the culprit.

To avoid these allergies, try the following:

• Hyposensitization - Injecting minute amounts of allergen to the dog so that a tolerance to the substance develops. It should be tried on young dogs only, as they respond better to it.
  
• Rinse the ears of your pooch with white vinegar mixed 1:1 with water, once or twice a week, to reduce infections.
  
• In case of inflammation in ear, use Synotic (Rx) or another corticosteroidotic preparation to control secondary infections. Oral corticosteroids have more systemic side effects.
  
• Antihistamines help to reduce ear infections too.

The best allergy test is intradermal skin testing, which can be done by a veterinary dermatologist or an experienced general practitioner too. It has an accuracy rate of about 70 to 80%. Another testing method that can be used for inhalant allergies is blood testing, which an accuracy rate of about 60 to 70%.

How To Care For Dogs

Dogs and humans have been best friends for long. While dogs give unconditional love, loyalty and friendship to their owners, the owners are, in turn, responsible for their proper care, food and water, shelter, safety, regular veterinary care and exercise. In fact, if you do not undertake proper care of your dog, it is not only likely to suffer from physical problems, but behavioral problems as well. In this context, there are some dog-care basics that you need to follow. In order to help you out in the task, we have listed a number of dog caring tips, in the lines below.

How To Care For Dogs

• Collar your dog and attach an ID to it, with the dog's name, your name, address, and telephone number written on it. The ID will prove to be a great help if, and when, your dog ends up getting lost. Through the information provided on the ID, someone will able to bring your pet safely back to your home.
  
• Bathing your dog at regular intervals is necessary. However, giving it a bath on an exceedingly frequent basis can dry out its skin and coat and result in skin infections. The best bet would be to bathe your dog once in a month. In case it gets too dirty in-between, rub it with a damp towel or wash just the paws.
  
  
  
• While bathing the dog frequently is not advisable, you should definitely groom it on a daily basis. Move a brush or comb through the hair of your dog, ensuring that its coat remains smooth and free of tangles. Grooming of a dog can be started when it is 3-4 months old and continues throughout its life.
  
  
  
• It is necessary to undertake a proper physical examination of your dog on a monthly basis. Check the pad of its feet for any injuries and also undertake an oral examination of its mouth. At the same time, make sure to keep its ears as well as teeth clean. You need to take your dog for regular veterinarian check-ups as well, say every 2-3 months.
  
  
  
• One of the main points that you need to keep in mind, while taking care of your dog, comprises of its diet. Remember, a nutritionally balanced diet, with constant access to fresh water, is as good for your dog as it is for you. Before deciding on the proper diet for your dog, it is advisable to consult a veterinary doctor.
  
  
  
• If you want your dog to remain fit and healthy, then you need to make sure that it gets a lot of exercise. Keeping its busy physically will also help keep behavioral problems at bay. You can take him for walk twice a day or play with him. In this context, remember that the level of exercise that your dog should get depends upon its breed and age.
  
  
  
• While some people prefer to keep their dog free throughout the day, others prefer to keep it tied for majority of the time. It is advisable not to keep your dog constantly tied up, as this will lead to boredom and result in bad temper of the dog as well. As much as possible, keep your dog free of the leash.
  
  
  
• If you do not want to breed your dog, get it neutered, after consulting a veterinary doctor. It will help the dog live longer, be healthier and have fewer behavior problems. You should also get your dogs vaccinated against rabies and other diseases. It is necessary to ensure the health of your dog as well as those who come in contact with it.
  
  
  
• You need to provide proper shelter for your dog, mainly in the form of a dog house (and fence yard, in case of large and active dogs). However, most of the dogs crave companionship and do not like to be alone for long periods. So, try to spend as much time with your dog as possible and make it go into the dog house at night only.