Caring for Canines

Proper care for your dog involves attention to their feeding, health, and housing needs. Each aspect plays a crucial role in ensuring your furry friend lives a long, healthy, and happy life.

Feeding

Provide good quality food based on your dog’s age, size, and the feeding instructions on the bag of feed. Age also influences the number of times a day you should feed your dog.

Dogs enjoy routine as much as their humans do. Being fed on a regular schedule with the appropriate amount of food may help promote healthy behaviors at mealtimes. Always provide fresh, clean water 24/7.

Puppies: ≥ 4 Months

Three feedings a day are usually adequate for young puppies. Puppies have a higher metabolic rate than adults, and feeding small, frequent meals throughout the day prevents life-threatening fluctuations in their blood glucose levels.

Puppies: ≤ 4 Months

At around four to six months old, try cutting back to two meals per day.

Dogs: : ≤ 1 Year

Dogs should be fed at least once a day, but twice a day is ideal. Most dogs can be fed only once a day when they reach adulthood (one year).

Health

Establishing routine healthcare from an early age can prevent diseases, prolong your dog’s life, and improve its quality of life.

Veterinarian Services

It’s crucial to have a veterinarian with whom you can take your pet for regular checkups and vaccinations. Just as we have a regular physician for our own health, animals should have one too for optimal well-being.

Vaccinations

The most common vaccinations produce immunity to distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Puppies receive a series of these shots until they reach the proper degree of immunity, around three or four months old. Your dog will require annual booster shots and will also need regular rabies shots. This can only be done for puppies at least 4 months of age. Rabies vaccinations are required by Kentucky State Law! rabies can only be administered by a veterinarian and must have tag on animals(s), (KRS 258.015).

Parasites

Gastrointestinal parasites are common in puppies. They are easy to treat if caught promptly. Left untreated, they can cause serious harm. Your vet may ask you to submit stool samples from your dog during routine visits to keep these parasites in check.

Another common parasite is heartworm. The heartworm gains entry through the bite of an infected mosquito. Heartworms are roughly foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body. Your dog needs preventative measures and regular exercise to stay fit and healthy.

Housing

If your dog will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure they have access to shade plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a warm, dry, covered shelter when it’s cold. Your pet should always have a place to get in/out of the elements such as rain, wind, snow, etc…this means something that your pet can stand up, lie down, and turn around comfortably without touching the top or sides. Offer bedding such as straw or wood chips. Some animals may push it out, but it gives them the option. Never use blankets which can become wet and soak through and in cold weather freeze.