The meals you provide for your pooch are more important than you might realize. If he does not receive the right vitamins and nutrients, his health and vitality can quickly plummet. Once that happens, his body will become far more susceptible to diseases, viruses, and other problems.

Fortunately, making sure your dog receives the food he needs is simple, especially with the packaged formulas available at most pet supply stores. Even so, many owners remain confused regarding their canine’s nutritional needs. In this article, we’ll offer simple answers to questions you might have about your pooch’s diet.

Question 1 - When Should I Transition My Pup To Adult Food?

If you own a puppy, you’ll already know how energetic they are and how quickly they grow. Puppy food is specifically formulated to give puppies the vitamins and nutrients their bodies require for that quick growth. However, it’s inappropriate once they reach a certain age. You should transition your pup to adult food once he has reached 90% of his expected full-grown weight. Usually, this happens at nine or ten months, so watch the calendar.

Question 2 - Which Brand Is The Best?

Worry less about the brand you purchase for your canine and more about whether he’s receiving the ingredients he needs. There are several popular brands (including Waltham, Iams, and Purina) that are generally considered to be good. However, it’s more important to consider the type of protein, fat, and vitamins your pooch requires. And that depends on his age, weight, and overall health. If you’re uncertain, ask your dog’s veterinarian for suggestions.

Question 3 - How Much Is Enough?

Every breed is unique and even canines within the same breed have different nutritional needs. The volume of food you give to your dog during each meal will depend largely on his life circumstances. Is he a puppy? If you own a female, is she pregnant? Is your pooch energetic, bounding at every chance to go for walks. Or, is he content to sit on the couch all day? And of course, his size and health both play key roles. Again, consult the veterinarian to design a meal plan that is appropriate for your dog.

Question 4 - Does My Dog Really Need Meat?

This might surprise a lot of owners: your canine does not necessarily need to consume meat in order to be healthy. As long as he has a plentiful source of protein, he can remain in great health as a vegetarian. Having said that, you should talk to your veterinarian before taking meat off your pooch’s menu. He may have additional insight that is specific to your canine.

Creating a nutritious menu that provides the right blend of protein, fats, vitamins, and nutrients for your dog takes planning and dedication. But, once you establish a routine, you’ll find there’s rarely a reason to change it.

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Everyone wants to have their dog’s teeth as pearly white as possible. But it’s not just the appearance of your dog’s teeth that is important. Even though the bad teeth may be unsightly, there are far more important reasons for maintaining your dog’s dental health.

Bad Teeth In Dogs Can Be a Severe Health Danger!

The reasons unhealthy teeth are dangerous for dogs is the fact that tartar build-up is often associated with bad teeth in dogs. The tartar acts as a breeding ground for bacteria. Plus, the infestation can often lead to bleeding gums in the dog. And here is where the problem lies: When the bacterium has direct access to the blood stream via the bleeding gums, they can inadvertently travel to other parts of the body including important organs.

Dog Gum Disease Can Be Deadly!

Once the bacterium has access to the organs of the body, their release of toxins inside those organs can prove very unhealthy and even deadly to the dog. Vets are often very worried about this problem and suggest a procedure called scaling. In this process, the dog is put under anaesthetic while the procedure is performed. Although the scaling of dog’s teeth is a very effective method for fixing the problem, there are significant costs and dangers associated with it.

Vet Scaling Can Be Dangerous.

The scaling procedure by a vet includes general anaesthetic for the dog. There is a high cost involved plus most dog owners do not understand the risk involved. The death rate for dogs undergoing anaesthesia is far higher than for humans. In fact, some estimates put the risk at more than 10 times that of humans who undergo anaesthesia. The reasons for this increased risk is that smaller bodied animals are generally of higher risk and also the training and safety measures are not as stringent with dogs as with humans.

Most vets will charge a small fortune for canine scaling. Additionally, there will always be the risk to consider. Fortunately, there is a safe and more inexpensive method for fixing bad teeth in canines. Always ask your vet about other possible options for your dog’s dental health.

Terry Metcalfe writes on behalf of Blackheath Vets professional London vetoffering services to pet owners within London and the surrounding areas.

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One of the most important things you can do for your dog is to take him to the veterinarian on a regular basis. Annual check-ups are the best way to identify health problems early and to prevent other types of health issues, such as heartworm. However, these vet visits are not always pleasant experiences for our canine companions.

The good news is you can start taking actions now that will help your dog be ready for these visits.

Early Preparations for the Visit

When you vet examines your dog, he or she will have to do things that your dog is not going to like. Most dogs, for example, do not want anyone prying open their mouth to examine their teeth or handling their feet. Some dogs might not want to be touched by a stranger at all.

You can change this by teaching your dog from a very early age to get used to these types of interactions. Making them as pleasant as possible will help immensely. Remember this is another type of socialization, too.

To get started, you need some treats your puppy or dog enjoys. Then wait until your dog is already pretty calm, perhaps after a walk or visit to the dog park. Start slowly by just touching your dog’s paws or ears. If he starts to growl or pull away, correct him then repeat the exercise. Once your dog allows you to touch his paws and ears calmly and without resistance, reward him with a treat and praise. Keep repeating this daily or every couple of days.

As your dog becomes more comfortable, you can increase the interaction. You can hold his paw and eventually begin to examine it the same way your vet might. You can do this with the ears, too. Remember to always praise and reward your dog after each positive interaction.

You can also repeat the process with other sensitive parts of your dog’s body, including the mouth and the tail.

By making the experience pleasant and relaxing for your dog, he will no longer view these behaviors as threatening and will be calmer at the vet’s office.

Nervousness & Distrust at the Vet

Even with this preparation, your dog might still act up at the vet’s office. If you are nervous, your dog will pick up on your attitude and will mirror your emotions. Keep in mind your dog won’t understand that you are fearful on his behalf; he will only know you are fearful and that means the vet is not someone to trust.

The best way to manage this behavior is for you not to even think about being nervous. Focus on your dog and keeping him well-behaved with treats. In many cases, other people at the office will want to pet your dog or give him attention, let that happen. It will help your dog associate the visit with pleasant experiences, plus it will give you a distraction to take your mind off of your nerves.

Some dog behavior experts have suggested the smell of your breath may change when you are nervous or fearful and that your dog can pick this change up. They recommend chewing gum to mask the smell.

Another way to help both of you relax more is by visiting the vet even when a check-up isn’t needed. For example, consider dropping in every month to pick up the heartworm medication or flea treatment and bring along the dog. When he (and you) start realizing vet visits aren’t something to worry about, he’ll relax and so will you.

Dealing with a Challenging Dog

Unfortunately, if you adopt an older dog you may have to spend more time working on this aspect of socialization. If your dog does have a problem being touched or messed with, you need to warn your vet ahead of time. Don’t wait until your vet gets nipped.

Difficult dogs can still be examined but precautions may need to be taken. For instance, your dog may need to be muzzled or even sedated to be thoroughly examined. While this might seem frightening for you, it’s better to allow these precautions to be used so your dog can be checked and can be kept as healthy as possible.

David Beart is the owner of the PetYak. Our site covers site covers everything from how to make dog vomit to dog training, puppies and pet trivia.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/preparing-your-dog-for-the-first-vet-visit-1407653.html