The Do's and Don'ts for Caring for Your Dog

By Lizette Combrinck

A guide to help you with all the do's and don'ts on how to care for your dog. We cover most topics from food to how to identify your dog.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lizette Combrinck
• Release date: May 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224240043

Lizette Combrinck

Lizette has indulged herself in writing fiction, non-fiction, and low-content books. She always wanted to write something of her own but decided not to. She eventually got her inspiration from her little Type 1 Diabetic girl who has a wild imagination and likes to tell stories all day. That is when she decided to write a short fantasy story as a hobby which resulted in writing a series of fantasy stories and now she has written a few non-fiction books as well.

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1. Learning about Ingredients

As a dog lover or owner, you need to know what your dog’s food contains and why it matters. Different kinds of food have different ingredients and effects on your dog’s health. Always check the label before you buy or feed your dog anything.

Some Food items are dry and some are fresh. You can make fresh food at home with ingredients like chicken, cranberry juice, and blue-green algae. These are natural and nutritious for your dog.

However, some food items may have preservatives or other substances that can cause allergic reactions in your dog. If you notice any signs of allergy, such as itching, sneezing, or vomiting, stop feeding your dog that food and look for the culprit ingredient. Also, pay attention to the moisture level of the food. Some dogs prefer moist food over dry food.

If you want to feed your dog a vegetarian diet, you need to include ingredients like beet pulp, pasta, soybean oil, wheat middlings, calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, copper sulfate, iron sulfate, zinc oxide, and choline chloride³. These provide various nutrients and minerals for your dog.

If you want to feed your dog a non-vegetarian diet, you need to include ingredients like raw egg, chicken, beef, mutton, fish, and quail⁴. These provide protein and fat for your dog. One important ingredient is taurine, which is essential for your dog’s heart and eyes. Another important ingredient is thiamine, which is a vitamin that your dog needs if you feed it frozen fish.

Some dog food brands offer premium quality food that contains essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins A, D, E, and B complex⁶. These are beneficial for your dog’s skin, coat, digestion, and immunity. However, these food items are more expensive than regular food items⁷. You need to decide what is best for your dog and your budget.

2. Feeding Your Dog the Right Food for Its Age

Different ages of dogs require different diets. This is because their nutritional needs and activity levels change as they grow older. For example, a puppy needs more milk, protein, fat, and carbohydrates than an adult dog. A puppy also needs to eat more often during the day, because it has more energy and movement.

An older dog needs less protein, but the protein should be easy to digest and absorb. The dog also needs plenty of water to keep its kidneys healthy. Too much protein can harm the kidneys, especially if the dog has a weak immune system. An older dog also needs less food, because it moves less and burns fewer calories.

A pregnant dog should not eat too much at once, because it can make it uncomfortable. However, it should get a balanced diet with enough vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. Calcium is important for the bones of the puppies and the mother. The same goes for a nursing dog, which needs to feed its puppies with milk.

3. Nutritional Supplements: Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential for your dog’s health. They help your dog fight diseases, grow strong, and stay active. You need to make sure your dog gets the right amount and type of vitamins and minerals from its food or supplements.

There are two kinds of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body and can be toxic if given too much. These are vitamins A, D, E, and K. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body and need to be replenished regularly. These are vitamins B and C. Some vitamins are important for specific functions, such as vitamin A for vision and skin, vitamin D for bones, and vitamin B1 for nerves.

There are also many kinds of minerals that your dog needs, such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, sodium, and potassium. Minerals are involved in various processes, such as skin health, muscle health, and bone health. For example, zinc helps the skin heal, potassium supports the muscles, and calcium and phosphorus work together to form the bones.

You can provide your dog with vitamins and minerals from natural sources, such as fish, meat, eggs, and vegetables. Some foods have more vitamins and minerals than others. For example, cod liver oil is rich in vitamin A, and frozen fish may lack vitamin B1. You need to balance the diet of your dog to avoid deficiencies or excesses.

You can also give your dog supplements of vitamins and minerals, but you need to be careful and consult a veterinarian before doing so. Supplements can help your dog if it is sick, old, young, or has special needs. However, supplements can also harm your dog if they are not suitable or given in the wrong doses. You need to follow the instructions of the veterinarian and the label of the supplements.

4. Variety and Boredom

Dogs can misbehave when they are bored and need more variety in their lives. This is true. You can prevent or reduce boredom-related problems by providing your dog with different kinds of toys, treats, and activities. This way, your dog will have more fun and stimulation and will not resort to unwanted behaviors.

Some signs of boredom in dogs are excessive barking, digging, or chewing. These behaviors can be annoying or destructive, and they indicate that your dog is not happy or satisfied. You need to find out the cause of your dog’s boredom and try to eliminate or minimize it.

One way to do that is to give your dog some interesting toys that will keep it busy and entertained. For example, you can use a toy that looks like a duck, a dog, or a rodent, and put it in your dog’s crate. Puppies especially love these toys. You can also use a toy called a Buster Cube, which has treats inside. Your dog will have to roll