· Groom your dog regularly. Hair loss, skin infections, tick & flea problems can be avoided or detected early. It is a very good way to bond with your pet.
· Theobromine cocoa in cocoa is very toxic for dogs. Do not feed your dog anything that has chocolate, like candies, cakes, bars, toffees, etc
· Keep your dog's ear clean and check for accumulated dirt or excess wax regularly. Ear mite problems are very common in dogs.
· Tea, coffee, carbonated drinks can cause lot of trouble for dog's liver. Avoid giving your dog any of these beverages.
· The digestive system of a dog is very sensitive, they can get food allergies because of things like grapes, soybean, raisins and raw onions.
· Mono Sodium Glutamate or the famous Ajinomoto can cause a lot of trouble for dogs. Do not feed your dog anything which has Ajinomoto. Eg Chinese Food.
· Brushing your pet's teeth regularly will help to keep check on many dental, oral and gastro-intestinal problems.
· Alcohol is very toxic for all animals. Even one teaspoon of alcohol in an average 20 kilo dog can cause liver and kidney failure.
· Grooming your dog is not time consuming. Even a thorough brushing of coat once a day is good enough to keep skin problems in check.
· Your dog's bed should be comfortable, easily washable and clean. Like you, even your dog likes a bed. Non hairy and short haired ones especially.
· Dogs love to chew. Satisfy this desire by giving them non edible Chew toys. It helps make teeth strong, massage gums, reduce stress and prevent boredom.
· During summer provide your pet a cool place to rest, plenty of water to drink and do not force your pet to walk or run if they do not want to.
· In case of a heat stroke, lay your dog on a flat surface and pour cold water till thoroughly soaked. As temperature reduces make sure it does not shiver. When normal, dry the dog and keep out of heat. Contact your vet asap.
· Walk your dog early mornings or late evenings on hot days. Do not allow your dog in very hot weather as it may cause heat stroke or even sunburn.
· Do not leave your dog alone in the car. It is isolating and the car heats up. Leaving a window open does not always help. Plan well to avoid this.
· Dogs become obese when there is excess carbohydrate in the diet. Certain breeds are more prone like Labrador retrievers, pugs and old dogs. Keep an eye on what your dog eats and his exercise.
· Do you have a fat pet? Keep him/her out of the room when you are eating, feed several small meals, exercise enough & discourage food related attention.
· Train your pets using rewards and positive reinforcement techniques such as clickers. Avoid using choke leash, sticks & scare tactics to train your pet.
· When on a long walk with your pet, carry a bottle of water. You never know when you or your pet might need it!
· Do not beat / whack your dog for bad behavior. Use your voice effectively to dissuade/stop them from doing the activity.
· Consistent meal times, walks and giving access to newspaper will help in toilet training your puppy faster.
· Ensure your pup meets a lot of friends and children to socialize him from early on.
· Playing with your dog is the best way to bond with him / her. Every animal likes a different kind of play. Avoid aggressive play.
· Never buy a choke chain for your dog. It's dangerous. Your dog might suffocate.
· Talk to your vet if there are any sudden changes in your dog’s appetite, peeing and pooping.
· It's natural for pups to chew during teething. Give them branded chew sticks and chew toys to dissuade them chewing on unwanted things and furniture.
· During walks, don't allow your dog to pick up food from the road. It might make him sick. Also, watch out for broken glass. This hurts their paws.
· Avoid leaving your dog off leash while on walks especially when there are vehicles around. Even if your dog is very obedient, the person behind the wheel might not see your dog and cause an accident.
· During summer prevent heat strokes. Take your dog for a walk only during early morning and late evenings.
· Don't leave your dog in the car while you're shopping. The car becomes an oven in no time even if you have kept the air conditioning on. This develops anxiety in the dog as well.
· Ensure your dog does not put his head out of your window grill. He might get stuck. Huge grills increase the chances of your pets getting stuck.
· Avoid taking your dog to a terrace without a grill / fence or wall. Your pet might not realize the height and try and jump off if something catches his attention.
· One a hot day, reward your dog with an ice cube. They love it! Some vanilla ice cream, cold curd or butter milk also keeps them cool and happy.
· Don't forget to check the paws of your dog while grooming. Paws are a warm hub for ticks.
· If you are planning pest control in your house, make sure that your pet does not smell the pesticide. Move him / her out of the house before you start.
· Make sure to move your pet away from the house before you begin painting your home. Paint fumes are toxic for dogs.
· Keep your dog away from pesticides which you use for plants. A small lick can cause severe health problems.
· Do not file or shave down your pet's teeth if they are chewing or biting. This hurts the animal and is a punishable offense.
· Better ways to cope with chewing & biting are the 3 Ts plenty of Time, Toys and Training with positive reinforcement techniques.
· Dogs really enjoy a free run. Choose an enclosed space - a park, ground, farmhouse, etc. When off leash, make sure your dog shouldn't run away or get into fights.
· If you feed your pet meat from the local meat shop, make sure that it maintains proper standards of hygiene, especially during monsoon.
· You may also opt to feed your dog good quality pet food which is completely safe. Keep the food in air-tight containers to avoid exposure to moisture.
· Most dogs dislike getting wet in the rains. If your dog gets wet, make sure you dry him / her thoroughly with a towel or a dryer. Keep them warm & dry.
· Remember to carefully clean your dog's feet and pads with water and dry them with a cloth, once back from the walk.
· During a storm, keep windows shut & curtains drawn to mask sounds. Turn up the volume on the television or radio to mask the sounds & keep your pet calm.
· During a rain or a storm, do not comfort your pet if he /she is showing fear as this may actually reinforce the behavior. Maintain your composure and be positive during this time.
· During monsoon dirt gets accumulated on your pet in places u don't check normally. Ears & paws need cleaning. Use cotton swabs to remove all the fine dirt.
· It is hard to take pets for a walk everyday during rainy season so making your dogs climb up the stairs of your building and leaving them freely in your closed indoor garden will keep the dogs active.
· Food also plays a very important role in pet care during monsoon. The pet diet should mainly consist of fiber rich food like banana that help pets who suffer from indigestion. Dairy products need to be avoided as for some it may be allergic. Also maintaining a good hygiene through cleaning your bowls and pet chews will help. A balanced diet and regular exercise will keep your pets healthy in the wet season.
· Your all time pal needs a warm, dry area to sleep so avoid making your pets sleep in its house outdoor. Maintain a basket with a comfortable bedding as the cold floors may harm it even more.
· Avoid taking your pets outside when there is lightning & thunder. They may get frightened & while trying to protect themselves might end up running away.
· Pat them dry and clean their paws of any dirt after they are back in the house as the wet skin and dirty paws can get infected with germs. Apply adequate medication to any bruises they may be having as they can get more blown up.
· Clean the place where your pets sit and lie down regularly as a variety of insects keep wandering in this season and may harm your pet.
· Keep your pet on a short leash while you are at the veterinarian's clinic. Do not leave them off leash & try to socialise them with other patients.
· Only use medicines that have been prescribed for your pet & do not self medicate. Some commonly used human medicines can be very dangerous to your pets.
· If you are forced to leave your pet alone for a few hours in a day due to your work schedule, ensure that they have something to do while you are away. Give them toys to play with. Ask your friends / neighbours to check on them once in a few hours. Ensure that they get food & water at the right time.
