Simple things: Help your pets, you help yourself

You surely love your pet. You feed, cuddle and even offer them luxuries to show your affection.



But have you ever taken a moment to learn what’s actually necessary for them?

Many times, pet owners, especially dog owners, miss out on the small things. While they may feel that they’re giving enough love, they may be doing something wrong without realizing it. Sometimes avoiding certain activities are necessary to keep the pets physically and mentally healthy.



Even the smartest pet owners fall short when it comes to the simplest things, and that’s just the reason The Week is here to help and bring you some important things every animal lover should know.[break]







Three Cs to avoid

The 3 Cs that a dog owner should never feed their pets are chocolate, coffee and caffeine. When you feed your dog any of these, they can suffer from theobromine poisoning which is caused due to an overdose reaction to the chemical known as alkaloid theobromine found in these substances. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death of your dear pets.



You need to remember that when you’re feeding your dog chocolates, cola beverages or tea, you are actually giving them poisons. Some dog owners think that feeding these to their pets is providing them with small luxuries and they’re being pampered. But if you love your dog, which you surely do, you need to stop feeding them chocolate, coffee and caffeine right away.



Train to maintain the bond

Many people have this misconception that training a dog is turning your dog into a show pet that can accomplish assignments as you wish or perform tricks to entertain you. But not many know that training your dog is also essential to connect to your pet friend and bond better.



By providing your dog with the necessary training, you’re definitely not intimidating it; rather you’re establishing a communication medium. Apart from that, it’s necessary to train your dog in order to keep it out of trouble and maintain hygiene.



Fitness for less mess

Dogs are active by nature. Many animal experts say that daily exercise benefits a dog’s health and well being. In addition, it’s assumed that lack of exercise is one of the major reasons behind many causes of problem behavior. Exercising is a genetically programmed activity in dogs; therefore, when they aren’t active, they may suffer from frustration. Hyperactivity, barking, digging, tail chasing, destructive behaviors are some of the symptoms of frustration in dogs.

The breed and size of the dog also affects their exercising habits. Therefore, you should be well acquainted with the exercise habits of your pet before you decide on the types of exercises they can perform. However, taking your dog for a walk and playing fetch are the simplest and effective exercises for all kinds of dogs. It’s also important to note that you’ll need to train your dog in order to carry out daily activities without hassles.



Don’t let them wander alone

While it’s healthy to take your dog outside for a walk, letting it wander around the streets without any human company can be equally harmful. Dogs are like children, if they go out of the house unattended, they can get into serious accidents. While on the streets, they can walk aimlessly and without a sense of direction, thus maximizing their chances of being hit by automobiles.



Apart from that, your pet friend can also be attacked by homeless dogs that stay in packs. Bruises or even minor bites from stray dogs can be very harmful to your dog. In such cases, you’ll need to take your dog to a vet immediately to avoid infection and diseases. Apart from inflicting serious damages to your dog, the strays can also transfer bugs into your dog’s fur which can be very difficult to get rid of. So it’s best not to let them wander out alone, even if it’s just for a minute.



Groom more than hair

When it comes to grooming, many dog owners only focus on their fur. While it’s important to brush your dog’s hair everyday, it’s equally important to clean their eyes. Like humans, they will also form residues at the corners of their eyes. To maintain a healthy eyesight and hygiene, it’s important that you clean their eyes everyday. It’s very simple: Just take ordinary cotton buds and draw out any unnecessary deposits from their eyes.



Apart from eyes, dogs will also need to have clean ears as they can be victims of ear infections if they aren’t properly cared for. Regular cleaning can help prevent infections. Using an appropriate ear cleaner, you can release wax and debris from the canal and help dry the ear. Dogs can build up wax and debris at a faster rate than people. Some dogs have very little ear buildup and simply need their ears wiped out occasionally. Other dogs need thorough ear cleaning every week or two.



Inspect your dog’s ears regularly and talk to your vet about your dog’s needs. Over-cleaning can cause irritation, but under-cleaning can make way for excessive buildup, too.

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