Health Tips
(By Julie Tobiansky – Dog Obedience Trainer - Cape Province Dog Club)
www.capeprovincedogclub.co.za
Exercise
Up to 6 months of age, your dog should have no more than 10 minutes of exercise a day. (besides running around at home). At 6 months, you can increase the exercise to 20 minutes and at a year you can increase it to half an hour, slowly increasing it as your dog becomes fitter. Do not allow your dog to jump (over anything or for a ball) or take him jogging or hiking until he is a year old. Following a sensible exercise program will reduce the risk of hip displasia and other joint problems.
Feeding
At 6 months of age your dog should have 2 meals a day consisting of a complete dog food mixed only with water. Use the quantities on the pack as a guide as each dog’s needs will be different. Divide the daily-recommended quantity between the required number of meals. At a year you can reduce this to 1 meal a day or leave it at 2 if you prefer. Never leave food down for your dog to nibble on, as this reduces his understanding of you as pack leader (provider of food) as well as taking away the opportunity for you to see if he is ill. Between meals, you can offer large raw marrow bones, cow hooves or raw hide. Never feed onions, chocolate, milk, fish bones, chicken bones or any sharp meat bones.
Grooming and Health
Bath your dog no more than once a month with dog shampoo (which has a different ph from ours). Brush daily and keep nails trimmed especially dew claws. Treat your dog and his environment with a flea product either from your vet or the supermarket. Have your dog vaccinated annually and dewormed every 6 months. Never leave a slip-chain on your dog at home as it can get hooked on something and strangle him. Always leave a buckle collar and ID tag on your dog. Spaying and neutering Any dog that is not registered should be spayed or neutered at 6 months of age. This will prevent unwanted litters and in the case of males will often prevent behavioral problems like aggression, wondering and mounting people.
Up to 6 months of age, your dog should have no more than 10 minutes of exercise a day. (besides running around at home). At 6 months, you can increase the exercise to 20 minutes and at a year you can increase it to half an hour, slowly increasing it as your dog becomes fitter. Do not allow your dog to jump (over anything or for a ball) or take him jogging or hiking until he is a year old. Following a sensible exercise program will reduce the risk of hip displasia and other joint problems.
Feeding
At 6 months of age your dog should have 2 meals a day consisting of a complete dog food mixed only with water. Use the quantities on the pack as a guide as each dog’s needs will be different. Divide the daily-recommended quantity between the required number of meals. At a year you can reduce this to 1 meal a day or leave it at 2 if you prefer. Never leave food down for your dog to nibble on, as this reduces his understanding of you as pack leader (provider of food) as well as taking away the opportunity for you to see if he is ill. Between meals, you can offer large raw marrow bones, cow hooves or raw hide. Never feed onions, chocolate, milk, fish bones, chicken bones or any sharp meat bones.
Grooming and Health
Bath your dog no more than once a month with dog shampoo (which has a different ph from ours). Brush daily and keep nails trimmed especially dew claws. Treat your dog and his environment with a flea product either from your vet or the supermarket. Have your dog vaccinated annually and dewormed every 6 months. Never leave a slip-chain on your dog at home as it can get hooked on something and strangle him. Always leave a buckle collar and ID tag on your dog. Spaying and neutering Any dog that is not registered should be spayed or neutered at 6 months of age. This will prevent unwanted litters and in the case of males will often prevent behavioral problems like aggression, wondering and mounting people.
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