Dog owners do love to think their dogs as their children. “That’s my boy,” they will say while referring to their own dogs. They will refer themselves as “Mummy” or “Daddy” while talking to the dogs as well. Of course, they get their dogs, some toys for playing with. Choosing the correct dog toys might be very tricky. People love to get cute and, squeaky toys to their dogs or get them stuffed toys to chew and carry it all over (the stuffed toy is the dog’s “baby” often - “Get your boy, checkers! Checkers, where is the baby?”) As they think it is “adorable.” Dog toys need not be “cute.” They should be practical, fun, durable, and importantly safe for the dog.

Avoid Non-Toys

For as loyal, friendly, lovable and playful as they would be, dogs aren’t the brightest of creatures. They are quite naturally attracted to many things which can cause them harm. It is important to start off early with the dog, giving safe toys to play and chew with, when teaching the dog to avoid the household stuff it might wish to use a toy. Dogs like to chew on a pantyhose, for e.g., but these may be partially ingested, and chokes the doggie. Some dogs would chew on the power cords, risking a very harmful (or even fatal) shock. Teach the dog early on things which are for playing, chewing and things which are off the limits.

Safest Dog Toy

The size of it is a very important consideration. Balls, Kongs and other toys should be small enough such that the dog might chew and carry them along, but not very small that they may become locked in the dog’s throat or mouth.

Durability is the other factor, mainly for dogs which loves to chew for a longtime. A toy which would easily break apart can surely become a hazard, because the sharp parts might be swallowed, get caught in throat, or cut in gums and mouth. Again, a very hard rubber Kong (one of the very best dog toys ever) is a very good choice.

Softer toys, as the popular “squeak” toy made up of very thin plastic and is full of air are very good for dogs which are a bit gentle. They are unlikely to chew such items and might be usually attracted to the sound of squeaking.

Tennis balls are a great choice for some doggies, but poor for others. This is a question of the size ratios. If the dog would be too small to be in a tennis ball in its mouth, then it might be a good toy that the doggie would love but it costs very little too. If the ball fits all the way to the dog’s maw, it might become a choking hazard.

One of the main things a new owner needs to take precautions against is a new puppy developing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Hypoglycemia can occur without much warning and within hours of a puppy going to a new home, missing a meal, or does not eat full meals, gets chilled, overtired or exhausted from too much handling or playing. It occurs more in the toy breeds, but can also occur in larger breeds. Signs are a depressed affect or mood, weakness, wobbly gait, jerky, lethargic. The neck may get stiff. The head may appear to be tilted to either the left or right and teeth may be clamped tightly together. These are all signs this puppy is having a drop in their sugar level and if left untreated will progress to convulsions, seizures or coma and can then be fatal.

If any of these symptoms are present, take your puppy to the nearest vet or animal emergency center. If this is not possible or on the way to the vet, if you have white Karo syrup or can get this quickly. Mix the white Karo syrup with water and place on the puppy’s tongue with a dropper or just place some syrup on your finger and rub on the puppy’s gums. Do not put excessive amounts in the puppy’s mouth, as the puppy can choke. Nutri-cal is the best to keep in a household of canines or puppies. Nutri-cal gives quick results and gets into the bloodstream within seconds. Dosage instructions is on the tube. You can give Nutri-cal using a syringe. Take out the plunger, place the opening of the Nutri-cal tube at the opening of the syringe and squeeze in the Nutri-cal to the specified dosage. Then squirt it a small amount at a time into the puppy’s mouth. If your puppy has had a low blood sugar attack, using Pedyalite instead of water helps with any dehydration.

Prevention:

Add one tqblespoon of honey or sugar to every 16 ounces of water. Keep plain drinking water available as well. Leave food out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a puppy just arriving home up until at least 12 weeks of age and sometimes beyond this if the puppy is a very tiny size. Never feed chocolate, fried foods or milk. Do not allow puppy to become over-chilled or tired. Let your new puppy rest and become acustomed to his new home. Give puppy Nutri-cal, about one inch every 6 hours for at least 48 hours in a new home and if you begin to see puppy acting very lethargic, give Nutri-cal.

What should you have ready for a new puppy:

Food breeder had puppy on.

If you plan to change puppy’s food, you still need to have a small bag of breeder’s brand to mix with your brand until you have weaned puppy off breeder’s brand of food.

Always keep Nutri-cal

Water Bottles

A Housebreaking Crate

Soft Blankets and Quilts

Non-slip steel bowls (a good brand can be found at Flint River Ranch

Gourmet Dental Treats from HealthyPetNet

Ear Care Formula (I strongly recommend the formula from HealthyPetNet) Brushes, combs and a good tearless shampoo

These are just a few items to have ready for the arrival of a new puppy. Ask your breeder for anything else he/she would recommend you have. Most important is to have the Nutri-cal and to give Nutri-cal especially to the tiny toy breeds.

This article is free to publish with the resource box.

Did you know that dental care is just as important for your dog as it is for us human beings? Just like with our teeth, your dogs’ teeth can gather plaque during eating. This plaque can then build up and harden which then becomes known as a brown substance called tartar.

Then as this tartar accumulates it will work its way beneath the dog’s gums and become the reason behind painful infections and gum disease. This process occurs in the mouths of dogs, and is no different to what occurs in people. You no doubt brush your teeth on a regular basis, but think about your poor dog for a moment. What can he/she do?

The Veterinary world says that dog owners should brush their dog’s teeth twice a week to stop the accumulation of tartar. Well, I honestly don’t know any owners who take the trouble to do this. Hopefully you do. A lot of pet shops stock toothbrushes and toothpaste especially for dogs. You need to know that a dog’s sense of taste is a lot more sensitive than that of us humans and the minty, tingly, sort of toothpastes that we use will be pretty unpleasant to a dog. So just make sure you use the proper doggie toothpaste.

It is fortunate that dog’s have a natural tendency to chew and this acts as a dental care mechanism. Dogs crunch biscuits into small pieces when chewing and these rub against their teeth, providing a cleaning function. This is no substitute for brushing, but if you can’t manage that, just try to ensure he/she regularly gets some type of crunchy dog biscuit.

Any dogs that do not get the correct dental care and do not have access to good teeth cleaning foods run the risk of different types of mouth disease. These can be mild like gingivitis or a rather more serious type of infection that can get into the dog’s bloodstream and damage vital organs.

Dental services are readily available for dogs. A dog’s teeth can be capped, filled, and extracted if required, just like a human beings. Of course the best way is to avoid the need for these services by looking after your dog’s teeth. Preventative dental care for your dog can save you money as well. Dog dental care can unfortunately be quite costly, but then it’s less painful than toothache.

Dog owners do love to think their dogs as their children. “That’s my boy,” they will say while referring to their own dogs. They will refer themselves as “Mummy” or “Daddy” while talking to the dogs as well. Of course, they get their dogs, some toys for playing with. Choosing the correct dog toys might be very tricky. People love to get cute and, squeaky toys to their dogs or get them stuffed toys to chew and carry it all over (the stuffed toy is the dog’s “baby” often - “Get your boy, checkers! Checkers, where is the baby?”) As they think it is “adorable.” Dog toys need not be “cute.” They should be practical, fun, durable, and importantly safe for the dog.

Avoid Non-Toys

For as loyal, friendly, lovable and playful as they would be, dogs aren’t the brightest of creatures. They are quite naturally attracted to many things which can cause them harm. It is important to start off early with the dog, giving safe toys to play and chew with, when teaching the dog to avoid the household stuff it might wish to use a toy. Dogs like to chew on a pantyhose, for e.g., but these may be partially ingested, and chokes the doggie. Some dogs would chew on the power cords, risking a very harmful (or even fatal) shock. Teach the dog early on things which are for playing, chewing and things which are off the limits.

Safest Dog Toy

The size of it is a very important consideration. Balls, Kongs and other toys should be small enough such that the dog might chew and carry them along, but not very small that they may become locked in the dog’s throat or mouth.

Durability is the other factor, mainly for dogs which loves to chew for a longtime. A toy which would easily break apart can surely become a hazard, because the sharp parts might be swallowed, get caught in throat, or cut in gums and mouth. Again, a very hard rubber Kong (one of the very best dog toys ever) is a very good choice.

Softer toys, as the popular “squeak” toy made up of very thin plastic and is full of air are very good for dogs which are a bit gentle. They are unlikely to chew such items and might be usually attracted to the sound of squeaking.

Tennis balls are a great choice for some doggies, but poor for others. This is a question of the size ratios. If the dog would be too small to be in a tennis ball in its mouth, then it might be a good toy that the doggie would love but it costs very little too. If the ball fits all the way to the dog’s maw, it might become a choking hazard.

Dog tooth cleaning is essential for your dog’s dental hygiene and after your dog reaches the age of two to three years plus, dog tooth cleaning will become more and more essential as your dog grows up.

Every time your dog has a bowl of food or some treats (some treats help with cleaning teeth) some of the food gets stuck around the gums and mouth of the dog. This food then turns into plaque and after staying there for a short period of time of about one to three days, this plaque turns into tartar which is a key element in gum and mouth diseases which can put your dog in a lot f pain.

To combat these diseases you will need to get rid of the plaque and you do this in much the same way as us humans do it, witch is by brushing them. Dogs are a little bit trickier to deal with than humans so training will be needed.

First you need to get your dog to sit using the commands learnt on this site. If you cannot do this yet then it should be taught first. Start by gently breaking your dog into the habit of you playing with their teeth and around the mouth area by rubbing a tasty nice tasting treat around the teeth and mouth, if your dog acts well and lets you do it you should reward him/her for their patience with a treat every time.

After your dog is comfortable with you playing with their teeth, start to do the same but with dog toothpaste so they get used to the taste and sensation. When you and your dog are comfortable with you using your finger instead of a toothbrush its time to make the swap to the real thing.

To brush effectively you should move the dog toothbrush in circular motions to dislodge plaque and start from the back teeth working your way to the front, don’t be too rough with your dog and always try to keep it fun for them and you shouldn’t have too many problems.

Not many people understand the importance of dental care in maintaining the general health and well being of dogs. Just like humans dogs need regular dental care. It is the responsibility of owners to make sure that they get it. A responsible dog owner takes care of their dog’s teeth.

Food residue can accumulate on your dog’s teeth just as it does on your own teeth. It quickly leads to tartar and plaque build up causing tooth decay and gum disease. All the things you know about dental care in humans applies to your dog too.

If you neglect your dog’s dental care it can lead to pain for the dog. The pain will stop them eating and their health will suffer as a result. An even more serious result of tooth decay are diseases and ulcerated gums that can cause blood poisoning if left untreated.

Even if you avoid giving your dog sweet treats they are at risk of dental decay. So it is important to pay attention to dental hygiene when caring for your dog. Dental care is vital to maintaining your dog’s health.

Brushing is essential. A small soft brush is best. You can get a specially designed canine brush from your vetinarian or dog food supplier.

Remember that a dog’s sense of smell and taste is far more acute than our’s so don’t use toothpaste that is intended for human beings. It is too strongly flavoured and would distress a dog. Canine toothpaste usually has a meaty flavour that your dog will like.

Begin your dental care regime when your dog is a puppy. They get used to having their teeth brushed and regard it as part of their regular grooming routine. Start with small sessions at first. You must build up your dog’s trust in order to let you clean their teeth.

Your choice of food is also important. Dog’s need to crunch and chew their food. In the wild they are used to crunching bones. It is important to allow then to have a bone or chew toys. It is a valuable part of your dog’s dental care.

Dry food and biscuits are better than canned dog meat for dental care. They help to keep the teeth clean and do not build up on the teeth allowing bacteria to multiply. Some buiscuits are specially designed for cleaning a dog’s teeth. These make a good treat for good behaviour. You will know that you have taken care of your dog’s dental health and your dog will feel rewarded.

If your dog has dental problems you will get a face full of bad breath every time he greets you. Eventually you will get a massive bill from your vetinarian. Dog dentistry is seriously expensive. What is more it is dangerous because it needs an anesthetic. So avoid it if you can be paying attention to your dog’s dental care.