As a pet owner, we try our best to make sure that they are happy and healthy. The only problem is that it’s not that easy for them to let us know when something isn’t quite right – and they depend on us to understand their body language and ensure that they get treatment.
Vinny
While giving them a lot of love and snuggles certainly helps, there are a few health concerns you won’t be able to get rid of that easily, but knowing about them will help a lot. Make sure that your dog avoids these health problems by looking at the list below. That way, you can feel confident that you’re doing everything you can for your pet.
Focus on the long walks Every dog needs a couple of long, good walks every day. It should be common knowledge by now, seeing that humans have kept dogs for quite some time, but some owners seem to think that a big backyard is sufficient.
Even if your dog is able to run around in the backyard as they please, they still need to explore new environments and sniff around as they should. Two to three walks of around half an hour each should do, but it depends on the breed of your dog as well – some of them requires more exercise than others.
Both behavioral issues and health concerns can be eliminated as long as your dog gets enough exercise.
Look at their teeth Many dogs end up with dental problems at some point in their lives. You may notice a bit of bleeding from their gums, for example, when they chew on their toys – or you might spot some brown marks on their teeth as they grow older.
Luckily, there are a lot of ways to prevent this, though, and you’ll be able to find many varieties in pet shops; Trudog spray me is a great option as it makes it easy to take care of your dog’s teeth. Simply spray it on your dog’s teeth and it will help to keep their mouths clean.
Remember hydration Many of your dog’s health concerns can be reduced if you remember that they need a lot of water. They’re not always as interested in water as they are in food, though, and might need a bit of help from their owners to remember hydration; try to soak their pellets in water from time to time so that they get that much-needed water through their meals.
And, of course, ensure that they always have a lot of fresh and clean water available at all times. It should be changed around every two hours, by the way, according to this article so that it doesn’t go stale.
If in doubt: Ask the veterinarian Finally, the best thing to do for your pet if you’re concerned about their health is to simply take them to the veterinarian. Dogs should go for check-ups, in any way, and it’s much better to head over there a bit too often rather than not going often enough.
Just like it can be difficult for us to book those doctor’s appointments unless we’re quite sick, we also tend to put off the trips to the veterinarian. It’s not the most pleasant trip for your pet, that’s for sure, but as long as they have you there to keep them safe, they won’t dread it so much.
Give them a treat while going through their check-ups so that they associate the trip with something slightly positive.
Having a pet is a big responsibility and it’s up to us to spot the signs of illness and general discomfort. Try to keep an eye on your dog’s mood and behavior, in general, and make that trip to the vet if you’re ever in doubt.
I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family. Please meet, Giuseppe Josiah Augustus.
We call him Seppe!
Giuseppe Josiah Augustus — “Seppe” at nine weeks old
Seppe is an eleven-week-old tri-colored beagle we adopted a couple weeks back. He was born July 19th and comes to us from a local beagle breeder. We wanted to share a few photos of him. In the coming weeks, we will have more stories to share.
It has been almost six weeks since our little Gio left us and crossed over the rainbow bridge. Today is National Dog Day, so we wanted to celebrate his life and share with you what the little fella meant to us.
Celebrating the Life of Gio!!
Gio was a part of our family for the almost twelve years and brought so much joy to our life. He came to us as a street doggie, so we were unsure of his past. We do not know if he had ran away from home; gotten lost while on a hunt or if his owner gotten rid of him. Whatever the situation, it was hard for Gio to love us when he first come home with us. He didn’t know what love was, so we had to show him unconditional love while training him how to properly behave. In time and with the help of trainer, his heart softened and he became a sweet lovable beagle. In the early days, he would grumble at us when we tried to rub his tummy. In time as he realized that we loved him and cared for him, Gio would turn over and put his feet up in the air, wanting us to rub his tummy. He would also lick our hands and demand affection for you. He would take his head and move it towards our hands, wanting to be rubbed or massaged. And if we moved our hand away, he would move closer to us and made sure we continued it. We couldn’t stop until he had enough.
Gio believed that he was the Alpha of the house and he had certain demands that we needed to take care of. The most important demand on his list was food. He ate three times a day and he knew when it was time. Oh and don’t forget about treats in the evening. He would begin asking for the food about thirty minutes to an hour ahead of time. He would nudge us, bark at us, jump on us, or fling his bowl in the middle of the room; letting us know it was time. He wouldn’t leave us alone until we gave him what he wanted. But we had to show him (in love) at we were the Alphas and that he couldn’t get his way all of the time. When this happened, he would be pout and fuss at us.
Gio’s favorite place to be was in the backyard. He could spend hours at a time out there. Being a beagle, he always had his nose to the ground, searching for scents and on the lookout for squirrels. He would follow their scent and even chase them through the yard when he saw them. While he never caught one, he was determined that he would and never stopped trying. He came close many times, but they were always one step ahead of him. Many times after a chase and trying to get the squirrel, I would bring Gio back inside. He would be restless in house. He wanted to go back outside to see if he could still get that squirrel. He was determined! And when he couldn’t go outside, he would sit at the window and look into the backyard. He could sit at that window for hours at a time and not move a muscle. He was looking to see if any squirrel was in his area. If he saw one, he would aggressively bark at it and jump on the window. He would demand for us to take him outside so he could chase it down. He was that determined!
Gio looking out the window
My wife shared a YouTube video on Gio. It can be seen here….
In his almost twelve years with us, Gio blessed our life with some many wonderful memories that it is not hard for me share. Sharing them with you helps with the grief and sorrow of losing him. With so many wonderful memories, he will live on in our hearts forever.
We Love You, Gio!!
Words cannot say how I feel right now. Tears are streaming down my face as I write this post because I have lost my little buddy, my fur baby, and a part of my family. Gio went to heaven on Monday. If you are not an animal lover, you wouldn’t understand. And that’s okay because you don’t have to.
Gio
I celebrate his life. He had the energy of an Energizer bunny — very playful. He brought so much joy to everyone who met him. He is and will always be a family member.
This is a joyful post because he always made me laugh. He made everyone laugh and brought so much love to our family. Gio was a rescue dog. He came into our lives by the way of a colleague at work giving me a flyer with his picture on it (I still have that poster of him). When I saw it, my heart melted. I know that my hubby grew up with beagles on a farm so when he saw him he thought he was cute and wanted to bring him home. The story the family told us was that they had three beagles of their own and the female was trying to attack Gio because she didn’t like him getting too close to their child. And the female beagle would not stop, so if no one took him, they were going to have to take him to the local dog pound. Well we wouldn’t let that happen.
We brought him home and it took some time for him to know that we really loved him. We don’t know his past so we respected that and continued to love on him. And when he knew the love he gave so much love to us in return. That unconditional love he gave us is priceless. Our veterinarian said that he was 2 years old when we got him so he was fourteen, and we had 12 years of Gio being part of our family.
Gio
My sweet Gio we love you, miss you, and you will be in our hearts forever.
We learned so much from Gio about life that we wanted to share it with you in future blog posts.
If you think heading to your local dog pound, rescuing a pooch and welcoming him into your home is a simple process, then you will need to think again. Bringing a new four-legged friend into your humble abode takes commitment and a willingness to compromise like never before. It’s unwise to offer to take in a hound on a whim only to realize that you cannot cope with the demands of puppy training, taking your dog for long walks and the cost of food, vets fees, and doggy treats. This is why so many puppies and adolescent mutts end up abandoned or needing to be rehomed.
It’s not unusual to endure the whines and pleas from your little darlings who are constantly nagging you to get a pooch. Perhaps their friends have one, maybe they want a new furry pal to play with or perhaps they’ve seen the ideal family pet set up on a family sitcom on the TV. While you may bargain with your kids that in order for you to even consider a puppy in the household they need to look after their mutt, take him or her for their daily game of fetch in the park and clear up the doggy mess in the garden, it will be you who inevitably gets lumbered with the general care of the animal. Taking on a new puppy requires resilience, commitment, and a welcoming home. Do you have what it takes?
Your Heart Will Melt
Even the most stoic and hardened of characters can’t fail to have their heart melted by whatever pooch ends up coming through their door. You may end up with a fluff ball of a bichon puppy, a wise old retired greyhound or an intelligent young collie. It doesn’t matter the breed, the age or even the temperament, you will believe that your hound is the best, most beautiful and most awesome dog on the planet. And why wouldn’t you? It is a mutt’s ability to charm their human owners that makes them such a wonderful addition to any home.
If you’ve never had a pet before, you will be surprised by the loyalty and affection that your puppy will show you. He or she may be stuck to your side like a limpet, eager to please and constantly looking at you with their admiring eyes. Very quickly you will be overwhelmed by the level of love you feel for your new pet. They are an animal – you can’t love them that much, surely? But you will; your dog will become a beloved family member who you will protect with every ounce of your being. If you’re not ready for such a heavy emotional commitment, you may need to reconsider welcoming a hound into your humble abode.
The Home
Unless you don’t mind your sofas getting torn to shreds, your curtains no longer worthy of your windows and your laminate covered in all sorts of puppy mess, you need to consider how to pooch proof your pad. It’s vital that you make an effort to satisfy your dog’s natural needs. They need ways to scratch, space to run and play and adequate mental stimulation within the home. Dog toys are designed to prevent your mutt from getting frustrated and ransacking your living space, and it’s a good idea to have a variety to keep your puppy engaged when they can’t get outside for a run.
Most importantly, your hound needs to be safe within their four walls. While they may be comfortable, they need to be free from danger. You might think your home is relatively safe, but keeping that bunch of grapes out in your fruit bowl could lead to your curious mutt having a munch and suffering kidney failure. Luckily, this pet safety guide details the many steps you need to take to ensure your home is as hazard free as possible.
Budget
Having a dog isn’t cheap. You need to consider food, vets bills, and insurance, not to mention toys, beds and other little treats that you will inevitably want to purchase for your precious mutt. One report stated that a dog costs $1270 on average in the first year of ownership. If you are struggling financially, you are saving for a mortgage, or you simply feel like you cannot afford to give a hound the quality of life they deserve because of your lack of monetary resources, consider putting off your dream of a doggy pal within your home for a little while. This is not to say that you can never own a pet, but it might be kinder to your eventual pooch if you can ensure you have the means to care for them well.
It can be tiring to hear your little cherubs constantly whining and moaning that they’d like a puppy. However, never be tempted to succumb to getting a pooch in a quest to end the monotony of puppy requests. Take your time, consider whether you actually want a mutt and always make sure you are ready for the commitment of dog ownership.
FTC Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
Imagine if you took you fur baby to the groomer and he came back in a worse state than when he went in? What if you decided to give him a trim at home but caused more harm than good? Sadly, these are things that can happen all too often if you don’t know about the potential dangers of dog grooming. To protect your pet read the post below to find out more.
Not all bad dog grooming is funny like the examples above. Some can even be dangerous.
Paws It is vital to take care of your pups feet as they are a critical part of their anatomy and as such, they need to be looked after in the best way possible. In fact, the pads on your dog’s paws are one of the ways they can keep cool when the climate is hot (Apart from sticking their tongue out and panting that is).
What this means is that you need to remove hair from between the pads, so they aren’t too insulated. Also, don’t forget that long hair between their foot pads can be uncomfortable and rub when your pup walks, something that in turn will cause them to overly lick the area, and this can lead to sores, and even possible infection if is it goes untreated for a long time.
Coat Many folks believe that taking care of the coat is something that is relatively simple and that they can take care of at home. Of course, it is entirely possible to do this, buts it’s important to understand as much about the process as beforehand, so you don’t end making things worse for you pooch rather than better.
In particular, trimming your fur kid’s coat in the right way is vital. To do this, you will first need to research the best dog hair clippers on the market. Then you will need to use these to remove any matted fur gently and carefully, as this is something that can pull at you dogs skin and cause them pain.
In fact, a matted coat is also dangerous because it creates pockets where moisture can gather, something that may encourage a nasty fungal infection on your pup’s skin. Then there is the fact that ticks that carry dangerous Lyme Disease are harder to spot in coats that are matted and in poor condition. To that end, it’s vital that you get grooming your pup’s coat right.
Nails Nails can also be a big issue when it comes to proper grooming. In fact, many caring dog moms and dads are a little scared of trimming nails themselves because they don’t want to cut the quick which can be painful and cause bleeding.
However, this is no excuse to leave this job undone because uncut nails can mean your pooch will end up walking on the side of his feet. Something that is painful and in the long term can contribute to skeletal problems such as arthritis. What this means is, if you don’t want to cut their nail in the usual way use a buffer machine, or take them to a trusted groomer so they can perform this service for you.
FTC Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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