Monsoon Health Tips for Dogs

While the rains during monsoon provide us and our pets with the much-needed break from the sweltering heat of the summer months, the season can bring with it some uninvited guests in the form of digestive disorders, skin diseases and a multitude of other health problems. With extra care and cautiousness we can ward off these potential dangers and help our pets enjoy the season to the fullest. Here are some tips to ensure that your four-legged companion stays fit and healthy during the monsoon season:

Diet

Contamination of food and water is quite common during monsoon. The consumption of contaminated food or water can result in gastroenteritis and other digestive disorders in dogs. It’s therefore advisable to avoid raw food stuffs and stick to cooked home food or commercially available pet food from a reputable brand. Provide your pooch with clean drinking water and ensure that the food and water bowls are washed carefully before feeding.

Grooming

Due to the swampy roads and the excessive humidity in the air, you may find your dog getting dirty and smelly even after regular baths. Use non-rinsing shampoos or sprays like PetHead Dry Clean or PetHead Deodorizing Spray to keep your pooch clean and smelling fresh in between baths.  You could also use Pup N Fluff Hypoallergenic wipes to clean up his coat and paws after walks.

Contaminated/polluted rainwater can damage your dog’s coat. Use a raincoat to protect his skin and make sure you dry your pet completely after taking him/her out in the wet weather. The feet and the spaces in between the fingers are commonly prone to fungal infections, so special care must be taken to keep these areas dry.

Disease Prevention

Dogs are prone to infections, allergies, ticks, fleas and other skin diseases during monsoon. Keep your pet up-to-date on vaccinations and de-worming schedules. Regular visits to the vet should help keep your pooch’s health under check and prevent common skin ailments.

Safety

Keep your dog indoors, and ensure that the sleeping area is warm, dry and comfortable. Some dogs get frightened by rain and thunderstorms. Symptoms of storm anxiety include shaking, hiding, biting, and excessive chewing. Try distracting your pet by bringing out his toys or turning on the TV to drown out the sounds associated with the storm. Your vet may prescribe medicine to keep your pet calm during storms, in extreme cases.

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Why your Pet must have a Bed of his own?

Snuggling with our dogs can be comforting and most of us would not mind letting our furry babies curl up on our soft and comfy beds in the night and during the day. Pet owners still feel that a dog bed is not a necessity but a luxury that they can easily do without. This is far from the truth and our dogs like us deserve a bed of their own. A dog bed can benefit you and your pooch in many ways. Here are some of the reasons why you must consider getting your pooch a bed, if he does not have one already.

Good Health and Good Sleep

According to a report in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases” out of the 250 known infectious diseases that can be transmitted between humans and animals; more than 100 are derived from domestic pets. The risk of your pet making you sick is relatively small though, and according to WebMD sleeping with a pet can be problematic only for those who suffer from pet allergies or asthma. However, there are other reasons why your doggie must not be sleeping on your bed.  A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center found that about half the patients who complained of insomnia in the study had a dog or cat, and 53% of those pet owners said their pets disturbed their sleep in some way every night. Even if your dog is not disturbing your sleep, you could be upsetting his sleep unknowingly. By having your dog sleep in his own bed, you’ll ensure that both you and your pooch get a good sleep every day.

Cleaner House

Dogs tend to shed a lot in the places where they sleep. You’ll have a tough time cleaning your house, if you let your pet sleep on your bed or the couch in the living room. Dog beds, on the other hand, are easier to clean and maintain. Some beds even come with machine washable covers and cushions that allow for easy cleaning and washing.

More Place to Sleep

Dogs run, quiver, twist and turn in their sleep. By sleeping on his own bed, your pooch will have enough space to move around without getting hurt or hurting anyone else in the process. Keep your dog’s size in mind while you buy him a bed and always get a bed that is slightly larger than the space your dog occupies when he is curled up in a sleeping position.

More Personal Space

Your dog deserves a personal space of his own in the house and a dog bed would provide him with that. If you have two dogs in your house, then it necessary that both of them have separate beds that they can claim as their own and retreat to during the day, else they might end up fighting with each other over the bed.

A Happier Pooch

A good night’s sleep will keep your pooch healthy and happy. Made of soft cotton fabric and foam, dog beds offer firm support for your pooch’s back and limbs and prevent body pain. A good bed will contribute to your dog’s overall health.

Check out Woofilicious’s collection of dog/cat beds here. You can also shop for dog blankets here.

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5 Easy Tricks to teach your Dog

Not every dog can sing, dance or play the piano. But, there are some tricks that every dog can (irrespective of their age!)  easily learn to perform. Tricks are a great way to offer your pooch the much-needed mental stimulation and entertainment. Not to forget the fun you would have teaching him all those cool acts.

So, here are some must-learn basic tricks for your dog. Do try them out and let us know how your doggie performs 🙂

Stand up

Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose when he is sitting or lying on the floor. Give the command “stand” and slowly move the treat up and away from his muzzle. Your dog will have to stand up to grab the treat. The moment your pooch stands up, give him his treat, and praise him with a pat on the back or with an encouraging gesture to reinforce the behavior.

Sit down

Teaching your dog to “sit down” is yet another easy trick. While your dog is standing, hold a treat in your hand just above your his  nose (not too high else your dog would start jumping to grab it). Shout out your dog’s name followed by the word “sit”.  Now, move the treat away from his nose and towards his ears.  Your dog should now sit  down to grab the treat. Praise him by petting, if he understands your command and sits down to get the treat.

Shake Paws

Greet your pooch everyday by shaking his paw. To teach your dog to “Shake paws” just make him sit in front of you. Then take his paw in your hand and shake it. Keep practicing by extending out your hand, and using the command “Shake”. Praise your dog and reward him with a treat, if he offers his paw for a shake.

Fetch the Ball

Now that your dog can respond to your command to“sit down”, he can graduate to the next level and learn to fetch a ball. Once you get your dog to sit down in one place, throw a ball to a short distance and ask him to fetch it by saying “fetch”. Encourage your dog with treats and praises, if he makes an effort to run after the ball and pick it up. Fetching does not come instinctively to all dogs, so be patient with your pooch and keep practicing this trick, if he doesn’t get it easily.

Catch the Treat

This one’s a fun way to prod your pooch to get up and do some exercise. Just make your dog sit in front of you and toss his favorite treat in the air. Say “catch” when your throw. Make sure you don’t allow your dog to eat the treat, after it hits the ground.  Eventually, he will get desperate to get the treat, and make an effort to catch it in the air. Praise your dog and  give him a good petting when he catches the treat successfully.

Know any other  easy-to-do dog tricks? Do share them with us in the comments.

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Tips to take care of Puppies

Raising a puppy can be a highly rewarding experience. However, those initial months of puppyhood are also the most challenging ones – for you and your pup. To ensure that your puppy grows up to be a healthy and happy dog, it’s important to provide him/her with the right food, training and environment in the early years.

Take a look at some of these tips for taking care of a new puppy:

Provide your puppy with good food

Puppies need to be fed at least 4 times a day in the initial six months. The diet must be rich in proteins, minerals, vitamins, and fats essential for growth. You can opt for any high quality commercial puppy food available in the market. To maintain some variety you could also provide your puppy with natural food like cooked meat (make sure your remove the bones); and finely chopped and steamed veggies including pumpkin, carrot, cabbage and spinach. It’s always better to consult your vet, before you prepare a diet plan for your puppy.

Regular Exercise is a must

Puppies being highly active in their initial years get a good dose of exercise by playing and running around the house. Once your puppy is vaccinated, you can also start taking him/her for daily walks. When outside, make sure you keep the pup on a leash and secure the dog with a name tag.  You can find dog tags, collars and leashes here, if you are planning to get some for your new puppy.

Playtime is essential

Unlike humans, ‘Play’ is part of a dog’s entire life. But, puppyhood is the best time for your pooch to snuggle up with toys and engage in fun games with you. Toys and games also have numerous health benefits for dogs. Read this post if you need some guidance on selecting the right toy for your puppy. You can also check out Woofilicious’s collection of dog toys if you are looking to buy toys for your pup.

Keep your puppy well groomed

The earlier you start grooming your puppy, the better. Establishing a regular grooming routine will not only help you keep a check on fleas, ticks and other skin ailments that dogs are susceptible to, but also provide you with an opportunity to bond with your pet. Want to buy dog grooming products and accessories? You can shop for them here.

Vaccination and Health Checkups

Vaccination is necessary to protect your puppy from several dangerous diseases.  Puppies are generally vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parainfluenza Virus, when they are 6-8 weeks old. A follow-up dose of vaccination may be given around 4 weeks later, and annual booster vaccinations will be required to keep your dog protected. Make sure your take your puppy to the vet, immediately after you bring him/her home, to get an overall health check-up done. You may be required to visit the vet after few weeks to get the pup vaccinated and after few months( around 6-8 months) to get the puppy spayed/neutered. Even after your pup reaches adulthood, an annual visit to the vet is a must, to keep your dog’s health in check.

Start training your pup from day one

You must start training your dog as soon as you bring him/her home. Good training in the growing up years solves common behaviour issues in the later stages of your dog’s life. It also helps you develop a healthy relationship with your dog.  It’s important to be patient and encouraging while training your pet. Reward your pup with a treat when he/she follows your commands and does things in the right way, and never punish the pup for making mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process.

 Socializing your puppy

It’s important to socialize your dog with other dogs and people during the growing up years. A well socialized puppy is less fearful and more confident when it comes to dealing with new situations and environments. During the early weeks and months, introduce your puppy to new people and places. Once you have vaccinated your pooch, you can take him/her to dog parks or other places, where he/she can socialize with other dogs.

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