Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
Tips for a smiling pup
Spending quality time with your pet, regular grooming and taking it to a veterinary doctor will keep it happy and healthy, says Hemanth W.A., a vet for 15 years. A few pet care ideas from him:
Buy a pet only if you can spend quality time with it every day. The type of home should determine your decision of the breed. Insist on seeing both parents of the pet.
Make sure you take your pet to a vet only and have the pet's health record stamped with the doctor's Veterinary Council number. Kennel owners and breeders are not qualified to practise veterinary medicine as most of them do.
Immunisation is absolutely necessary for dogs against rabies, distemper, hepatitis and para-influenza among other infections. For cats, there are vaccines for respiratory problems and gastro enteritis.
You can train your pet when it is four or five months old. Pet socialising is important.
Daily grooming helps you check for ticks and fleas, bite allergies from parasites and skin diseases.
Shampoo only once a month with dog/cat shampoos. Regular use of shampoo, especially those for humans, is not good for the skin and hair of your pet.
Regular interaction with your pet will help recognise health/energy levels in your pet. Sunlight will keep your pet healthy and dry.
Have the ears checked for wax and cut nails. Your pet may hurt the ears by scratching/itching
De-worming once in two or three months is necessary for beef-eating dogs; for vegetarian ones, once in four to six months should do. Dogs carrying fleas may carry tapeworms too.
Chewing of bones maintains dental hygiene.
Exercise, depending on age and breed, balanced diet, accompanied by commercial pet food, is essential. Pets are vulnerable to degenerative disease of bones and joints and need appropriate doses of vitamins and minerals.
Pets in their old age need loving care.
If you are not going to breed your pet, then get it spayed to avoid uterus infection and endometritis /pyometia and nuisance from stray male dogs.
M.Y.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
