Preventative Health
It is a good idea to set up a routine to check for anything unusual going on with your dog, preferably on a daily basis. Run your hands through the dogs coat noticing anything unusual, such as a cut, rash, lump, ticks or fleas, and inspect the ears and mouth. By doing this, not only do you bond with your dog and get him/her more comfortable next time he/she visits the vet, but also you might find things that you can take care of early enough before they turn into bigger and more expensive problems. Remember to keep a canine first-aid kit handy and don't hesitate to call your vet with any concerns. "You and your dog can enjoy many years together if you keep him/her healthy"
Vaccinations: Make sure vaccinations are up to date and get the dog to the vet when necessary. Keep a copy of current vaccinations when traveling along with your vets phone number.
Good Flea Program: Use methods to prevent fleas from infesting your dog. There's several out on the market such as Frontline or Advantage where you can just apply every 1 to 3 mos between their shoulder blades. Remember to also treat your home. Ask your vet what is best for your pet.
Prevent Internal Parasites: Prevent internal parasites from attacking your dog by refraining your dog from coming in contact with other dogs feces or infected soil. That's why its so important for stools to be picked up on a daily basis. Also, ask your vet about placing your dog on a preventative heartworm program. It can save your dog's life!
Regular Exercise and Activity: The GSD should have at least one hour of exercise a day to keep as fit as possible. Maybe enroll your GSD into a weekly agility class which is like a big doggie playground paradise with tunnels and ladders and rings...
Good Grooming: Brush your GSD at least two to three times a week to keep its coat healthy and control the shedding. Bathe your dog when necessary with a gentle and conditioning shampoo and rinse thoroughly. Don't forget to place a cotton ball in each ear to avoid water getting inside them. Clean inside the ears with cotton balls and check for any foreign objects. Call vet immediately if you see something in the ears you cannot get out. Use a damp towel to clean eyes. Teeth should be brushed at least three times a week and nails trimmed regularly. If nail clipping is not possible, some vet offices offer this service free to their clients. So, ask your vet! "A well groomed dog is a pleasure to look at." "A clean dog is a happy dog."
Good Nutrition: Read the label on the pet food and make sure it is the right one for the dog's developemental stage rather than just saying "good for all ages". German Shepherds do well with a food using meat and bone meal as the first two or three ingredients. Stay away from food based on soy products which give your GSD the problem of stomach gas leading to bloat. Pay attention to whatever your GSD may be allergic to, such as, wheat based products. Read the list of ingredients too, if one of the first three top ingredients says "by-products", avoid it! "By-products" mean the addition of diseased tissues and other inferior forms of protein into the food. Some owners prefer to make their own dog food for several reasons; one that their dog may have several allergies and is hard to find a food that agrees with him/her or that the owner may be appalled by the extra additives and preservatives in commercial food. To my husband John and I, commercial food has come a long way and dogs are living a lot longer now so commercial food is good enough for us. If you are cooking for your GSD, make sure your vet is aware, he may recommend a nutritional specialist to ensure the homemade diet is balanced. Here is a link to dog recipes if you are interested. Offer milkbones or other nutritional dog cookies as snacks rather than left over spicy food, candies, or chocolate. All these can cause diarrhea or can be deadly such as the case of chocolate.
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