An Owner’s Guide to Pet's Health and Wellness at Home
Good nutrition
Both dry and canned dog food will give your dog good nutrition. Just always bare in mind a balanced diet is vital to its overall health and well-being. And under most circumstances, dogs can meet their nutritional needs by eating a combination of plant and animal foods. The six basic nutrients are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins.
- Select diets with real and whole-food ingredients.
- Select a low-calorie diet. Especially when you cannot go exercise with him/her everyday. Most adult, indoor spayed dogs have low energy requirements. So ideally should keep in less than 350 calories per day.
At home dental care
Daily dental care at home for young puppies are essential which can benefit them when they're older. The essential task is to prevent plaque and tartar accumulation.
What to prepare?
Brushes and dog toothpastes are the basic setup and effective way to maintain oral health between professional dental examinations. Use a specially designed dog toothbrush or finger gloves like the following:
Cleaning tips:
Use a specially designed dog toothbrush or a recommended alternative
- Use a specially designed dog toothbrush or a recommended alternative
- Never use human toothpaste. Instead, use pet-safe toothpaste with a favourable to your dog's taste buds
- Give your dog a small sample of the toothpaste to introduce the taste
- Lift the lip to expose the outside surfaces of your dog's gums and teeth
- Brush with gentle motions to clean the teeth and gums, as you would your own
- Clean the outside (cheek-facing) surfaces, as most pets will not allow you to brush the inside surface of the teeth
- Be sure to reach the back upper molars and canines, as these teeth tend to quickly build up tartar
- Reward your dog with play, petting or a favorite activity to positively reinforce the brushing process
Good grooming
Good grooming is not a once a year task for your dog. Building a regular grooming routine for your dog is important, especially as we all love snuggling with them very often.
To begin, we often suggest to brush your dog a few times a week to build up a routine. Especially if you are going to bathe your dog, brush first to get the heavy dirt out.
What to prepare?
A comb, brush or shedding blade (if you are planning to shave your dog) and microfiber towel. Prepare for a bathing setup, either in a normal bathroom or a portable tub works too. We have another blog for a more detailed dog grooming guide.
How to safely shave a dog
After you have washed and brushed your dog, you may try to give her a trim. But this is a more challenging task compared to what we have included in this blog. Similar to doing a haircut at home for people, it might not turn out the way you want for newbies. You always want to start with a dry and clean dog for trimming or shaving. Since there are too many details to cover, here are two videos that we found helpful to go through the whole process with you.
Video 1, 2
Nail Care
Photo credit
Nail trimming is an essential part of dog grooming, and trim nails can help keep your dog’s good health and hygiene. However it can be anxiety inducing for both you and your dog.
What to prepare?
There are different sizes of nail trimmers for small dogs and larger dogs. For example the one we have is designed for small dogs, cats and small animals. There is a positive lock and nail guard that minimizes over-cutting. So remember to pick the right size of nail trimmers. You may prepare some snacks like peanut butter to keep them claim when your dogs need some comfort.
When to trim?
When you start to see your dog’s nails are touching the ground then it is a good idea to trim their nails. You need to pay attention to where the vein is, people call it “the quick”. The vein is the source of blood, so you can see the white and red part of your dog’s nail from the outside. The quick is where the pink part of the nail begins, trim below that line. If your dogs have nails that are all black then you may need to trim it bit by bit, watch the tutorial here.
It is not an easy task for a dog to get used to nail trimming. So you need to be patient when your dog is opposed to having their nails trimmed. Groomer Brittany says, Sometimes even one foot or one nail a day is a big achievement when working with dogs who don't like having it done. So don’t rush or stress yourself or your dog out.