Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: WHAT TO FEED YOUR PET DOG?

Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: WHAT TO FEED YOUR PET DOG?:         whenever a pet lover or the one who owns a pet approaches me, the first thing they ask  is what to feed a dog and when to feed and ...

Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: ARE ALSATIANS AND GERMAN SHEPHERDS THE SAME?

Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: ARE ALSATIANS AND GERMAN SHEPHERDS THE SAME?:              Among many of  the pet owners there is always a confusion whether  Alsatian and German shepherds belong to a same breed or ...

Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PET DOG

Paws N' Claws Pet Clinic- The Pet Vet blog: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PET DOG:       When you decide to get a pet dog there is always a concern about how to choose a perfect pet for your family. Here are some of the su...

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PET DOG

     When you decide to get a pet dog there is always a concern about how to choose a perfect pet for your family. Here are some of the suggestions for choosing a right pet dog.
     Select your new dog which suits your family , lifestyle and living situation. Consider its temperament, size and coat as well. Consult your veterinarian before you acquire a pet of any kind.

BREED SELECTION.
      The recognized breeds are grouped into 7 categories, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy breeds,  Sporting,  Non-sporting and Herding breeds.
       India is a tropical country with hot weather most of the year round with short duration of winters and monsoons.Keeping the climatic conditions in mind the dog breeds which suits well for Indian climate must be preferred.Your vet and dog shows are excellent sources of information about individual breed characteristics.
       Opting a puppy born of pedigreed and kennel club registered parents is a wise decision as you get to know the ultimate size, shape and temperament of the dog.
       While buying a registered puppy, collect the registration certificate, microchip, transfer of registration form duly signed by the breeder, which is issued by the kennel club of India KCI with its headquarters at Chennai.

SELECTING A PUPPY.
          6 to 10 wks is considered an ideal age to acquaint a puppy with its new home. Select a puppy that is active, friendly and inquisitive. While buying the puppy enquire the breeder about the details of vaccination and de worming done ,so that it will be useful for you to continue it. Before bringing home your puppy, his place of living should be decided in advance.The place should be comfortable in summer & winter months. The first time he arrives home, make him feel comfortable. It is the start of the relationship.

ARE ALSATIANS AND GERMAN SHEPHERDS THE SAME?

     

       Among many of  the pet owners there is always a confusion whether  Alsatian and German shepherds belong to a same breed or a different breed. when we look  into the history of German shepherds , we found many interesting facts about how the original name had been changed and how the breed got it back..

ORIGIN
     German shepherds was originated in Germany in 1899, as part of herding group. The breed was named as Deutscher Schaferhund meaning "German shepherd dog". It is abbreviated as GSD. It was so named due to its purpose of assisting shepherds in herding and protecting sheep.

HISTORY.
       After the conclusion of world war 1, due to the anti- German sentiments of the era, the breed was officially renamed by the UK kennel club to 'Alsatian wolf dog'.
      Alsace is a historical region in north eastern France bordering Germany and Switzerland. The predominant language of Alsace is Alsatian ,  and so the breed was named as "Alsatian wolf dog".
     But many breeders were worried that the name "wolf dog hybrid" would affect the breeds popularity and legality and so the name "wolf dog" was dropped and "Alsatian" remained for nearly five decades.
      In 1977 many dog enthusiast successfully campaigned about the original name of the Alsatian among the people and the UK Kennel club allowed the breeds to get registered again in the name of German shepherds. But AKC went back using the original name of German shepherd dogs in 1931. The word Alsatian was completely removed in 2010.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS.
     German shepherds are medium to large sized dogs. The standard height of male is 60 -65 cms and for females it is 55-60 cms. They live upto 12 to 13 years. They have a two layered coat and the coat has two variants- medium and long. The coat colour includes Black & Tan, Black& Red, Black &Silver, Blue,Gray, Liver, Black, Sable and White. AKC doesn't recognize white as a colour of this breed.
      They are preferred around the world for many types of work like disability assistance, search and rescue operations, police, military etc. They are loyal, intelligent, obedient, courageous, watchful, alert and confident.
     German shepherds are the second most popular dog breeds by registration world wide.

WHAT TO FEED YOUR PET DOG?

       whenever a pet lover or the one who owns a pet approaches me, the first thing they ask  is what to feed a dog and when to feed and how to feed a dog? This is the major question i had came across in my 16 years of professional life . so ,i decided to give some suggestions for them which can help them feed the pet a healthy and balanced food. 
      Dogs are basically carnivorous animals which prefer meat and meat products, however domesticated dogs are adapted to omnivorous feeding habits, and can survive on a vegetarian diet as long as it contains sufficient protein and is supplemented with vitamin D.

    It is important that the diet you feed your dog is complete and balanced in every meal. Every dog’s unique nutritional requirement depends on its size, breed, stages in their life. 

     A better understanding of how dogs use the various nutrients in food and how much of them they need can help you choose a healthier diet for your pet.

      Dogs eat larger , less frequent meals. It is fine to feed an adult dog 1 or 2 times per day. Puppies however need 2 to 3 daily meals.

     Dogs need aminoacids from protein , fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, water to survive.

Here are some guidelines for feeding your dog.

COMMERCIAL DOG FOODS.

          In a variety of forms- dry,semi-moist, canned food. It generally contains much higher levels of animal products. It is necessary to see the pet food labels which contains the list of percentage of protein, fat, fibre, water in the food. Consult your veterinarian and get advice about the breed specific, age specific food for your pet.

 MEAT AND OTHER ANIMAL PRODUCTS.

         It should always make up atleast half of the diet. Meaty bones include chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, pork, venison, ostrich, buffalo etc. Be sure the meat is fresh. Feeding fish is occassionally good but not as a main food. Egg is also nutritious.

DAIRY PRODUCTS.

     Plain yoghurt, curd, is well tolerated by dogs. Cottage and ricotta cheese are also good options. Milk should be avoided.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS.

      While this is not a significant part of evolutionary diet of the dog and wolf, these provide fibre that supports digestive health and can be used as treats for your pets.

       Vegetables like Pumpkin, carrot, peas, beets, sweet potato, green beans, zucchini, can be steamed, chopped and fed.

        Fruits include berries, melon, papaya, banana, apple are good option.

GRAINS.

      Good choices include oatmeal, brown rice, barley which must be well cooked. Use of rice, wheat, corn should be limited.

       Dogs lack the digestive enzymes to break down carbohydrates. so, it should be restricted to avoid the pets from diseases.

WINTER CARE TIPS FOR DOGS.

       Winter is here and we need to pay close attention to the weather and to our pets. Here are some tips to help ensure your pets safety this winter season. 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BREEDS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COLD.    

   Dogs that are great in the cold climate include  Siberian husky, German shepherd, collie, saint Bernard, bull mastiff, Labrador, Golden retriever, chow- chow, Tibetian mastiff etc.

     Dogs that find harder in cold climate include Doberman, Boxer, Grey hound, Beagle, Pointer, Weimaraner, Great dane, Pug, Maltese and other Toy breeds.

PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SHELTER.

       If you have dog which is placed outdoors ensure that it  has a warm place to sleep off the floor.

      You can provide with a dog bed, cushions, blankets, quilt etc and make a warm bedding.

    Clean and change the bedding regularly.

    While taking your dog for a walking it can be provided with dog jackets, snuggies, sweaters, booties etc.

FEEDING.

     Pets who spend most of time outdoors needs more calories of food in winter because keeping warm depletes energy. But don’t overfeed your dog.

     Routinely check your pets water dish to make sure that water is not too cold.

    Talk to your vet doctor about your pets energy needs.

 GROOMING.

     Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as longer coat will provide more warmth.

      If  your dog is long haired , simply trim the hairs but don’t neglect the hairs between the toes.

      Take  out for shorter walks during cold months.

      Bathe your pets as little as possible during winter or use  sprays.

      Consult your vet about the moisturising shampoo for bathing during winter.

      Maintain a good grooming regime, combing out knots & brushing the coat thoroughly.

HEALTH PROBLEMS.

    As with humans dogs can fall ill during colder months.Respiratory infections in damp climates is the principal concern.Frost bite can be a problem for some dogs especially hairless varieties.

  Arthritis ,osteo arthritis, lameness, especially in aged dogs can be aggrevated during cold months.

   Exposure to winter can cause itchy, flaking skin, cracks in the paw pads, redness between the toes and fleas infestation.

    Consult your veterinarian for proper medication if you came across any of the illness during winter.

    Paying special attention to your dogs wellbeing during winter season will ensure you both enjoy the winter to its fullest.