| Information sheets | | | Elsenburg infopaks | | | Animals, management: 1 |
Dog care in general
Afrikaans | Xhosa
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Why do you keep a dog? He is your best friend because he is loyal to you twenty-four hours of the day. But how do you care for this friend of yours? The following information may be of value to every dog lover.
A recently acquired puppy must, if possible, be taken to a veterinarian for inoculation and de-worming at the age of six to eight weeks. |
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Sometimes puppies constantly have abnormally swollen
stomachs. This is an indication of serious worm infestation. For the rest of his life a dog must be de-wormed every six months. It is important to vary the agents used for de-worming so that the worms will not become immune to them. The members of the household must also be de-wormed every six months, because human beings can very easily get worms from their pets.
At the age of three months, a dog must get his first injection against rabies. This injection must be renewed annually. |
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Let us take a look at the food and water a dog requires. If a dog gets just porridge to eat, he does not get all the necessary nutrients. Together with the porridge, give a soup that has been cooked of vegetable peels and soup bones or meat leftovers. Puppies must receive soft food and also milk in order to maintain strong bones and teeth. Bran and cooking oil (1 tablespoon four times per week), given together with the food, will ensure good digestion. Gravid or lactating females must also receive milk and nutritious food. No chicken bones or any other sharp, small bones may ever be given to dogs, because they can get stuck in their throats or intestines. Large bones and cattle hoofs, however, may be given. Cattle hoofs are especially good for small dogs that are cutting their teeth. |
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Water must be available twenty-four hours of every day. Put the container in the shade so that the water does not get hot in the sun. |
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A shelter of corrugated iron or wood is necessary to protect the dog against wind, rain or cold and will also provide shade on a hot day. Bedding in the form of an old blanket or sack
must be hung out regularly so that the germs can be killed in the sun.
As far as is possible, dogs must be kept free of ticks, fleas and lice. In parts where this is a serious problem, the dog can be dipped every second week during the summer months. |
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KARBADUST is not expensive and can also be applied for this purpose. This powder can be strewn on the dog three to four times a week and rubbed in. It must also be strewn on the dog's bedding. Please remember that this powder is poisonous and that the hands must be washed thoroughly after it has been used. Do not keep too many dogs. It is better to keep only one dog that is cared for properly. A bitch must be sterilized if you do not want to breed.
There are people who believe that dogs have a worm under their tongues that needs to be cut out. This is pure superstition because that "worm" is only part of the dog's tongue. Not only is it very painful for the dog if this so-called worm is cut out, but many dogs have also bled to death as a result of this. Another silly myth is that a sick dog will bleed out its disease if its ears are cut off. |
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Never put a string, rope or wire around a dog's neck, but rather use a
leather collar. If it is necessary to keep a dog on a chain, it is better to use a running chain. Two pegs are driven into the earth a few metres apart. The end of a piece of wire is fastened to each of these two pegs. A chain that is attached to the dog's collar (preferably of leather) is then fastened to the wire so that it can slide from one side to the other. In this way it is possible for the dog to have greater freedom of movement. A dog that has been chained must never be without water, it must receive food at least once a day and it must have a proper shelter.
Dogs must not be taught to hunt. Dogs that have been chained for a long time without having received food, are dangerous, especially on farms, because such famished dogs can attack sheep or even cattle. Be careful when it is necessary to use poison. Rat poison, for example, must be placed in a place where it is definitely out of reach of all dogs. |
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On a lighter note - never look a vicious dog in the eye. A dog sees this as a challenge! Also, never tease a dog. Leave dogs alone when they are eating. This also applies to bitches with puppies. When a dog feels threatened, there is always the possibility that it will bite you.
Pay enough attention to your dog and then you will know for sure that you have a loyal friend and protector. |
S Hoffman
ELSENBURG / LYDENBURG Veterinary Services
