How to be a good dog-parent: A detailed checklist
Having a dog is like having a child. They bring so much happiness in our lives, and make us fall in love with them. At the same time, it is our responsibility to make their lives as easy and healthy as we can. To get you going, here is a checklist that will help you to be a good parent to your dog.
1. Before getting a dog, be mentally and financially prepared
Getting a dog is a long term commitment of at least fifteen years. So, it is necessary that you have a discussion with the whole family about the decision. You must divide the responsibilities as well.
Another necessity is to be financially prepared. For example, if no one is going to be home for more than 6-7 hrs, you can have a pet sitter. And as the dog grows up, he will also need medical attention. This is where finances come into play.
2. Get your dog neutered when required
Consult your vet about whether it is needed or not.
When it comes to Indies, they definitely need to be spayed so that their aggression lowers and animal-human conflict also decreases.
3. Ask the foster for the dog’s history
You should know about any medical issue the dog had previously. You should also know about any disease to the dog’s parents or other puppies in the litter. This will be of great help during your vet visits.
4. Dental hygiene is equally important
Use special toothpaste and brush for dogs. You can also make a paste at home by mixing baking soda and coconut oil.
5. Vaccination is another thing you cannot ignore
The schedule for vaccination varies from each vet, you can consult yours for the same.
And once you have the schedule, you can set up the reminders on the Sploot app.
6. Take care of the bathing schedule
If their skin is good, bathing them once a month is okay. If you feel you want to be more frequent, you can use a moisturizer after the bath.
While bathing them, you should also keep an eye for ticks and worms; and if you observe any, do consult your vet.
7. Do’s and Don’ts of food
Your dog is curious. So make sure that you keep certain things out of his reach. For example, don’t feed him chocolates, grapes, raisins, onion, or garlic. Having sugar will make him gain weight.
You should also avoid giving him cooked bones, as these can break and dogs might gulp them. Even if the bone is raw, be careful because if gulped, it may cause internal injuries.
You can add fish without bones, and eggs to his diet. Boiled chicken, peanut butter, carrot, pumpkin, mashed potatoes, and cooked plain rice are some other good diet options.
8. Make a routine for exercise and follow it
Make them exercise for 1-1.5 hours everyday. The goal is to make them tired. But make sure that you don’t take them for a walk in the heat during summers.
We know it’s a lot to take care of, but be it for food, bathing, or exercise, set up all the reminders on the Sploot app.