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Winter Precautions for Dogs: Tips Take Care Of Your Dog In Winters

The winter period is said to be a healthy period for your pet. Your pet will not get sick easily if you take care of a few points.

1. Warm and cozy Bedding

Just like us he also feels cold. Never leave him outside the house on the balcony or parking area especially at night. Provide him warm and cozy bedding. Some dogs will tear the bed into pieces, you recently bought for him. So, always observe him keenly while introducing a new bed to him. Try to keep both the beds(old and new) together initially, this will give him time to accept the new bed and after few days when he will be comfortable with the new bed, you can remove the old one.

2. Car accidents

Every year some cases can be heard where stray dogs get under the car hood over the warm motor during the night to get the warmth of the motor and sleep there. In the morning when you are in a hurry, you just start and drive the car, which leads to an accident. These kinds of incidents can occur with our pets also. Next time in winters while starting the car in the morning make sure to have a look under the car hood.

3. Clothing

Decreased body temperature (normal is 101.5’F to 102.5’F) is very common in winters and is a matter of concern. Always provide your pet appropriate clothing in winters. With this simple precaution, you can prevent him from getting sick.

4. Bathing

Your dog doesn’t need daily bathing due to the absence of sweat glands on the skin. Bathing is required after 10 – 15 days in summer and 20 days to even a month in winter. Make sure to bathe him at noon on a bright sunny day to make sure he doesn’t get sick.

5. Heaters

If you frequently use heaters in your house then your pet is more prone to accidents due to heaters. Your pet has a tendency to find a warmer place and sit on it. When they do the same with heaters they can burn themselves. You need to keep an eye on his activities around the room heaters.

6. Over feeding

This is a very common issue with dogs. Physical activities generally decrease in the winters as compared to the summers. If you don’t take care of his feeding habits he might get obese. So, never overfeed him especially in winters.

7. Hydration

In winter water of your pet is reduced deliberately. It is very important to hydrate your pet and provide him regular drinking water. Moreover, water kept in the feeding bowl of your pet should be regularly changed.

8. Care of adult Dogs

Adult dogs (above 6-7 years of age) develop problems related to joints eg. arthritis. These get noticed when the problem like lameness and inability to bear weight on legs occurs. In such cases, it is important to lubricate joints along with additional supplementation and exercise. In extreme cases never delay your visit to the vet.

Dog Pregnancy: Signs, Care, and Preparing for Puppies

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Know your pet : Dog’s Pregnancy

“Pregnancy” is a period when our pets need extra care. It is the physiological phase with considerable stress which is characterized with preparations for future neonates. It is always beneficial to know about pregnancy for healthy pet parenting.

Pregnancy in dogs lasts about 63 ± 5 days.
Signs of pregnancy are not remarkable at early stage but appear after 2-3 weeks.
Noticeable Weight gain and abdominal enlargement continues from 20-25 days of pregnancy till end. At the end sometimes moving pups may be observed in abdomen.
Teats/nipples becomes more prominent, erected and pinkish in color after about 30 days of pregnancy. After 40-45 days mammary glands enlarge and some secretion may also be observed.
Clear mucoid vaginal discharge may be there at later half of pregnancy
Nausea and vomition are less common.
Pregnancy confirmation can be done with ultrasonography at earlier period. X-ray is excellent for diagnosis after 40 days of pregnancy.
Hormonal estimation (Relaxin; a placental hormone) can diagnose the pregnancy at 20-25 days.

General Care During Pregnancy

Provide the healthy diet (well balanced and easily digestible) with increased calories especially during later half of pregnancy.
Never change the food stuffs, diet frequency and amount of food suddenly. Changes should always be gradual.
Multivitamins and multi-minerals may be provided as supplement but calcium should not be given at later half of pregnancy.
Exercise should be continued while pregnancy. It should never be vigorous or stressful preferably after 6 weeks of pregnancy. Walking of about 30minutes twice a day may prove best at advance pregnancy.
Any type of vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy.
Deworming can be done but only with advice of your vet as some deworming salts may cause abortion.
On observation of any type of abnormal vaginal discharge (reddish or brownish), immediate contact to your veterinarian.
Visit your vet at least every 15 days during pregnancy regarding general health examinations.