Care Sheet for DogsAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 3.23 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 11/04/2004 |
Main Category: | Non-Reptile/Amphibian |
Sub Category: | Dogs |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | SugarFox03 |
Years Experience: | 15 to 20 Years |
Species: | Canines |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Dogs/Puppies |
Sexing and Characteristics: | If it has a penis and testicles, its a male, if it has a vagina, it is female. |
Mostly Active During: | Both |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Dogs/puppies are best kept inside away from the elements (rain, heat, snow, cold, etc...). They are less likely to catch diseases, and will be a healthier, happier animal. Fresh water should be available at all times. |
Lighting and UVB: | N/A |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Some dogs can stand the extreme temperatures better than others, but should never been subjected to them 24 hours a day. |
Heating and Equipment: | N/A |
Caging Provided: | A crate/kennel can be used to house the dog/puppy while you are away. This will help the dog/puppy in house training, and in keeping them from chewing on furniture, etc. An adult dog should never be left in a crate for more than 8 hours, whereas puppies should only be in there a maximum of 3-4 hours. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Dogs are carnivorous. They are descendants of wolves which only eat meat in the wild. Their diet should consist of a good quality meat-based dog food, NOT Ol’Roy! (walmarts brand of dog food, if you read the ingredients, no meat is in it, and most bags/cans will say " -meat- flavored". Dogs should be fed puppy food for the first year of life. Even though they may look full grown on the outside, internal organs are still growing and developing, and they need the added nutrients in the puppy formula. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Vitamins can be given, but aren’t necessary if a quality dog food is given. |
Maintenance: | Some breeds will be higher maintenance than others. Short hair breeds will be easier to keep than long haired, as daily brushing will be necessary. Some long hair breeds may also need to be professionally groomed to stay healthy, fecal matter can collect in long hair and develop mats if not taken care of. Dogs/Puppies also need to be on a strict vaccine regime. They need to be tested yearly for heartworm and either yearly or bi-yearly for internal parasites. Monthly flea/tick and heartworm prevention is a MUST for ALL dogs. (only deviation from this is if your dog is on Proheart injection, which is a 6 month dose of heartworm prevention, but I DO NOT recommend this). Flea/tick and heartworm prevention is much cheaper, safer, and healthier for the pet than the cost to treat the parasites and the damage they do. Fleas can cause flea-allergy dermatitis, causing your dogs skin to get rashes, which can get infected and fill with pus, ticks are carriers of many diseases, some of which are fatal to canines. And heartworm in canines, left untreated is 100% fatal to dogs. For dogs that will not be used to breed/show, they need to be sterilized. This will make for a much happier, healthier animal. The possibility of having any form of reproductive cancer is eliminated if females are spayed before the first heat cycle, and for males by the time they are 6 months old. |
Some Words on this Species: | Dogs are a man’s best friend, and a girls too! Owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding experiences, as the dog will show its love 10 fold of what you show to them. They are fun-loving, protective of their home/family, intelligent, and just all around great to share your life with. |
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