Taking Care of Your Best Friend

I am a huge dog lover. Anyone who knows me just a bit, knows that. It is always one of the first things I talk about. They are like my own children. I love them, care for them and only want the best for them. It is a lot of work, but the rewards are endless. They all love me unconditionally. I can be in the worst mood, and my dogs can bring me out of it. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed caring for them, but as a responsible pet owner, it is what I must do. In the end, caring for them is well worth the effort.
I see my dogs struggle more in the summer time than any other time of the year. I have double-coated dogs. That means they are really well suited for the cooler weather and climate. I have a Shetland Sheepdog, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and an Anatolian Shepherd. I also have a Beagle, but she is not double -coated. On my double-coated dogs, they all have a thick undercoat. This undercoat helps to protect them from getting too cold. The outer coat helps to repel water or snow. In the summer, though, a lot of people think that those double-coats are bad for the dogs. Actually, the dogs do really well. It is best to not shave the dog down during the summer. The double coat actually helps to protect them from the heat and getting sun-burned. Yes, dogs can get sun-burned. Just as badly as a human can. So think twice about shaving off that beautiful coat for the summer, you may be hurting your dog more than helping it.
A dog's health is so important. If something is wrong with the dog, he can't tell you. You have to learn how to observe the dog's behavior. A dog can also put up with a lot of pain before giving in to it.
For a couple of months, I noticed my Anatolian Shepherd was yelping when getting in/out of the car. I don't have a high car, just a mini-van. So getting in/out should be easy for this large of a dog. At times, she acted like her hips hurt. I took her to my vet. I just knew it was hip dysplasia. To my shock, it wasn't. Instead, she has spondylosis. What? Yeah, I know. It seems that she has a strange problem with her spine. She has "claws" that grow from her vertebrae. In a couple of places, her vertebrae are actually formed together because of this growth. It's a form of arthritis, but not common. All I can do is make her comfortable. But, at least I know the problem is there and I can help her with it.
Sometimes we just don't know what to do with our dogs. We get worried about taking care of them. The best thing to do is to educate yourself.
With summer, the heat, fleas and ticks are the largest problems. These can lead into other problems like skin disorders, heat stroke. A lot of people still use dip on dogs to get rid of the fleas and ticks. This does work, but only for a short time. I've found that Frontline and Advantix works best. Put it on once a month and you may see a few fleas here and there, but the cycle is broken and the eggs won't get laid or hatch. The stuff is really worth it. Don't forget to treat your house and yard. It's a pain, but if you are consistent with it, the flea cycle is broken and you won't have a problem.
There are so many topics to talk about with dogs. It would take me forever to cover them all. I've only touched the surface. Don't be afraid to learn more! Go to my blog and I have a link to a Canine Health site that you might like. http://www.frap501.blogspot.com
Don't let yourself be dumb when it comes to your best friend! Educate yourself! It's the only way to truly take care of him! Remember, he does a lot to take care of you, so return the favor!
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