Your dog and a new baby on the way
I have received some great questions from my readers in the past few
weeks. I’d like to take this opportunity to answer a few of
them. Toni wrote in:
“Dear Kate: I’ve been hearing a lot about “all
natural” dog food lately. It sounds good and I’d like
to switch my dog’s diet to something more holistic. The problem
is that I’m worried that Laurus (my dog) will give me a hard
time if I change his food. Is there a good or easy way to do this?”
Well, Toni, I think it is great that you are looking into a more
natural food for Laurus. Diets that are “natural” generally
have protein sources that are of higher grade than others, and are
often organic and/or free range. They are also usually a bit more
nutrient dense. Your vet or a pet store that specializes in these
foods can give you some recommendations for what would be best for
your dog. When switching foods, it is very important to do it gradually.
Start with just ¼ of the new food mixed in with ¾
of the old. Increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount
of old food over a period of 7 – 10 days. Introducing the
new diet to your dog this way will help prevent any digestive upset
he may experience. Remember to review the feeding guidelines on
the back of the new food’s label. You will often find that
a higher quality food requires fewer amounts to be fed. Thanks for
writing, and good luck, Toni & Laurus!
Diana wrote in:
“How often should you have your pet groomed? My dog is very
itchy all the time but doesn’t appear to have any sores. Any
idea what this could be?”
Hi Diana! Thanks so much for writing in. In response to your question
about your dog’s itchy skin, there are all sorts of possibilities
here. Your best bet is to talk to your vet about this problem, as
it can indicate a range of causes. If it is just dry skin, though,
a soothing oatmeal bath with a conditioner can help make your dog
feel much better! As far as how often to have him groomed, well,
that differs from dog to dog. Without knowing with what kind of
dog you share your life with, the best answer I can offer is this:
all dogs need care and attention paid to their coats on a daily
basis. Regardless if they need a trim or hair cut, they should all
have the benefit of a thorough brush and comb, as well as a bath,
on average of every six weeks. In addition, they will usually receive
a nail trim and ear cleaning. This is just on average, as each dog’s
lifestyle differs. You need to take into consideration how dirty
your dog gets, how thick his coat is and if it needs to be trimmed,
and how healthy his skin and coat are. Your vet and your professional
groomer should be able to help you out more specifically. I hope
your dog’s itching gets “scratched” soon!
Thanks to every one who has written in – keep your eyes on
this column for more answers to your pet questions!
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