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Sometimes, in spite of every effort to maintain the cleanliness of the dog, the pet may still acquire an unpleasant odor before the next bathing time arrives. A tablet is now manufactured that will subdue or get rid of these odors. It is made from certain extractives of chlorophyl—the chemical which gives life to plants—and is similar in principle to the various types of wicks that are commonly used to control household odors. Your veterinarian will be very happy to tell you about it.
The selection of a particular sex usually presents no special problem. If a person is determined to raise a family of dogs, the choice must obviously fall on a female. But so far as personality is concerned, there are no consistent differences between male and female. It is commonly said that males are somewhat more rambunctious than females and that females tend to be more docile and obedient. But the plain fact of the matter is that the behavior of the individual animal will be determined more by the training that it receives than by any differences in natural disposition due to sex. It is true, however, that the female will come into heat a couple of times a year for periods of three weeks each, and that these heat periods may prove rather messy and troublesome to some owners. If the owner is the least bit squeamish in this regard, then the problem can be permanently eliminated by having the animal spayed. But even the female in heat will not be particularly annoying if the animal is obedience trained, and properly restrained by a leash while outside the confines of home. The male, on the other hand, will be on the prowl for females if permitted to run loose. So obedience training and leash restraint are just as necessary for the male as for the female. The selection of a dog according to sex, therefore, would not appear to be an especially crucial problem.
Most dogs appreciate some little nook or comer of the household that they can call their own. This can be provided by a “bed” to which the animal may retire at the end of the day, or in which it may rest or relax whenever it gets the notion. The bed need not be elaborate, but it should be easy to clean. In most cases, a simple carton box of suitable size, with one side torn away so that the animal is free to enter and leave the box as it pleases, will serve the purpose quite well. The bottom of the box should be covered with a mat or with shredded newspaper. The mat can be washed whenever necessary and the paper can be changed daily.
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A dog should be trained to a leash and collar at the earliest possible age. Walking a dog on a leash is often a legal requirement in large metropolitan centers, and in smaller communities it is suggested as a safety measure in order to reduce the chance of accident.
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Another unseen freeloader is the whipworm, which is the most difficult to exterminate. They do not need to leave the intestines to complete a life cycle. Eggs are passed in the dog’s stool and after 2-4 weeks in a warm, moist environment, they become infective to another dog. The eggs hatch and the worms mature in the cecal area of the intestine where they can cause chronic bowel inflammation. Most common in adult animals especially those housed in groups or kennels because they can become infectious to other dogs after a few weeks in a warm environment. The symptoms may include severe diarrhea, flatulence, loss of weight and general overall condition. Whipworms can cause chronic bowel inflammation. Luckily, these parasites only adhere to our canine friends. Fenbendazole (Panacur) is usually prescribed after diagnosis. To regulate these parasites, give doses of milbemycin oxime every month, a heartworm preventive medication.
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It is impossible for a pet owner to know when his pet should be vaccinated since the proper time for vaccination varies from one animal to the other. The veterinarian can determine the most proper time to begin vaccination basing this decision upon his experience and your dog’s general health.
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