Owning dogs, especially providing care for the australian silky terrier, is nothing new for people across the world. Some zoologists theorize that dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, humans have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of tallest pooch. But the most widespread pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The australian silky terrier is another popular pick with canine owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of some common australian silky terrier care tips.
Cost of care for your australian silky terrier
The yearly cost of caring for the australian silky terrier—which includes meals and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even count capital costs for sterilization procedures, dog collar and a leash, dog carrier and dog crate. Note: Be positive you have all the required items before you bring your australian silky terrier home.
Typical australian silky terrier Care
australian silky terrier Feeding Plan
- australian silky terrier puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need four bowls of food daily.
- australian silky terrier puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals daily.
- Feed pups six months old to one year 2 bowls of food daily.
- When your australian silky terrier makes her 1st birthday, one bowl per day is adequate.
- Many times adult australian silky terriers, however, do better with 2 lighter meals. It’s your job to learn your australian silky terrier’s eating schedule.
Excellent-quality dry dogfood ensures a balanced diet for full-grown australian silky terriers and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your australian silky terrier may also like fruits and vegetables, cooked eggs, and cottage cheese, but these foods should not result in more than 10 pct of his daily food intake. australian silky terrier pups ought to be given top-quality, name brand puppy food. You should try to limit “table food”, though, because it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bone and teeth issues, and might lead to very finicky food choices and obesity. Clean, potable water should be available only, and be certain to wash food and water bowls frequently.
australian silky terrier Care Tips: Your australian silky terrier needs physical activity daily
australian silky terriers must have daily exercise so they can burn calories, stimulate their minds, and keep healthy. Daily activity also seems to help australian silky terriers avoid boredom, which can lead to difficult behavior. Getting out and about would curb many of your australian silky terrier’s instinctual urges to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Activity needs are dependent on your australian silky terrier’s age and his level of health—but ten minutes in the backyard and just a walk around the block every day probably will not cut it. If your australian silky terrier is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will be much more.
australian silky terrier Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your australian silky terrier clean with regular brushing. Check for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Many australian silky terriers don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Before giving him or her a bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the australian silky terrier’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your australian silky terrier
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. To carry your australian silky terrier puppy, put one of your hands under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting his hind legs and rear. Don’t ever try to lift or grab your pup by his or her front legs, tail or nape. When you have to pick up a larger, full-grown australian silky terrier, lift from underneath, supporting his chest with one arm and rump with the other.
How to House your australian silky terrier
australian silky terriers need a comfortable quiet spot in order to sleep apart from all the breezes and off the ground. You might wish to buy a doggie bed, or consider making one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, blanket, or pillow in the bed as cushioning. Wash your australian silky terrier’s bedding frequently. If your australian silky terrier will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain he has access to plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered area in the cold.
Licensing and Identification for australian silky terriers
Heed your community’s licensing rules. Be certain to attach the license to your australian silky terrier’s collar. This, along with an ID tag, can easily help secure your australian silky terrier’s return should she go missing.
australian silky terrier Temperament Information
Training australian silky terriers
A well-mannered, companion australian silky terrier can truly be a pleasure to raise. However, when untrained, your australian silky terrier may be troublesome. Training your australian silky terrier on the minimums—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship both with your australian silky terrier and the neighbors. If you have a puppy, begin teaching her the right responses as fast as you can! Doggie treats can be used as incentive and recognition. Puppies should enroll in obedience class when they have been sufficiently vaccinated. Contact the local SPCA or humane society for obedience schools. It is best to keep your australian silky terrier on a leash while in public, even as a pup. Just be positive your dog will come back to you if you say the word. A disobedient or aggressive australian silky terrier cannot play with children.
Your australian silky terrier’s Health
australian silky terriers should visit the vet for a thorough screening, innoculations and heartworm examination each and every year, and as soon as possible if he is sick or injured.
Knowing Your australian silky terrier’s Dental Health
While many of us may object to our australian silky terrier’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a sign of. Halitosis usually means that your australian silky terrier should have a dental screening. Dental plaque triggered by bacteria results in a bad smell that requires professional treatment. After a cleaning from a professional, her teeth and gums may be kept up by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. The vet can show you more tips on minimizing oral ailments as well as stinky breath. You can easily clean the australian silky terrier’s teeth using a doggie paste or a homemade baking soda and water paste twice weekly. You can brush them with a nylon stocking wrapped around your finger, a sterile gauze pad, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the teeth and gums, sometimes affects australian silky terriers. Sometimes, loss of teeth happens because of gum infection. Infection can possibly also spread to the rest of your australian silky terrier’s body. Veterinarians will most likely clean his teeth as a regular part of your australian silky terrier’s health physical.
Breeds with Halitosis (bad breath)
Although periodontal disease alone is not very serious if caught early, halitosis may indicate fairly serious, persistent issues. A pleasant, even sweet smell can usually be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your australian silky terrier’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your australian silky terrier has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in australian silky terriers
Daily checks of your australian silky terrier for fleas and ticks in the warm seasons are important. Remove and find fleas using a flea comb. There are several new procedures of tick and flea control. Get advice from your vet about her or his recommendations.
Heartworm problems in australian silky terriers
Your australian silky terrier is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes transport this parasite from dog to dog. Heartworm infections are deadly. Your australian silky terrier should have a heartworm screen every spring—this is necessary for catching infestations from the earlier year. A monthly tablet given throughout mosquito season can help to protect your australian silky terrier. If ever you vacation in warmer regions with your australian silky terrier in winter, she must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some of the warmer regions, vets recommend preventive parasite medication year round.
Medicines and Poisons
If you’re thinking about giving your australian silky terrier medicine that was not prescribed for her by his vet, don’t even think about it. One little ibuprofen tablet can possibly create stomach ulcers in australian silky terriers. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your australian silky terrier. Be sure you immediately call your dog’s veterinarian when you have cause to think your australian silky terrier has ingested poison. You can also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
australian silky terrier Sterilization Procedures
Male australian silky terriers should be neutered – the extraction of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and usually fatal health problem for more mature female australian silky terriers. The possibility of a diseased uterus, which is another serious condition that affects older females, will also be removed by spaying when young. Neutering males helps prevent prostate diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias.
australian silky terrier Innoculations
- The combo vaccine (also called the “5-in-1 shot”) ought to be given to your australian silky terrier at 2, three, and 4 months old and again once every year. This immunization immunizes your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The australian silky terrier puppy’s immunization program cannot be finished before four months old.
- If your australian silky terrier has not been immunized and is older than four months, she will need to be given 2 immunizations asap, two to 3 weeks apart. After that you must immunize every year.
- australian silky terrier puppy socialization and immunization should go together. Many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their australian silky terrier pups to socialization courses, as early as eight to 9 weeks of age. They should have already received their first vaccinations by this age.
Because statutes vary around the country, contact your community vet to get info about rabies shots. In NYC, for instance, the statute requires any pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies innoculation must be followed up by a subsequent immunization the following year, and then every three years. There are several immunizations, many of which are effective for your australian silky terrier. Others, however, are not. Your veterinarian can tell youmore about them. By the way, if your australian silky terrier gets ill because she is not immunized, do not give the innoculation until the dog has made a full recovery.
Worms in australian silky terriers
australian silky terriers are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a australian silky terrier’s feces. Even the healthiest of australian silky terrier puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the key to effective treatment. This will make certain that the medication is effective against the parasite your dog has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best identify the culprit—and prescribe the effective treatment.
australian silky terrier: Miscellaneous Care Tips
Checklist of australian silky terrier Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically designed for australian silky terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with comforter or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never, ever feed your australian silky terrier the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Retain your australian silky terrier on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. And please, when your australian silky terrier defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about australian silky terriers
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