Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the irish wolfhound, is a specialty of people. Zoologists postulate that dogs were originally domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, human beings have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, ranging in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-ft stature earns them the title of the tallest pooch. But the most preferred dogs are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The irish wolfhound is also a favorite pick among canine owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of some common irish wolfhound care tips.
General cost of care for your irish wolfhound
The annual budget for rearing your irish wolfhound—which includes nutrition and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This does not even account for capital costs for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all the necessary supplies before bringing your irish wolfhound home for the 1st time.
General irish wolfhound Care
Feeding the irish wolfhound
- irish wolfhound puppies between 8 and 12 weeks need 4 meals a day.
- Feed irish wolfhound pups 3 to 6 months old 3 meals in a day.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year 2 meals daily.
- When your irish wolfhound makes her 1st birthday, one feeding in a twenty-four hour period is enough.
- Many times irish wolfhounds, however, do better with 2 lighter helpings. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your irish wolfhound’s eating tendencies.
Premium-quality dry dogfood ensures a well-rounded diet to full-grown irish wolfhounds and can mix with canned food, water, or broth. Your irish wolfhound may also be fond of cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these foods should not be more than ten pct of her daily food allowance. irish wolfhound pups ought to be fed premium-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to cut down on “table food”, however, since it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone issues, and may lead to extremely picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give clean, potable water at all times, and make certain to clean food and water dishes very regularly.
irish wolfhound Care Tips: Make sure your irish wolfhound gets plenty of daily exercise
irish wolfhounds need daily physical activity in order to stay fit, recharge their minds, and stay healthy. Daily activity also seems to help irish wolfhounds fight boredom, which would often lead to destructive behavior. Some outside playtime will cure many of your irish wolfhound’s desires to herd, dig, chase, retrieve and chew. Activity needs will depend on your irish wolfhound’s level of health and her age—but ten minutes in back of the house and merely a walk around the block every day probably won’t be sufficient. If your irish wolfhound is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be relatively higher.
irish wolfhound Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help keep your irish wolfhound clean and reduce shedding. Check for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Most irish wolfhounds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before the bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the irish wolfhound’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your irish wolfhound
Pups are clearly easier to manage. To carry your irish wolfhound pup, place 1 hand beneath your dog’s chest, either with the forearm or other hand supporting his or her hind legs and rear. Never attempt to grab or lift your pup by his or her front legs, tail or nape. When you have to lift a bigger, full-grown irish wolfhound, lift from the underside, supporting her chest with one arm and rump with your other.
Housing your irish wolfhound
irish wolfhounds need a cozy quiet spot to sleep away from all the drafts and away from the ground. You might want to buy a doggie bed, or think about making one out of a wood box. Place a clean comforter, blanket, sheet, or pillow in the bed for cushion. Wash the irish wolfhound’s bed covering often. If the irish wolfhound will be outdoors much, be certain he has shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a dry, warm, covered area in winter.
Licensing and Identification for irish wolfhounds
There are licensing rules to heed in your city. You should attach the license to the irish wolfhound’s collar. The license, together with an ID tattoo, can easily help you recover your irish wolfhound should she go missing.
Information on irish wolfhound Temperament
Training irish wolfhounds
A well-mannered, companion irish wolfhound is a joy to own. But when untrained, your dog will most likely be a headache. Teaching your irish wolfhound the standards—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship both with your dog and the family. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin training him on the appropriate behavior as fast as you can! Food should be used as a lure and a reward. Pups should begin obedience courses when they are sufficiently immunized. Call your local humane society or SPCA for information on training classes. Always walk your irish wolfhound on a leash when, even as a pup. Just be certain your irish wolfhound will come back to you if you say so. A disobedient or aggressive irish wolfhound can’t play with kids.
About your irish wolfhound’s Health
Your irish wolfhound should see the vet for a complete exam, immunizations and a heartworm blood screening annualy, and immediately when he is injured or ill.
The Oral Health of Your irish wolfhound
While many of us might object to our irish wolfhound’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may be a symptom of. Halitosis is most commonly an indication that your irish wolfhound needs a dental check up. Plaque , which is caused by bacteria results in a foul stench that can only be cured by treatment by a professional. After a cleaning from a professional, the mouth can be be preserved in a healthy state by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. The vet can supply you with more info on minimizing periodontal ailments as well as bad breath. You can brush the irish wolfhound’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects irish wolfhounds. Often, loss of teeth occurs due to periodontal disease. Infection can also propagate to the rest of your irish wolfhound’s body. The vet will sometimes brush your dog’s teeth at a routine checkup.
Bad Breath in irish wolfhounds
While periodontal disease alone is not that serious if it is found early enough, the foul odors may indicate serious, persistent problems. Intestinal or liver diseases may cause bad breath, whereas a sweet, even pleasant smell can frequently be a sign of diabetes. If your irish wolfhound’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your irish wolfhound has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
irish wolfhound Tick and Flea Issues
Daily checks of your irish wolfhound for ticks and fleas in the summer are critical. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are numerous new technologies of tick and flea management. Refer to your vet about his recommendations.
irish wolfhounds With Heartworm Issues
Your irish wolfhound is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. Mosquitoes transport this parasite from dog to dog. Several irish wolfhounds die annualy because of heartworms. It is wise to give your irish wolfhound a heartworm screen each and every spring—this is crucial to detect infections from the prior year. It is recommended that you give your irish wolfhound a once-a-month pill during mosquito season in order to protect her from heartworms. If you ever vacation in a warmer-than-usual climate with your irish wolfhound in winter, she should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some of the warmer climates, vets recommend preventive heartworm medication be taken continually.
Medications and Poisons
Never give your irish wolfhound medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by her vet. For example, did you know that one regular-strength ibuprofen tablet causes stomach ulcers in some dogs Make sure your irish wolfhound is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Make sure to notify your irish wolfhound’s doctor if you have reason to believe your irish wolfhound has consumed a toxin. You should also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
Spaying and Neutering irish wolfhounds
It is recommended that male irish wolfhounds should be neutered – the removal of the testes – 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, a common and frequently deadly problem of more mature female dogs. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of an infected uterus, a traumatic problem in older females that can only be treated with intensive medical care and surgery. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias can be prevented by neutering male irish wolfhounds.
irish wolfhound Innoculations
- The combo vaccine (also known as a “5-in-one shot”) ought to be given to your irish wolfhound at 2, 3, and four months old and then once every year. This immunization protects your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The irish wolfhound must be vaccinated for at least the first 4 months of his life.
- If you have an uninnoculated irish wolfhound older than four or five months, she must get a set of two innoculations given two or 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual innoculation.
- Your irish wolfhound puppy’s vaccinations should coincide with her socialization program. You may take your irish wolfhound pup to socialization courses as early as 8 or 9 weeks old, according to many veterinarians. They should have already received their first vaccinations by then.
Regulations are so different around the country, the best thing is to contact your local vet about rabies innoculation information. For instance, New York City regulations state that pets older than three months be immunized for rabies. After the first innoculation, you must get another innoculation the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are many vaccines, many of which are appropriate for your irish wolfhound. There are others that are not, however. Ask your irish wolfhound’s vet for her recommendation. By the way, if your irish wolfhound gets sick because she is not vaccinated, do not give the shot until the dog has made a full recovery.
Worms in irish wolfhounds
irish wolfhounds are often exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s stool. Most puppies, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry roundworms or hookworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the key to treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the medicine is effective against the parasite your irish wolfhound has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best figure out the culprit—and assign the effective medication.
irish wolfhound: Miscellaneous Care Tips
irish wolfhound Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically for irish wolfhounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with warm quilt or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never, ever feed your irish wolfhound the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Grapes & raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your irish wolfhound on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured spot. When your irish wolfhound goes #2 on your neighbor’s yard, on the sidewalk or any other public place, please dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about irish wolfhounds
Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
Follow