Raising dogs, especially taking care of the norfolk spaniel, is a specialty of people across the globe. Zoologists believe dogs were originally domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all canines evolved from the wolf. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-foot stature has earned them the distinction of the tallest dog. But the most preferred canines are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The norfolk spaniel is another popular choice with dog owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of some crucial norfolk spaniel care tips.
Health care cost of the norfolk spaniel
The yearly budget for rearing the norfolk spaniel—which includes everything from meals and snacks, to veterinary care, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even accounting for capital costs for spay/neuter operations, dog collar and leash, carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Make sure you have procured all of your supplies before you bring your norfolk spaniel home.
Basic norfolk spaniel Care
Feeding the norfolk spaniel
- norfolk spaniel puppies between eight and twelve weeks old need 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- Feed norfolk spaniel puppies three to 6 months old three meals daily.
- Feed pups 6 months to one year two times daily.
- When the norfolk spaniel hits his first birthday, 1 meal in a day is typically enough.
- Sometimes adult norfolk spaniels might do better with 2 lighter bowls. It is your duty to adapt to your norfolk spaniel’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry dog food ensures a balanced diet to full-grown norfolk spaniels and may be mixed with canned food, broth, or water. Your norfolk spaniel may like cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these foods should not add up to more than 10 percent of his daily nutrition. norfolk spaniel puppies should probably be given premium-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to cut down on “people food”, however, because it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and may cause very finicky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be available exclusively, and be sure to clean food and water bowls frequently.
norfolk spaniel Care Tips: Make sure to give your norfolk spaniel plenty of daily physical activity
norfolk spaniels must have exercise to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and maintain their health. Daily exercise also really helps norfolk spaniels avoid boredom, which would often lead to naughty behavior. Outside playtime will curb most of your norfolk spaniel’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Activity needs can depend on your norfolk spaniel’s level of health and his or her age—but 10 minutes outside and merely a couple of walks around the block every day probably won’t be enough. If your norfolk spaniel is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be a little greater.
Grooming tips for norfolk spaniels
You can help reduce shedding and keep your norfolk spaniel clean with regular brushing. Check for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Many norfolk spaniels don’t need a bath more than a few times during the year. Prior to bathing, comb or cut out all mats from the norfolk spaniel’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
norfolk spaniel Handling
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously the easiest to handle. To carry your norfolk spaniel pup, take one hand and place it beneath the dog’s chest, either with your forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rump. Don’t ever attempt to lift or grab your puppy by his front legs, tail or nape. If you need to pick up a bigger, adult norfolk spaniel, pick it up from the underside, supporting her chest with one arm and rump with the other arm.
Housing your norfolk spaniel
norfolk spaniels need a cozy quiet location to be able to relax away from all the drafts and away from the ground. You might want to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow inside the bed for cushioning. Wash your norfolk spaniel’s bedding often. If your norfolk spaniel will be outdoors often, be sure he has access to plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a dry, covered, warm area in winter.
norfolk spaniel Identification
There are licensing rules to follow in your city. Be certain to affix the license to your norfolk spaniel’s collar. The license, together with an identification tag or tattoo, may help you recover your norfolk spaniel should he go missing.
norfolk spaniel Temperament Information
Thoughts on Training the norfolk spaniel
A well-mannered, companion norfolk spaniel is a blessing to have. However, left untrained, your norfolk spaniel will most likely be a lot of trouble. Teaching your norfolk spaniel the basics—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship with both your norfolk spaniel and your house guests. If you have a pup, begin training him on the appropriate behavior as soon as humanly possible! A snack should be utilized as a lure and a reward. Pups can commence obedience class when they have been sufficiently immunized. Call the community humane society or SPCA for information on training schools. It is wise to keep your norfolk spaniel on a leash in public, even as a pup. Just be sure your doggie will come to you at all times whenever you tell her to. A disobedient or aggressive norfolk spaniel is not yet ready to play with others.
Your norfolk spaniel’s Health
Your norfolk spaniel should visit the veterinarian for a full check-up, vaccinations and heartworm test annualy, and ASAP when he is injured or ill.
The Dental Health of Your norfolk spaniel
Although we may simply dislike our norfolk spaniel’s bad breath, we must be aware of what it may be a symptom of. Foul breath usually means that your norfolk spaniel needs a dental examination. Plaque triggered by germs causes a foul smell that can only be eliminated by the help of a professional. Once you have given your norfolk spaniel a professional cleaning, his teeth and gums can be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can supply you with other data for eradicating periodontal diseases and halitosis. You should brush the norfolk spaniel’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a homemade baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Some norfolk spaniels end up with periodontal disease, which is also known as an infection between the gums and teeth. Sometimes, teeth loss happens due to periodontal disease. Disease will sometimes also propagate to other areas of your norfolk spaniel’s body. The vet will clean the teeth at a typical checkup.
Halitosis (bad breath) in norfolk spaniels
If your norfolk spaniel has smelly breath, gum disease might simply be the tip of the iceberg as far as his health issues. Intestinal or liver diseases can also cause unpleasant breath, whereas a fruity, even pleasant smell can sometimes be indicative of diabetes. When your norfolk spaniel’s breath smells like urine or ammonia, kidney disease may be the cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your norfolk spaniel has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
norfolk spaniel Tick and Flea Issues
Daily inspections of your norfolk spaniel for ticks and fleas in the warm seasons are of utmost importance. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are many new methods of tick control. Talk with your vet about his options.
norfolk spaniels With Heartworm Issues
Your norfolk spaniel is at risk of heartworms if she is exposed to mosquitoes often. The insect transports this parasite from dog to dog. Heartworm infestations can be potentially deadly. It is wise to make sure your norfolk spaniel submits to a heartworm screen each and every spring—this is necessary to catch infestations from the previous year. You should also give your norfolk spaniel a monthly pill throughout the warm, wet time of the year to protect him from heartworms. If ever you vacation in a warmer-than-usual region with your norfolk spaniel during the winter, she needs to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some of the warmer areas, veterinarians recommend preventative parasite medication be taken continually.
Poisions and Medicines
Don’t ever give your norfolk spaniel medicine that has not been prescribed by his veterinarian. One little ibuprofen tablet can possibly initiate stomach ulcers in norfolk spaniels. Make sure your norfolk spaniel is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure you call your dog’s vet if you believe your norfolk spaniel has ingested a toxin. You can also notify the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
norfolk spaniel Sterilization Operations
Female norfolk spaniels should be spayed—the extraction of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months old. Spaying before maturity greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and usually fatal ailment for more mature female norfolk spaniels. The risk of a diseased uterus, which is another serious condition that affects more mature females, can also be eliminated by spaying while young. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, certain types of aggressions and some hernias are all preventable by neutering males.
Vaccinating your norfolk spaniel
- The combo vaccine (also known as a “five-in-one shot”) ought to be given to your norfolk spaniel at 2, 3, and 4 months of age and again once yearly. This immunization immunizes your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The norfolk spaniel must be vaccinated for at least the first four months of her life.
- If your norfolk spaniel has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, he will need to be given two vaccinations asap, two or 3 weeks apart. Then you must vaccinate every year.
- norfolk spaniel puppy innoculation and socialization should go together. You can take your norfolk spaniel puppy to socialization classes as early as 8 or nine weeks old, as recommended by most vets. They should have received their first vaccinations by then.
Statutes vary so much around the country, that it’s best to contact your local doctor for rabies immunization details. For example, in New York City, the law requires all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The initial rabies innoculation must be followed up by another innoculation the next year, and then every three years. There are several vaccines that might effective for your norfolk spaniel. Ask your norfolk spaniel’s vet for her opinion. You should be aware, if your norfolk spaniel happens to get sick because he is not innoculated, the vaccination ought to be taken after your companion animal has recovered.
Hookworms in norfolk spaniels
norfolk spaniels are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by intestinal worms are passed in an infected norfolk spaniel’s stool. Even the healthiest of norfolk spaniel puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be highly effective against your norfolk spaniel’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best determine the culprit—and decide the appropriate medication.
norfolk spaniel: Miscellaneous Care Tips
Checklist of norfolk spaniel Supplies
- High-quality dog food and snacks specifically for norfolk spaniels and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with quilt or towel
- Dog toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to norfolk spaniels:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate
- Raisins or grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, chives and garlic
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems and unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The scoop on poop
Retain your norfolk spaniel on a leash when you are outside, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. And please, when your norfolk spaniel defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about norfolk spaniels
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