Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the whippet, is nothing new for people. Some historians believe that dogs were first domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which vary in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose 3-ft stature has earned them the distinction of tallest dog. However, the most popular pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The whippet is another popular pick among canine owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of some of the most common whippet care tips.
Health care cost for your whippet
The annual cost of taking care of the whippet—including everything from nutrition, to vet bills, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even including capital costs for spay/neuter procedures, collar and leash, dog carrier and a crate. Note: Be positive you have all your items before you get your whippet home.
General whippet Care
whippet Feeding Plan
- whippet pups between 8 and 12 weeks need 4 bowls of food a day.
- whippet puppies 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals daily.
- Feed pups six months old to 1 year old 2 times in a day.
- By the time the whippet hits his 1st birthday, 1 meal daily is typically sufficient.
- Some whippets, however, prefer 2 lighter bowls. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your whippet’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry food ensures a balanced diet for adult whippets and may be mixed with broth, water, or canned food. Your whippet may also love cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these foods should be less than 10 percent of her daily allowance. whippet puppies ought to be fed top-quality, brand-name puppy food. Try to limit “people food”, though, because it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, tooth and bone concerns, and may cause very finicky food choices as well as obesity. Give fresh, potable water exclusively, and make certain to clean water and food dishes very frequently.
whippet Care Tips: Your whippet needs physical activity daily
whippets need some physical activity so they can burn calories, stimulate their brains, and maintain good health. Daily exercise also really helps whippets fight boredom, which would often lead to difficult behavior. A little fun and games will cure many of your whippet’s instinctual urges to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Activity needs are dependent on your whippet’s level of health and his age—but 10 minutes in back of the house and just a couple of walks down the street every day probably won’t suffice. If your whippet is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will be much higher.
whippet Grooming
You can help reduce shedding and keep your whippet clean with brushing. Check for ticks and fleas every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes whippets don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Prior to giving him a bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the whippet’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
whippet Handling
Puppies are obviously the easiest to manage. When carrying your whippet pup, put one hand beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rump. Never attempt to lift or grab your pup by his or her forelegs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a larger, full-grown whippet, pick it up from the underside, bracing his or her chest with one arm and rear end with your other arm.
How to House the whippet
whippets need a comfortable quiet location in order to relax apart from all the drafts and away from the floor. You may want to buy a dog bed, or feel like making one out of a wooden box. Place a clean sheet, blanket, comforter, or pillow in the bed as cushioning. Wash the whippet’s bedding often. If your whippet will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain he has access to covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered area in the cold.
whippet Licensing
Make sure to heed the community’s licensing regulations. Be certain you affix the license to your whippet’s collar. This, along with an identification tag or tattoo, can help secure your whippet’s return should he go missing.
Info on whippet Temperament
Thoughts on Training your whippet
Well-behaved, companion whippets can truly be a blessing to own. But when left untrained, your whippet will most likely be a lot of trouble. Teaching your whippet the fundamentals—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—strengthens the relationship with both the dog as well as the neighbors. If you have a pup, start training her on the right responses quickly! Food can be used as incentive and recognition. Puppies can start obedience courses when they are adequately vaccinated. Call the community humane society or SPCA for information about obedience schools. You should always keep your whippet on a leash when, even while a puppy. Just be positive your dog will come to you whenever you say. An aggressive or disobedient whippet can’t be allowed to play with children.
The Health of Your whippet
Your whippet should visit the veterinarian for a full screening, innoculations and heartworm assessment every single year, and promptly when he is injured or ill.
Knowing Your whippet’s Dental Health
Although we may simply dislike our whippet’s bad breath, we should pay attention to what it may be telling us. Halitosis usually signifies that your whippet is in need of an oral examination. Dental plaque due to unhealthy bacteria results in a terrible stench that demands treatment by a professional. Once your whippet has had a professional oral cleaning, the teeth and gums can be maintained by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can provide you with additional information on minimizing dental ailments as well as stinky breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your whippet’s teeth. You can brush them with a gauze pad, nylon stocking stretched across the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects whippets. Sometimes, teeth loss takes place due to periodontal infection. Infection can sometimes also propagate to the rest of your whippet’s body. Veterinarians should clean your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your whippet’s health screening.
whippet Breath Gone Wild!
If your whippet has smelly breath, periodontal disease may not necessarily be the problem, as other more serious conditons have that symptom. A fruity, sweet smell may often be indicative of diabetes, while liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible cause when your whippet’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your whippet has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
whippet Flea and Tick Issues
During the summer, it’s important for you to perform daily, regular checks of your whippet for ticks and fleas. Remove and find fleas with a flea comb. There are several new techniques of tick management. Talk to your whippet’s doctor about his or her recommendations.
Heartworms in whippets
This parasite resides in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your whippet by way of mosquitoes. Many whippets die annualy from heartworm infections. Your whippet should have a heartworm screen each spring—this is crucial for detecting infestations from the earlier year. It is also good to give your whippet a once-a-month pill throughout the course of mosquito season to help you protect her from heartworms. If ever you travel in a warmer-than-usual climate with your whippet in the winter, he must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some more moderate areas, veterinarians recommend preventive heartworm medication be taken continuously.
Poisons and Medications
If you’re contemplating giving your whippet tablets that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, forget about it. Are you aware that 1 regular-strength ibuprofen tablet could cause ulcers in whippets? Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your whippet. If you have reason to suspect your dog has consumed a poisonous substance, immediately call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four-hour animal poison information.
whippet Sterilization Operations
It is recommended that female whippets be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a common and usually fatal health problem of older females. The risk of a sick uterus, which is also a serious disease that affects older females, can also be removed by spaying when young. Neutering male whippets prevents testicular diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
whippet Vaccinations
- Your whippet pup should be vaccinated with a combo shot (called the “5-in-one”) at 2, three and 4 months of age, and again once per year. This innoculation immunizes your whippet puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. The whippet must be immunized for at least the first four months of her life.
- If you have an uninnoculated whippet older than four or 5 months, he must have a set of 2 innoculations two or three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
- whippet pup vaccination and socialization should coincide. You may bring your whippet pup to socialization classes by eight or nine weeks of age, according to many veterinarians. They should have already received their first innoculations by then.
Since regulations vary around the country, contact your neighborhood doctor for information on rabies vaccination. As an example, NYC statutes declare that pets older than 3 months must be immunized for rabies. The first rabies vaccine must be followed up by a subsequent innoculation the following year, and then every 3 years. There are several innoculations, many of which are effective for your whippet. Others, however, are not. Your veterinarian can give you his recommendation. By the way, if your whippet gets ill because he is not innoculated, do not administer the immunization until the dog has made a full recovery.
Tapeworms in whippets
whippets are commonly exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Microscopic eggs created by hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through an infected dog’s feces. Even the healthiest of whippet puppies carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early detection is the secret to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best define the culprit—and prescribe the best medication.
Miscellaneous whippet Care Tips
whippet Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for whippets and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with warm quilt or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to whippets:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Raisins and grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Dough
Final Thoughts
Keep your whippet on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. And please, when your whippet defecates on your neighbor’s yard, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about whippets
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