Raising dogs, especially providing care for the alaskan malamute, is a specialty of humans across the world. Zoologists have proven dogs were first domesticated between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of tallest canine. But the most popular pooches are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The alaskan malamute is also a popular choice among dog owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of some of the most critical alaskan malamute care tips.
Cost of care for the alaskan malamute
The yearly budget for taking care of the alaskan malamute—to include meals and snacks, to doctor bills, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even including capital expenses for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a doggie crate. Tip: Be positive you have procured all the required items before you get your alaskan malamute home.
Typical alaskan malamute Care
How To Feed your alaskan malamute
- alaskan malamute puppies between eight and twelve weeks old need four meals in a 24 hour period.
- alaskan malamute pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals every twenty-four hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months to 1 year two bowls of food a day.
- When your alaskan malamute reaches his or her 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is typically sufficient.
- Some adult alaskan malamutes, however, do better with 2 lighter meals. It is your responsibility to learn your alaskan malamute’s eating habits.
Excellent-quality dry dog food provides balanced nutrition to full-grown alaskan malamutes and can mix with canned food, water, or broth. Your alaskan malamute may dig cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these shouldn’t be more than 10 percent of his daily meal intake. alaskan malamute puppies should probably be fed high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to limit “table food”, however, because it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and might create extremely finicky food choices and obesity. Give clean, fresh water exclusively, and make sure to wash water and food bowls regularly.
alaskan malamute Care Tips: Your alaskan malamute needs physical activity daily
alaskan malamutes must get daily exercise so they can stay fit, recharge their brains, and stay healthy. Daily activity also really helps alaskan malamutes avoid boredom, which can often lead to destructive behavior. Going outside will cure most of your alaskan malamute’s instinctual urges to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Exercise needs can depend on your alaskan malamute’s level of health and her age—but merely a walk down the street every day and 10 minutes in back of the house probably will not be enough. If your alaskan malamute is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will be a little more.
alaskan malamute Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help keep your alaskan malamute clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Most alaskan malamutes don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Prior to a bath, cut out or comb all mats from the alaskan malamute’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
alaskan malamute Handling
Pups are clearly the easiest to handle. To carry the alaskan malamute pup, place 1 of your hands under your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting her back legs and rump. Never try to grab or lift your pup by the forelegs, back of the neck or tail. When you need to lift a larger, full-grown alaskan malamute, pick it up from underneath, holding her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other.
Housing your alaskan malamute
alaskan malamutes need a warm peaceful place in order to relax away from all the drafts and off the ground or floor. You might wish to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wooden box. Put a clean sheet, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushioning. Wash the alaskan malamute’s bedding frequently. If your alaskan malamute will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure she has access to plenty of cool water and shade in hot weather, and a dry, covered, warm shelter during the winter.
alaskan malamute Identification
There are licensing rules to follow in your town. You should connect the license to your alaskan malamute’s collar. This, together with an identification tag or tattoo, can easily help secure your alaskan malamute’s return should he become lost.
alaskan malamute Temperament Info
Thoughts on Training the alaskan malamute
Well-behaved, companion alaskan malamutes can truly be a pleasure to raise. However, when left untrained, your alaskan malamute will most likely be a big headache. Teaching your alaskan malamute the standards—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—will improve your relationship both with your pooch as well as your friends. If you have a puppy, start teaching him or her the right behavior ASAP! Little bits of food can be used as incentive and recognition. Puppies should start obedience classes when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Call the community SPCA or humane society for details about obedience schools. It is wise to keep your alaskan malamute leashed when, even while a pup. Just be sure your alaskan malamute will come back to you when you say the word. An aggressive or disobedient alaskan malamute shouldn’t be allowed to play with other people.
Your alaskan malamute’s Health
alaskan malamutes should visit the vet for a thorough diagnosis, innoculations and a heartworm blood screening annualy, and as soon as possible when she is sick or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your alaskan malamute
Although we might object to our alaskan malamute’s halitosis, we should pay attention to what it might represent. Halitosis is most commonly a sign that your alaskan malamute should have an oral screening. Dental plaque , which is a result of germs results in a foul smell that can only be cured by professional treatment. Once you have given your alaskan malamute a cleaning done by a professional, her mouth may be maintained in a healthy state by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. The vet can provide you other advice for eliminating oral problems as well as stinky breath. You can easily brush the alaskan malamute’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste twice a week. Clean them with a gauze pad, a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over the finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gum and tooth, often affects alaskan malamutes. This painful affliction can lead to loss of your alaskan malamute’s teeth and also spread diseases throughout her body. Your vet will sometimes clean your alaskan malamute’s teeth during the routine health exam.
Halitosis in alaskan malamutes
If your alaskan malamute has smelly breath, gum disease might not necessarily be the only disease, as other more serious problems also have that symptom. A pleasant, even sweet smell can sometimes be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. When your alaskan malamute’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease may be the reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your alaskan malamute has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
alaskan malamute Tick and Flea Issues
Regular, daily checks of your alaskan malamute for ticks and fleas throughout the summer are vital. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are several new methods of flea management. Talk to your vet about her or his recommendations.
Heartworm problems in alaskan malamutes
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and is passed from an infested dog to your alaskan malamute by mosquitoes. Several alaskan malamutes die yearly from heartworm infections. It is very critical to make sure your alaskan malamute takes a blood test for heartworms each year in the spring. A once-a-month pill taken in mosquito season will protect your alaskan malamute. Should you ever travel south with your alaskan malamute in the winter, he ought to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some places, usually the areas with warmer temperatures, where the vets advise heartworm medication be taken all throughout the year.
Toxins and Medicines
If you’re contemplating giving your alaskan malamute medication that was not prescribed for her by his vet, don’t do it. Are you aware that 1 ibuprofen capsule causes stomach ulcers in some dogs Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your alaskan malamute. Make sure you immediately call your dog’s vet if you think your alaskan malamute has been exposed to a toxin. You can also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
alaskan malamute Sterilization Procedures
It is recommended that male alaskan malamutes should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by six months old. You usually will greatly diminish your female alaskan malamute’s risk of breast cancer by spaying prior to maturity. The chance of a diseased uterus, which is another serious disease that affects older females, will be eliminated by spaying before 6 months. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias are all preventable by neutering males.
alaskan malamute Innoculating
- alaskan malamute pups should be vaccinated with a combo innoculation (called the “5-in-1”) at two, 3 and 4 months of age, and again once annually. This shot immunizes your alaskan malamute puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The alaskan malamute must be vaccinated for at least the first 4 months of his life.
- If your alaskan malamute has not been vaccinated and is older than 4 months, she will need 2 vaccinations promptly, two or three weeks apart. After that you must vaccinate yearly.
- alaskan malamute puppy socialization and vaccination should coincide. You may take your alaskan malamute puppy to socialization classes by 8 to 9 weeks old, as recommended by many veterinarians. At this age, they should have received at least their first immunizations.
Because rules are so different around the country, call your community doctor for instructions about rabies innoculation. As an example, NYC regulations declare that pets older than 3 months must be immunized for rabies. After the first vaccination, he must get another innoculation the following year, and then every three years after that. There are many immunizations that are effective for your alaskan malamute. Your vet can tell you about them. Another thing, if your alaskan malamute gets sick because she is not vaccinated, the shots must be given once your pet is back to health.
Worms in alaskan malamutes
alaskan malamutes are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry hookworms and roundworms are transmitted through a dog’s stool. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. An accurate, early detection is the secret to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be highly effective against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and assign the appropriate medication.
alaskan malamute Care Tips: Additional Info
Checklist of alaskan malamute Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks designed for alaskan malamutes and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with quilt or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to alaskan malamutes:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins or grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in space, keep your alaskan malamute on a leash at all times. And please, when your alaskan malamute defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about alaskan malamutes
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