Raising dogs, in particular taking care of the bluetick coonhound, is old hat for people. Historians theorize that dogs were domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, humans have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the title of tallest dog. But the most popular dogs are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The bluetick coonhound is also a popular choice with canine owners. Some owners are misinformed, however, of many common bluetick coonhound care tips.
Typical cost of care for your bluetick coonhound
The annual budget for taking care of the bluetick coonhound—including everything from food and treats, to veterinary care, toys and license—could vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even accounting for capital costs for spay/neuter operations, collar and leash, dog carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Be sure you have all your items before getting your bluetick coonhound home.
Typical bluetick coonhound Care
Feeding the bluetick coonhound
- bluetick coonhound pups between 8 and twelve weeks old need four meals in a 24 hour period.
- bluetick coonhound pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a day.
- Feed pups six months old to 1 year old 2 bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- When the bluetick coonhound makes her 1st birthday, one feeding each day is usually all that’s required.
- Some bluetick coonhounds, however, do better with 2 smaller meals. It is your responsibility to adapt to your bluetick coonhound’s eating schedule.
Top-quality dry dogfood ensures balanced nutrition to grown bluetick coonhounds and can mix with broth, water, or canned food. Your bluetick coonhound may also be fond of fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these additions should be less than 10 percent of her daily allowance. bluetick coonhound pups should probably be fed a high-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please cut down on “people food”, though, because it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone concerns, and may lead to extremely finicky eating habits and obesity. Clean, potable water should be made always, and make certain to clean food and water dishes regularly.
bluetick coonhound Care Tips: Make sure to give your bluetick coonhound plenty of daily physical activity
bluetick coonhounds need daily exercise to stay in shape, recharge their brains, and stay healthy. Daily physical activity also really helps bluetick coonhounds avoid boredom, which has the potential to lead to destructive behavior. Supervised fun and games will satisfy many of your bluetick coonhound’s instinctual urges to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Activity needs can depend on your bluetick coonhound’s age and his level of health—but just a walk around the block every day and 10 minutes outside probably won’t be sufficient. If your bluetick coonhound is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be relatively higher.
Grooming tips for bluetick coonhounds
You can help reduce shedding and keep your bluetick coonhound clean with regular brushing. Check for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Many bluetick coonhounds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Before a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the bluetick coonhound’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your bluetick coonhound
Puppies are clearly easier to manage. To carry the bluetick coonhound pup, take 1 of your hands and put it under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting the hind legs and rear. Never attempt to lift or grab your pup by the forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you have to pick up a larger, full-grown bluetick coonhound, pick it up from the underside, bracing his chest with one of your arms and rump with your other.
Housing the bluetick coonhound
Your bluetick coonhound needs a cozy quiet place in order to rest away from all drafts and off the ground or floor. You might want to think about purchasing a dog bed, or make one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushion. Wash the bluetick coonhound’s bed covering often. If the bluetick coonhound will be outdoors much, make certain she has plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered shelter when it’s cold.
bluetick coonhound Identification
Your area has licensing regulations to follow. Be sure you affix the license to your bluetick coonhound’s collar. This, along with an identification tattoo, could help you recover your bluetick coonhound if she happens to go missing.
bluetick coonhound Behavior Info
bluetick coonhound Training
A well-behaved, companion bluetick coonhound is truly a blessing to have. However, when untrained, your dog will most likely be troublesome. Teaching your bluetick coonhound the minimums—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—bolsters the relationship with both the dog and your visitors. If you’re the owner of a pup, start teaching him or her the appropriate responses immediately! Use doggie treats as a lure and recognition. Puppies should join obedience courses when they are adequately immunized. Call your community SPCA or humane society for training class recommendations. It is wise to keep your bluetick coonhound on a leash while in public, even as a puppy. Be positive your bluetick coonhound will come to you if you say so. A disobedient or aggressive bluetick coonhound can’t play with other people.
About your bluetick coonhound’s Health
bluetick coonhounds should see the veterinarian for a thorough examination, innoculations and a heartworm blood examination every single year, and ASAP when he is hurt or sick.
bluetick coonhound Dental Health
While many of us might object to our bluetick coonhound’s bad breath, we must be aware of what it might mean. Bad breath usually means that your bluetick coonhound requires an oral check up. Plaque brought on by germs results in a terrible odor that demands treatment by a professional. Once you have given your bluetick coonhound a cleaning from a professional, his gums and teeth can be kept up by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The veterinarian can supply you with other advice for mitigating periodontal ailments and stinky breath. You should clean your bluetick coonhound’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 bluetick coonhounds are prone to periodontal disease, also known as an infection between the gum and tooth. Sometimes, tooth loss occurs because of periodontal infection. Infections can possibly also propagate to other areas of your bluetick coonhound’s body. The veterinarian usually will brush the bluetick coonhound’s teeth as part of his regular health assessment.
bluetick coonhound Bad Breath
If your bluetick coonhound has bad breath, periodontal disease may not necessarily be the problem, as other more serious problems also have that symptom. Liver or intestinal diseases can also cause bad breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell can sometimes be indicative of diabetes. When your bluetick coonhound’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible reason. If ever you notice your bluetick coonhound has smelly breath and other indications of disease, like diminished appetite, nausea or vomiting, loss of weight, bad mood, increasing drinking and urinating, set up an exam with his doctor.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in bluetick coonhounds
Throughout the warm seasons, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your bluetick coonhound for ticks and fleas. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are several new procedures of flea and tick control. Speak with your vet about her or his options.
bluetick coonhounds With Heartworm Issues
Your bluetick coonhound is at risk of heartworms if he is exposed to mosquitoes often. The insect transports this parasite from dog to dog. Several bluetick coonhounds die each year from heartworm infections. It’s extremely important you make sure your bluetick coonhound has a blood screening for this parasite each year during the spring. It’s also wise to give your bluetick coonhound a monthly pill in mosquito season to be able to protect her from heartworms. Your bluetick coonhound should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some regions, usually the regions with more moderate climates, where the vets recommend heartworm pills be used all the time.
Medications and Poisons
Don’t ever give your bluetick coonhound medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by a vet. As little as one ibuprofen tablet can possibly cause stomach ulcers in bluetick coonhounds. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your bluetick coonhound. When you have reason to think your dog has ingested a poisonous substance, immediately call the doctor or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 twenty-four hrs. per day for assistance.
bluetick coonhound Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that female bluetick coonhounds be spayed—the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testes—by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity greatly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a common and frequently fatal condition of more mature female dogs. Spaying also eradicates the possibility of a sick uterus, a traumatic issue in older females that necessitates surgery. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias are preventable by neutering male bluetick coonhounds.
bluetick coonhound Innoculations
- bluetick coonhound pups should be vaccinated with a combo shot (called a “5-in-one”) at two, three and 4 months of age, and again once per year. This immunization protects your puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your bluetick coonhound must be innoculated for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If your bluetick coonhound has not been vaccinated and is older than four months, she will need two vaccinations immediately, 2 to 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate annualy.
- Your bluetick coonhound puppy’s immunizations should coincide with her socialization program. You may bring your bluetick coonhound puppy to socialization courses by eight or nine weeks of age, as recommended by most vets. At this point, they should have received at least their first series of vaccines.
Rules vary so much between different areas, the best thing is to call your local doctor for rabies vaccination info. As an example, NYC regulations state that pets older than three months must be innoculated for rabies. After the original immunization, you must get a second vaccination the following year, and then every 3 years. There are several vaccines that are appropriate for your bluetick coonhound. Your vet can tell you about them. By the way, if your bluetick coonhound gets ill because he is not vaccinated, the innoculation must be administered once your dog is better.
Intestinal Parasites in bluetick coonhounds
bluetick coonhounds are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both urban and rural. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a bluetick coonhound’s stool. Most puppies, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry roundworms or hookworms. The secret to treatment is correct diagnosis. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed treatment will be successful against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your vet can best determine the culprit—and decide the effective treatment.
bluetick coonhound Care Tips: Additional Info
Checklist of bluetick coonhound Supplies
- High-quality dog food and treats specifically for bluetick coonhounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Leash
- Carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with comforter or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Do not feed your bluetick coonhound the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Grapes and raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in place, keep your bluetick coonhound on a leash at all times. And please, when your bluetick coonhound defecates on your neighbor’s grass, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about bluetick coonhounds
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