Owning dogs, in particular taking care of the longhaired whippet, is a specialty of humans across the world. Experts believe that dogs were domesticated between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of tallest canine. However, the most popular pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The longhaired whippet is also a popular pick among canine owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of many of the most critical longhaired whippet care tips.
Typical cost of care for the longhaired whippet
The annual cost of caring for the longhaired whippet—to include everything from nutrition, to doctor bills, toys and license—could vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even consider capital costs for sterilization surgery, collar and leash, dog carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Make sure you have procured all the necessary items before you get your longhaired whippet home for the 1st time.
Basic longhaired whippet Care
How To Feed the longhaired whippet
- longhaired whippet puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need 4 meals every 24 hours.
- Feed longhaired whippet puppies 3 to 6 months old 3 meals a day.
- Feed pups six months old to one year old 2 times a day.
- When the longhaired whippet hits his first birthday, one meal in a twenty-four hour period is enough.
- Many times longhaired whippets might do better with two smaller meals. It’s your job to learn your longhaired whippet’s eating habits.
Excellent-quality dry dogfood provides a balanced diet for adult longhaired whippets and may be mixed with broth, canned food, or water. Your longhaired whippet may like cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these additions should be less than ten pct of her daily allowance. longhaired whippet puppies should be fed excellent-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to cut down on “people food”, though, because it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone concerns, and might cause extremely finicky eating habits as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be available always, and make sure to clean water and food bowls often.
longhaired whippet Care Tips: Make sure your longhaired whippet does some daily physical activity
longhaired whippets must have some exercise in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and remain in good health. Exercise also tends to help longhaired whippets avoid boredom, which would often lead to difficult behavior. A little fun and games can quell many of your longhaired whippet’s desires to dig, retrieve, chase, chew and herd. Activity needs are dependent on your longhaired whippet’s level of health and his or her age—but ten minutes in the backyard and just a walk around the block every day probably isn’t enough. If your longhaired whippet is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be a little higher.
Grooming tips for longhaired whippets
You can help reduce shedding and keep your longhaired whippet clean with regular brushing. Check for ticks and fleas daily during warm weather. Sometimes longhaired whippets don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Before the bath, comb or cut out all mats from the longhaired whippet’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
How to Handle Your longhaired whippet
Pups are obviously easier to manage. When carrying the longhaired whippet pup, put one hand under the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting his or her hind legs and rump. Don’t try to lift or grab your pup by his or her front legs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a bigger, adult longhaired whippet, pick it up from the underside, holding his chest with one of your arms and rump with the other.
longhaired whippet housing
Your longhaired whippet needs a cozy quiet location to be able to rest away from all drafts and away from the ground or floor. You might wish to think about buying a dog bed, or make one from a wood box. Put a clean blanket or pillow inside the bed for cushion. Wash the longhaired whippet’s bedding often. If your longhaired whippet will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain she has plenty of cool water and shade in hot weather, and a warm, covered, dry shelter in winter.
longhaired whippet Licensing and Identification
There are licensing rules to heed in your town. You should affix the license to the longhaired whippet’s collar. This, along with an identification tattoo or tag, will most likely help secure your longhaired whippet’s return should she get lost.
longhaired whippet Temperament Facts
Training longhaired whippets
Well-mannered, companion longhaired whippets are truly a blessing to own. But left untrained, your dog can be a headache. Training your longhaired whippet on the minimums—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship both with the dog and your company. If you have a puppy, start training him on the right responses ASAP! Use a snack as an incentive and a reward. Puppies can enroll in obedience class when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Call the community SPCA or humane society for details on obedience schools. Always keep your longhaired whippet leashed while in public, even as a pup. Just be sure your longhaired whippet will come to you whenever you tell her to. A disobedient or aggressive longhaired whippet can’t be allowed to play with people.
About your longhaired whippet’s Health
longhaired whippets should see the vet for a complete examination, vaccinations and a heartworm examination annualy, and promptly if she is sick or injured.
Knowing Your longhaired whippet’s Dental Health
Although we might simply dislike our longhaired whippet’s halitosis, we should be aware of what it may indicate. Foul-smelling breath is a sign that your longhaired whippet should have a dental check up. Dental plaque brought on by bacteria results in a bad odor that can only be cured by the help of a professional. Once your longhaired whippet has had a professional dental cleaning, his gums and teeth may be be preserved in a healthy state by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. The veterinarian can supply you with more info on mitigating dental diseases as well as bad breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your longhaired whippet’s teeth. You can brush them with a nylon stocking wrapped around the finger, a gauze pad, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gums and teeth, sometimes affects longhaired whippets. This troublesome affliction can sometimes cause loss of teeth as well as propagate diseases to her body. The veterinarian will clean your longhaired whippet’s teeth as part of her regular health exam.
Bad Breath in longhaired whippets
Even though the foul odors brought on by dental disease might not be that serious if caught early, sometimes those odors may also be indicative of serious, chronic causes for concern. A sweet, even pleasant smell may sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your longhaired whippet’s breath smells like urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible cause. If ever you find your longhaired whippet has halitosis in conjunction with other signs of ill health, like diminished appetite, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, depression, increasing drinking or urination, set up a trip to her veterinarian.
longhaired whippet Tick and Flea Issues
When it’s warm, it’s important for you to perform daily inspections of your longhaired whippet for ticks and fleas. Use a flea comb to find fleas. There are numerous new methods of flea and tick control. Talk to your vet about her recommendations.
Heartworms in longhaired whippets
Your longhaired whippet is at risk of heartworms if he is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. The insect transports this parasite from dog to dog. Several longhaired whippets die annualy as a result of heartworm infections. Your longhaired whippet should have a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is required to detect infestations from the previous year. It is recommended that you give your longhaired whippet a monthly tablet during the warm, wet time of the year to help protect her from heartworms. Should you ever travel in warmer climates with your longhaired whippet in the winter, she needs to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some regions, usually the areas with hotter climates, where the veterinarians recommend worm pills be given continually.
Toxins and Medications
Don’t ever give your longhaired whippet medication that has not been prescribed by his veterinarian. One little ibuprofen tablet is known to create stomach ulcers in longhaired whippets. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your longhaired whippet. Be sure you call your longhaired whippet’s doctor when you have cause to believe your longhaired whippet has been exposed to poison. You should also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
longhaired whippet Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that female longhaired whippets be spayed—the extraction of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by six months old. Spaying before maturity significantly diminishes the breast cancer risk, a common and often fatal illness of more mature female longhaired whippets. The risk of an infected uterus, which is also a serious affliction that impacts older females, can also be removed by spaying when young. Neutering males prevents testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
longhaired whippet Vaccinating
- Your longhaired whippet puppy should be immunized with a combination immunization (called a “5-in-one”) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age, and then once annually. This shot protects your longhaired whippet puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your longhaired whippet puppy’s innoculation program cannot be finished before four months of age.
- If your longhaired whippet has not been vaccinated and is older than four months, he will need 2 innoculations promptly, two to three weeks apart. Then you must vaccinate yearly.
- Your longhaired whippet pup’s socialization should coincide with his innoculation program. You can take your longhaired whippet puppy to socialization classes as early as eight to 9 weeks old, according to many vets. They should have received their first innoculations by then.
Laws vary so much between different areas, the best thing is to call your local vet for rabies immunization details. For instance, NYC regulations declare that pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial shot, he must get another immunization the following year, and then every three years. There are a variety of vaccines, many of which are right for your longhaired whippet. Others, however, are not. Your vet can tell you about them. Please note, if your longhaired whippet happens to get sick because he is not innoculated, the innoculation ought to be taken after your pet fully recovers.
Worms in longhaired whippets
longhaired whippets are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—in all areas, both rural and urban. Tiny eggs produced by roundworms and hookworms are passed in an infested longhaired whippet’s feces. Even the healthiest of longhaired whippet puppies carry intestinal worms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be effective against your dog’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, won’t kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best define the culprit—and prescribe the best medicine.
Miscellaneous longhaired whippet Care Tips
Checklist of longhaired whippet Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically designed for longhaired whippets and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with blanket or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to longhaired whippets:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins or grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, garlic & chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your longhaired whippet on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured area. If your longhaired whippet does number 2 on your neighbor’s lawn, on the sidewalk or any other public spot, please take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about longhaired whippets
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