Owning dogs, especially providing care for the plott hound, is a specialty of people across the world. Zoologists believe that dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from the wolf. Since then, people have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-ft stature has earned them the title of the tallest dog. However, the most preferred canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The plott hound is also a favorite choice with canine owners. Many owners are unaware, however, of some of the most common plott hound care tips.
Typical health care cost of the plott hound
The annual cost of rearing your plott hound—to include everything from meals and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and $780. This doesn’t even include capital costs for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, a dog carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Make sure you have all of your items before you get your plott hound home for the first time.
General plott hound Care
plott hound Feeding Plan
- plott hound puppies between eight and twelve weeks need four bowls of food each day.
- plott hound pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals daily.
- Feed pups 6 months to 1 year two bowls of food every twenty-four hours.
- By the time the plott hound hits his first birthday, 1 bowl every twenty-four hours is usually adequate.
- Some plott hounds, however, eat 2 smaller meals. It is your responsibility to adapt to your plott hound’s eating tendencies.
Top-quality dry dog food ensures a balanced diet for full-grown plott hounds and can mix with canned food, broth, or water. Your plott hound may be fond of cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these additions should be less than ten pct of his daily food allowance. plott hound puppies should probably be given high-quality, name brand 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 may cause extremely finicky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be available always, and make certain to wash water and food dishes regularly.
plott hound Care Tips: Your plott hound needs exercise daily
plott hounds must get exercise in order to stay fit, stimulate their minds, and maintain good health. Daily exercise also really helps plott hounds fight boredom, which can often lead to naughty behavior. Playing outside would quell most of your plott hound’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Individual exercise needs depend on your plott hound’s age and her level of health—but ten minutes in back of the house and just a walk down the street every day probably won’t suffice. If your plott hound is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be much more.
plott hound Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your plott hound clean. Check for ticks and fleas every day during warm weather. Sometimes plott hounds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before giving him or her a bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the plott hound’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
plott hound Handling
Puppies are obviously easier to manage. To carry your plott hound pup, place one of your hands beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting the back legs and rear. Don’t ever try to grab or lift your puppy by his or her forelegs, back of the neck or tail. If you need to pick up a bigger, full-grown plott hound, pick it up from underneath, bracing his or her chest with 1 arm and rear end with the other arm.
How to House your plott hound
plott hounds need a comfortable peaceful place to relax apart from all drafts and away from the ground. You may wish to buy a doggie bed, or consider making one out of a wooden box. Place a clean sheet, blanket, or pillow inside the bed for cushioning. Wash the plott hound’s bedding often. If your plott hound will be outdoors frequently, make sure he has plenty of cool water and shade in the summer, and a warm, covered, dry shelter in the cold.
plott hound Licensing and Identification
Heed your city’s licensing rules. You should connect the license to your plott hound’s collar. The license, along with an ID tag, can help you recover your plott hound should she go missing.
Info on plott hound Behavior
Training the plott hound
A well-mannered, companion plott hound can be a joy to raise. But left untrained, your dog will most likely be a big headache. Training your plott hound on the standards—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—bolsters the relationship with both the plott hound as well as the company. If you’re the owner of a pup, start training him on manners immediately! Use little bits of food as recognition and incentive. Puppies should commence obedience courses when they have been sufficiently vaccinated. Contact your community SPCA or humane society for details about obedience schools. Always walk your plott hound on a leash while in public, even while a puppy. Be certain your doggie will come back to you if you tell him to. A disobedient or aggressive plott hound should not be allowed to play with other people.
About your plott hound’s Health
Your plott hound should see the vet for a thorough diagnosis, innoculations and heartworm screening annualy, and ASAP if he is ill or hurt.
Knowing Your plott hound’s Oral Health
Although we might simply dislike our plott hound’s foul breath, we should pay attention to what it may mean. Halitosis is a symptom that your plott hound is in need of an oral screening. Dental plaque brought on by bacteria causes a terrible smell that can only be cured with treatment by a professional. Once you have given your plott hound a cleaning from a professional, the mouth may be kept up by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your vet can provide you with other info on eliminating periodontal disease and halitosis. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your plott hound’s teeth. Clean them with a gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched across your finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Sometimes plott hounds have periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. Frequently, loss of teeth takes place as a result of periodontal disease. Diseases can also spread to other areas of your plott hound’s body. Your vet usually will brush your plott hound’s teeth in the typical health checkup.
Bad plott hound Breath
While the foul odors caused by oral disease might not be serious if found early enough, some bad breath may be indicative of more serious, chronic causes for concern. Diseases of the intestines or liver sometimes also cause halitosis, and a fruity, sweet smell may often be indicative of diabetes. If your plott hound’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your plott hound has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Tick and Fleas in plott hounds
Daily, regular inspections of your plott hound for fleas and ticks in the summer are critical. Use a flea comb to remove and find fleas. There are many new methods of flea elimination. Speak to your veterinarian about her or his recommendations.
Heartworm problems in plott hounds
This parasite resides in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your plott hound by mosquitoes. Many plott hounds die yearly due to heartworm infections. It’s very critical you make sure your plott hound has a blood screening for this parasite every spring. It’s also wise to give your plott hound a once-a-month tablet throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year to protect her from heartworms. Your plott hound should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the areas with more moderate temperatures, where the doctors recommend parasite pills be consumed year round.
Poisions and Medicines
Please don’t give your plott hound medication that hasn’t been prescribed by her veterinarian. Did you know that 1 ibuprofen pill causes ulcers in plott hounds? Make sure your plott hound is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you suspect your doggie has consumed a toxic substance, notify the veterinarian or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison help.
plott hound Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that male plott hounds should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the ovaries and uterus – by 6 months of age. You will significantly reduce your female’s chance of breast cancer by spaying prior to maturity. The chance of a diseased uterus, which is another serious disease that affects more mature females, can be removed by spaying while young. Neutering male plott hounds prevents prostate and testicular diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior.
plott hound Immunizing
- plott hound puppies should be vaccinated with a combo vaccine (called a “5-in-one”) at 2, 3 and four months of age, and then once annually. This vaccine protects your plott hound puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your plott hound puppy’s immunization regimen cannot be completed prior to 4 months of age.
- If your plott hound has not been innoculated and is older than 4 months, she will need to be given two immunizations asap, two or three weeks apart. After that you must vaccinate every year.
- Your plott hound pup’s socialization should coincide with her innoculation program. You can take your plott hound puppy to socialization classes by eight or 9 weeks old, according to most vets. At this age, they should have already received their first vaccinations.
Laws are so varied around the country, that it’s best to call your local veterinarian about rabies innoculation info. For example, in NYC, the regulation states that any pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. The initial rabies innoculation must be followed up by another shot the following year, and then every three years after that. There are a variety of immunizations that could be right for your plott hound. Your veterinarian can give you his recommendation. Note, if your plott hound happens to get ill because he is not innoculated, the immunization ought to be taken once your dog has recovered.
Roundworms in plott hounds
plott hounds are often exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Microscopic eggs made by intestinal worms are passed in an infested plott hound’s stool. Even the healthiest of plott hound puppies carry intestinal worms. The key to treatment is correct diagnosis. This will make sure that the medicine is highly effective against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, won’t kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best define the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
plott hound Care Tips: Additional Information
plott hound Supply Checklist
- Excellent-quality dog food and treats designed for plott hounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog box or bed with sheet or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to plott hounds:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins and grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in place, keep your plott hound on a leash at all times. And please, when your plott hound defecates on your neighbor’s grass, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about plott hounds
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