Owning dogs, especially taking care of the saluki, is old hat for people across the globe. Historians believe that dogs were originally domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, people have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-ft stature has earned them the title of the tallest dog. But the most widespread pooches are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The saluki is also a popular pick among canine owners. Some owners are oblivious, however, of some crucial saluki care tips.
Typical health care cost of the saluki
The annual cost of caring for your saluki—which includes meals and snacks, to doctor bills, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even counting capital expenses for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, carrier and a dog crate. Note: Be sure you have all your items before you get your saluki home for the first time.
Typical saluki Care
Feeding the saluki
- saluki pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need four bowls of food a day.
- Feed saluki pups three to 6 months old 3 meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months old to one year 2 meals per day.
- When your saluki makes his 1st birthday, 1 feeding a day is usually sufficient.
- Sometimes adult salukis might do better with two smaller meals. It’s your duty to learn your saluki’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition for full-grown salukis and may be mixed with canned food, water, or broth. Your saluki may also enjoy cottage cheese, cooked egg, fruits and vegetables, but these foods should not total more than ten percent of his daily food intake. saluki pups must be fed top-quality, name brand puppy food. You should try to limit “table food”, however, because it can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, tooth and bone problems, and may cause some extremely picky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, potable water should be made at all times, and be certain to wash water and food bowls very frequently.
saluki Care Tips: Make sure to get your saluki some daily exercise
salukis need daily exercise so they can stay healthy, stimulate their minds, and stay healthy. Daily exercise also seems to help salukis avoid boredom, which often leads to destructive behavior. Getting out of the house will appease many of your saluki’s instinctual urges to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Exercise needs will depend on your saluki’s level of health and her age—but just a couple of walks down the street every day and 10 minutes in the backyard probably will not be enough. If your saluki is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be higher.
Grooming tips for salukis
You can help keep your saluki clean and reduce shedding with regular brushing. Check for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes salukis don’t need a bath more than a few times during the year. Prior to giving him a bath, cut out or comb any and all mats from the saluki’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
saluki Handling
Puppies, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. While carrying your saluki puppy, place one of your hands under your dog’s chest, either with your forearm or other hand supporting his hind legs and rear. Don’t ever attempt to grab or lift your puppy by his or her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you must pick up a larger, adult saluki, pick it up from the underside, holding her chest with 1 arm and rump with the other arm.
How to House the saluki
salukis need a warm peaceful spot in order to rest away from all drafts and away from the ground. You may want to purchase a doggie bed, or think about making one out of a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow inside the bed as cushioning. Wash your saluki’s bed covering frequently. If your saluki will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, dry, warm area when it’s cold.
saluki Licensing and Identification
There are licensing regulations to follow in your city. You should attach the license to your saluki’s collar. The license, together with an ID tattoo or tag, can easily help secure your saluki’s return should he become lost.
Facts on saluki Temperament
About Training the saluki
A well-mannered, companion saluki can be a blessing to have. However, when left untrained, your saluki will most likely be trouble. Training your saluki on the basics—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship both with your dog and the visitors. If you own a pup, start teaching him or her the appropriate responses asap! Use treats as an incentive and a reward. Pups can commence obedience classes when they are adequately immunized. Call your local humane society or SPCA for details about obedience classes. It is wise to walk your saluki on a leash while in public, even as a puppy. Just be positive your doggie will come to you if you tell him to. A disobedient or aggressive saluki shouldn’t be allowed to play with children.
Knowing Your saluki’s Health
Your saluki should see the vet for a complete diagnosis, innoculations and a heartworm assessment each year, and as soon as possible if he is ill or hurt.
Knowing Your saluki’s Oral Health
Although we might object to our saluki’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a sign of. Foul breath is a sign that your saluki should have an oral check up. Dental plaque , which is a result of bacteria results in a foul smell that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. Once your saluki has had a professional cleaning, his gums and teeth can be be preserved in a healthy state by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can supply you with other information for eliminating oral diseases and halitosis. You should brush the saluki’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste a few times a week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the tooth and the gum, often affects salukis. Frequently, loss of teeth happens due to periodontal disease. Disease can sometimes also spread to the rest of your saluki’s body. The vet will brush his teeth at a typical physical.
salukis with Bad Breath
Even though dental disease by itself is not serious if detected early, bad breath may also indicate serious, chronic causes for concern. Liver or intestinal diseases can also cause halitosis, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be a sign of diabetes. Kidney disease might be the cause when your saluki’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your saluki has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
saluki Tick and Flea Issues
Daily, regular checks of your saluki for ticks and fleas during the warm seasons are of utmost importance. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are several new technologies of flea and tick reduction. Speak to your saluki’s doctor about these and other recommendations.
salukis With Heartworm Issues
This parasite lives in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your saluki by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections are known to be fatal. Your saluki should have a blood test for heartworms every single spring—this is vital for detecting infestations from the earlier year. It is recommended that you give your saluki a once-a-month pill during mosquito season to help protect him from heartworms. Your saluki should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some areas, usually the places with hotter temperatures, where the veterinarians advise worm pills be consumed all the time.
Medications and Poisons
If you’re thinking about giving your saluki medication that was not prescribed for him by his doctor, don’t do it. Are you aware that one regular-strength ibuprofen capsule causes ulcers in some dogs Make sure your saluki is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to immediately call your dog’s vet if you suspect your saluki has consumed poison. You could also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
Neutering and Spaying salukis
Female salukis should be spayed—which is the removal of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by 6 months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly diminishes the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and usually fatal disorder of older females. Spaying also eliminates the possibility of a diseased uterus, a traumatic issue in older females that requires surgery. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior are all preventable by neutering males.
Innoculating your saluki
- saluki puppies should be vaccinated with a combination shot (called the “5-in-one”) at two, three and 4 months old, and then once per year. This immunization immunizes your saluki puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. The saluki must be immunized for at least the first four months of his life.
- If your saluki has not been immunized and is older than 4 months, she will need 2 vaccinations immediately, 2 to 3 weeks apart. After that you must immunize every year.
- saluki puppy socialization and vaccination should coincide. You can bring your saluki puppy to socialization classes by eight to 9 weeks of age, according to many vets. At this age, they should have received at least their first vaccinations.
Because laws vary around the country, call a local veterinarian to get info on rabies immunization. For example, in NYC, the regulation states that any pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies vaccine must be followed by another innoculation the following year, and then every 3 years after that. There are a variety of innoculations that may or may not be effective for your saluki. Your vet can tell youmore about them. Note, if your saluki gets sick because he is not vaccinated, the shot ought to be administered after your pet recovers.
Intestinal Worms in salukis
salukis are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Tiny eggs created by roundworms are transmitted through an infested saluki’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. The key to effective treatment is early detection. This will make sure that the medication is highly effective against the parasite your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your saluki’s doctor can best figure out the culprit—and assign the right treatment.
Miscellaneous saluki Care Tips
Checklist of saluki Supplies
- Premium-quality dog food and treats designed for salukis and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb and brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with blanket or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to salukis:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Dough
Final Thoughts
Retain your saluki on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in area. And please, when your saluki defecates on your neighbor’s grass, take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about salukis
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