Owning dogs, especially providing care for the rhodesian ridgeback, is a specialty of people across the globe. Some zoologists have proven that dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest canine. But the most preferred canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The rhodesian ridgeback is also a popular choice among dog owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of some of the most common rhodesian ridgeback care tips.
General health care cost of your rhodesian ridgeback
The annual cost of rearing your rhodesian ridgeback—including everything from meals and treats, to vet bills, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even consider capital expenses for sterilization surgery, dog collar and leash, dog carrier and a crate. Tip: Make sure you have procured all your items before you bring your rhodesian ridgeback home.
Basic rhodesian ridgeback Care
rhodesian ridgeback Feeding Plan
- rhodesian ridgeback puppies between eight and twelve weeks need 4 meals daily.
- rhodesian ridgeback pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed puppies six months to one year old two bowls of food daily.
- By the time your rhodesian ridgeback reaches her 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a twenty-four hour period is enough.
- Some rhodesian ridgebacks might do better with two lighter meals. It is your responsibility to adapt to your rhodesian ridgeback’s eating tendencies.
Premium-quality dry dog food provides balanced nutrition for full-grown rhodesian ridgebacks and may be mixed with water, canned food, or broth. Your rhodesian ridgeback may be fond of cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these dishes shouldn’t total more than ten pct of her daily food allowance. rhodesian ridgeback puppies need to be given a high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to cut down on “people food”, though, because it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems, and may create very finicky eating habits and obesity. Clean, fresh water should be made at all times, and make certain to wash food and water bowls regularly.
rhodesian ridgeback Care Tips: Make sure to get your rhodesian ridgeback plenty of daily physical activity
rhodesian ridgebacks need some physical activity in order to stay healthy, recharge their minds, and remain in good health. Exercise also really helps rhodesian ridgebacks avoid boredom, which would often lead to naughty behavior. Outside playtime would curb most of your rhodesian ridgeback’s desires to dig, retrieve, chase, chew and herd. Activity needs are dependent on your rhodesian ridgeback’s level of health and his age—but ten minutes in the backyard and just a walk around the block every day probably won’t be enough. If your rhodesian ridgeback is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will be a little higher.
rhodesian ridgeback Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your rhodesian ridgeback clean with brushing. Inspect for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes rhodesian ridgebacks don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to bathing, cut out or comb any and all mats from the rhodesian ridgeback’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your rhodesian ridgeback
Puppies are obviously the easiest to manage. When carrying the rhodesian ridgeback puppy, take one of your hands and place it beneath your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rear. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her front legs, back of the neck or tail. When you must pick up a bigger, adult rhodesian ridgeback, pick it up from the underside, holding his chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other.
Housing the rhodesian ridgeback
rhodesian ridgebacks need a cozy peaceful place in order to relax away from all the drafts and away from the ground or floor. You may want to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one out of a wood box. Put a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow inside the bed. Wash the rhodesian ridgeback’s bedding frequently. If your rhodesian ridgeback will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry area during the winter.
rhodesian ridgeback Licensing
Your town has licensing regulations to follow. You should connect the license to your rhodesian ridgeback’s collar. The license, together with an identification tattoo, can easily help secure your rhodesian ridgeback’s return should she go missing.
rhodesian ridgeback Behavior Info
Thoughts on rhodesian ridgeback Training
A well-behaved, companion rhodesian ridgeback is truly a joy to raise. But when untrained, your rhodesian ridgeback will most likely be nothing but trouble. Training your rhodesian ridgeback on the basics—”Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, and “Leave it”—improves your relationship both with your pooch and your house guests. If you have a pup, begin training her on manners asap! Use treats as incentive and reward. Puppies can enroll in obedience class when they are sufficiently immunized. Call your community SPCA or humane society for details on obedience course recommendations. It is best to keep your rhodesian ridgeback on a leash when, even while a puppy. Just be positive your doggie will come to you whenever you say. A disobedient or aggressive rhodesian ridgeback shouldn’t play with people.
The Health of Your rhodesian ridgeback
Your rhodesian ridgeback should visit the vet for a thorough assessment, immunizations and heartworm examination every year, and promptly when she is sick or injured.
The Oral Health of Your rhodesian ridgeback
While many of us may object to our rhodesian ridgeback’s foul breath, we should be aware of what it might be telling us. Foul-smelling breath is most commonly an indication that your rhodesian ridgeback needs an oral examination. Dental plaque due to bacteria creates a bad stench that necessitates the help of a professional. Once you have given your rhodesian ridgeback a professional cleaning, the gums and teeth may be kept up by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can provide you with additional guidance on eliminating oral problems and stinky breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your rhodesian ridgeback’s teeth. 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 gums and teeth, sometimes affects rhodesian ridgebacks. This painful disease can initiate loss of your rhodesian ridgeback’s teeth and also propagate infections throughout his body. Your vet will sometimes clean your rhodesian ridgeback’s teeth as part of her typical health checkup.
Bad rhodesian ridgeback Breath
Although periodontal disease alone is not critical when found early, halitosis may also be indicative of more serious, persistent causes for concern. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause halitosis, and a pleasant, even fruity smell may sometimes be indicative of diabetes. If your rhodesian ridgeback’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease may be the cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your rhodesian ridgeback has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in rhodesian ridgebacks
During the summer, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your rhodesian ridgeback for ticks and fleas. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are numerous new procedures of flea mitigation. Visit your veterinarian about these and other recommendations.
rhodesian ridgebacks With Heartworm Issues
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your rhodesian ridgeback by mosquitoes. Many rhodesian ridgebacks die each year as a result of heartworm infections. It is wise to make sure your rhodesian ridgeback takes a heartworm screen every spring—this is necessary to stop infestations from the previous year. A monthly tablet taken throughout the course of mosquito season can help to protect your rhodesian ridgeback. Your rhodesian ridgeback should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some regions, usually the regions with warmer climates, where the vets advise heartworm pills be consumed throughout the year.
Poisions and Medicines
If you’re pondering giving your rhodesian ridgeback pills that was not prescribed for him by his doctor, don’t even think about it. One little ibuprofen tablet can possibly initiate stomach ulcers in rhodesian ridgebacks. Make sure your rhodesian ridgeback is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you have reason to believe that your doggie has eaten a poisonous substance, immediately call your vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four-hr. animal poison assistance.
rhodesian ridgeback Sterilization Procedures
Female rhodesian ridgebacks should be spayed—which is the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months old. Spaying before maturity greatly reduces the breast cancer risk, which is a frequently fatal and common illness of older female dogs. The chance of a diseased uterus, which is another serious disease that affects older females, will also be removed by spaying prior to six months. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias are preventable by neutering male rhodesian ridgebacks.
rhodesian ridgeback Immunizing
- The combination vaccine (also known as the “five-in-1 shot”) must be given to your rhodesian ridgeback at 2, three, and four months of age and again once per year. This immunization protects your rhodesian ridgeback puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The rhodesian ridgeback puppy’s innoculation program cannot be finished prior to four months of age.
- If your rhodesian ridgeback has not been innoculated and is older than four months, she will need to be given two innoculations asap, 2 or 3 weeks apart. After that you must innoculate every year.
- rhodesian ridgeback pup immunization and socialization should go together. Many veterinarians advise that new owners bring their rhodesian ridgeback pups to socialization classes, beginning at 8 or nine weeks old. They should have already received their first innoculations by this point.
Regulations are so varied around the country, that it’s best to call your local veterinarian to get rabies innoculation details. In New York City, for example, the statute states that any pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. After the original vaccination, she must get another immunization the next year, and then every 3 years after that. There are a variety of innoculations, many of which are right for your rhodesian ridgeback. There are others that are not, however. Ask your rhodesian ridgeback’s vet for her recommendation. By the way, if your rhodesian ridgeback happens to get sick because he is not properly immunized, the shot can be administered once your companion animal has recovered.
Tapeworms in rhodesian ridgebacks
rhodesian ridgebacks are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Microscopic eggs produced by roundworms are transmitted through an infected rhodesian ridgeback’s stool. Most pups, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry intestinal worms. The key to effective treatment is early detection. This will make certain that the treatment is effective against the worms your rhodesian ridgeback has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best define the culprit—and assign the most effective medicine.
rhodesian ridgeback Care Tips: Additional Info
rhodesian ridgeback Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically for rhodesian ridgebacks and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- 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 sheet or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never, ever feed your rhodesian ridgeback the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Grapes or raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic or chives
- Poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in place, keep your rhodesian ridgeback on a leash at all times. And please, when your rhodesian ridgeback defecates on your neighbor’s yard, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about rhodesian ridgebacks
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