Raising dogs, especially taking care of the southern hound, is nothing new for humans. Some historians theorize that dogs were originally domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all canines evolved from the wolf. Since those days, human beings 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-ft stature earns them the distinction of tallest pooch. But the most preferred dogs are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The southern hound is another popular choice with canine owners. Some owners are misinformed, however, of some of the most important southern hound care tips.
General health care cost for your southern hound
The annual cost of caring for the southern hound—including nutrition and treats, to vet bills, toys and license—could vary between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital costs for spay/neuter procedures, collar and leash, dog carrier and crate. Tip: Be sure you have all of the required items before getting your southern hound home.
General southern hound Care
How To Feed your southern hound
- southern hound pups between eight and twelve weeks old need four meals in a day.
- southern hound pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a day.
- Feed puppies six months old to 1 year old 2 meals in a 24 hour period.
- By the time the southern hound reaches her first birthday, one bowl a day is usually sufficient.
- Many times adult southern hounds, however, do better with 2 smaller servings. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your southern hound’s eating tendencies.
High-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition to full-grown southern hounds and can mix with broth, canned food, or water. Your southern hound may dig fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these should be less than ten pct of her daily food. southern hound puppies ought to be fed top-quality, name brand puppy food. You should cut down on “table food”, though, since it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and might cause extremely finicky food choices as well as obesity. Give clean, potable water exclusively, and make sure to clean water and food bowls frequently.
southern hound Care Tips: Your southern hound needs physical activity daily
southern hounds need daily physical activity in order to stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and remain in good health. Daily activity also seems to help southern hounds avoid boredom, which can often lead to difficult behavior. A little fun and games will quench most of your southern hound’s instinctual urges to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Exercise needs are dependent on your southern hound’s age and his or her level of health—but a couple of walks around the block every day and ten minutes in the backyard probably will not do. If your southern hound is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, her requirements will be more.
southern hound Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your southern hound clean with frequent brushing. Inspect for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many southern hounds don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Before a bath, comb or cut out all mats from the southern hound’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
How to Handle Your southern hound
Pups are clearly the easiest to handle. When carrying the southern hound puppy, take 1 of your hands and place it under your dog’s chest, either with the forearm or other hand supporting her hind legs and rump. Don’t try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her forelegs, nape or tail. If you need to lift a larger, full-grown southern hound, pick it up from the underside, holding his or her chest with one of your arms and rear end with your other arm.
How to House your southern hound
southern hounds need a comfy quiet spot to relax away from all the drafts and off the ground. You may wish to buy a doggie bed, or make one from a wood box. Put a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow in the bed. Wash the southern hound’s bed covering often. If your southern hound will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has access to covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a dry, covered, warm area in winter.
southern hound Licensing
There are licensing rules to heed in your area. You should attach the license to your southern hound’s collar. The license, along with an ID tag, may help you recover your southern hound should he get lost.
southern hound Behavior Facts
Training your southern hound
A well-mannered, companion southern hound is a blessing to have. However, left untrained, your southern hound can possibly be troublesome. Training your southern hound on the fundamentals—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—will improve the relationship with both the southern hound and the relatives. If you own a puppy, begin training him on the right behavior as fast as you can! Use a treat as recognition and incentive. Pups should be enrolled in obedience class when they are adequately vaccinated. Call your community SPCA or humane society for obedience courses. You should always walk your southern hound on a leash when, even as a pup. Just be certain your southern hound will come to you when you call her. An aggressive or disobedient southern hound cannot play with children.
southern hound Health
southern hounds should visit the vet for a complete assessment, shots and a heartworm blood exam every year, and immediately if he is injured or ill.
About your southern hound’s Oral Health
While many of us may simply dislike our southern hound’s halitosis, it’s important to be aware of what it might be telling us. Foul breath is a symptom that your southern hound requires an oral examination. Dental plaque , which is a result of germs results in a terrible stench that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. After a cleaning from a professional, the mouth can be be preserved in a healthy state by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can provide you additional info on mitigating periodontal ailments and halitosis. You can clean your southern hound’s teeth using a doggie paste or a homemade baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, sometimes affects southern hounds. This troublesome condition can cause loss of your southern hound’s teeth and cause infections to the body. The vet will brush your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your southern hound’s health examination.
Halitosis (bad breath) in southern hounds
While periodontal disease itself is not a serious issue if it is caught early, bad breath may also indicate fairly serious, persistent problems. A pleasant, even sweet smell can sometimes be indicative of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. If your southern hound’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease may be the reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your southern hound has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
southern hound Flea and Tick Issues
When it’s warm, it’s vital for you to perform daily checks of your southern hound for fleas and ticks. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are many new procedures of tick elimination. Ask your southern hound’s doctor about her options.
Heartworm problems in southern hounds
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from a contaminated dog to your southern hound by way of mosquitoes. Many southern hounds die annualy due to heartworms. Your southern hound should have a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is crucial to catch infections from the previous year. You should also give your southern hound a once-a-month pill throughout the warm, wet time of the year to protect her from heartworms. Your southern hound should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some of the warmer locations, vets advise preventive parasite medication year round.
Toxins and Medicines
If you’re contemplating giving your southern hound medication that was not prescribed for her by his veterinarian, don’t even think about it. Did you know that 1 regular-strength ibuprofen pill causes stomach ulcers in some dogs Make sure your southern hound is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Make sure to contact your southern hound’s vet when you have cause to believe your southern hound has ingested poison. You should also contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
southern hounds: Spaying and Neutering
Female southern hounds should be spayed—the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testes—by six months old. You will significantly diminish your female’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to adulthood. The chance of a sick uterus, which is also a serious condition that impacts more mature females, can also be removed by spaying while young. Neutering males helps prevent prostate and testicular diseases, certain types of aggressions and some hernias.
southern hound Vaccinating
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-one shot”) needs to be given to your southern hound at two, three, and four months of age and then once annually. This innoculation immunizes your southern hound puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your southern hound must be innoculated for at least the first 4 months of her life.
- If your southern hound has not been vaccinated and is older than four months, he will need two innoculations promptly, 2 to three weeks apart. After that you must innoculate every year.
- Your southern hound puppy’s socialization should coincide with the vaccination program. Many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their southern hound puppies to socialization classes, beginning at 8 to nine weeks old. They should have received their first innoculations by then.
Because laws vary so much between different areas, contact your community veterinarian for information on rabies immunization. As an example, NYC rules declare that pets older than 3 months be immunized for rabies. After the initial shot, she must have a second immunization the next year, and then every 3 years. There are several immunizations, many of which are right for your southern hound. Others, however, are not. Ask your southern hound’s vet for his recommendation. Also, if your southern hound gets ill because she is not properly innoculated, do not administer the shots until the dog has made a full recovery.
Hookworms in southern hounds
southern hounds are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through a southern hound’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms. An accurate, early detection is the key to treatment. This will make certain that the medicine is effective against the parasite your southern hound has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best figure out the culprit—and decide the appropriate medication.
southern hound: Miscellaneous Care Tips
southern hound Supply Checklist
- High-quality dog food and treats specifically for southern hounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog box or bed with blanket or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
The no-no list
Do not feed your southern hound the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins & grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in spot, keep your southern hound on a leash at all times. If your southern hound does number two on your neighbor’s grass, his sidewalk or any other public location, please take care of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about southern hounds
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