Raising dogs, especially providing care for the wirehaired vizsla, is old hat for people across the globe. Some zoologists have proven dogs were originally domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest canine. But the most popular canines are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The wirehaired vizsla is also a favorite pick among dog owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of many of the most critical wirehaired vizsla care tips.
Cost of care for the wirehaired vizsla
The annual cost of caring for the wirehaired vizsla—which includes food and treats, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even accounting for capital expenses for sterilization procedures, a collar and a leash, carrier and a dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have all the required supplies before bringing your wirehaired vizsla home.
Typical wirehaired vizsla Care
Feeding your wirehaired vizsla
- wirehaired vizsla pups between eight and 12 weeks need four bowls of food in a day.
- wirehaired vizsla pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed pups six months old to one year old 2 meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- When the wirehaired vizsla reaches his or her 1st birthday, one feeding daily is typically all that’s necessary.
- Some wirehaired vizslas, however, do better with two smaller meals. It is your duty to learn your wirehaired vizsla’s eating habits.
High-quality dry dogfood provides a balanced diet for grown wirehaired vizslas and may be mixed with broth, canned food, or water. Your wirehaired vizsla may also be fond of cottage cheese, fruits and vegetables, and cooked eggs, but these should be less than ten percent of his or her daily nutrition. wirehaired vizsla pups need to be given excellent-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to limit “table food”, however, since it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, tooth and bone concerns, and may lead to extremely picky food choices and obesity. Clean, potable water should be made always, and be sure to clean food and water dishes daily.
wirehaired vizsla Care Tips: Your wirehaired vizsla needs physical activity daily
wirehaired vizslas must have some physical activity so they can burn calories, recharge their brains, and stay healthy. Daily physical activity also really helps wirehaired vizslas avoid boredom, which has the potential to lead to difficult behavior. Going outside would quell most of your wirehaired vizsla’s instinctual urges to chase, retrieve, chew, dig and herd. Exercise needs depend on your wirehaired vizsla’s level of health and her age—but ten minutes in the backyard and merely a walk around the block every day probably is not enough. If your wirehaired vizsla is a six to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will probably be more.
wirehaired vizsla Grooming Tips
You can help reduce shedding and keep your wirehaired vizsla clean with brushing. Inspect for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Many wirehaired vizslas don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before a bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the wirehaired vizsla’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your wirehaired vizsla
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. To carry your wirehaired vizsla pup, take 1 of your hands and put it under your dog’s chest, with either your forearm or other hand supporting his hind legs and rear. Don’t try to grab or lift your pup by his or her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you must pick up a larger, adult wirehaired vizsla, pick it up from underneath, supporting her chest with one of your arms and rump with your other arm.
wirehaired vizsla housing
Your wirehaired vizsla needs a comfy peaceful place in order to rest apart from all the drafts and away from the ground. You might wish to think about buying a dog bed, or make one out of a wood box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow in the bed for cushioning. Wash your wirehaired vizsla’s bedding often. If the wirehaired vizsla will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, dry, warm shelter in the cold.
wirehaired vizsla Licensing
Your area has licensing rules to heed. You should attach the license to your wirehaired vizsla’s collar. The license, along with an ID tattoo, can help you recover your wirehaired vizsla should he go missing.
Info on wirehaired vizsla Temperament
Training your wirehaired vizsla
Well-mannered, companion wirehaired vizslas can be a a joy. However, untrained, your dog can easily be a lot of trouble. Training your wirehaired vizsla on the minimums—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship both with the pooch and the friends. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin training him on the right behavior quickly! Use doggie treats as recognition and incentive. Pups can start obedience courses when they are adequately vaccinated. Call your local humane society or SPCA for information on training classes. Invariably you should walk your wirehaired vizsla leashed in public, even while a puppy. Just be certain your doggie will come back to you whenever you tell him to. An aggressive or disobedient wirehaired vizsla shouldn’t play with others.
Your wirehaired vizsla’s Health
wirehaired vizslas should visit the vet for a thorough exam, shots and a heartworm blood screening annualy, and promptly when he is sick or hurt.
Knowing Your wirehaired vizsla’s Dental Health
While many of us might simply dislike our wirehaired vizsla’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might indicate. Halitosis is most commonly a symptom which means that your wirehaired vizsla should get a dental exam. Plaque triggered by bacteria creates a terrible smell that can only be freshened with the help of a professional. Once your wirehaired vizsla has had a professional dental cleaning, the gums and teeth can be kept healthy by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can supply you with other tips on mitigating oral disease and halitosis. You can easily brush your wirehaired vizsla’s teeth using a doggie toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste a couple of times a week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Some wirehaired vizslas develop periodontal disease, sometimes referred to as gum disease. Sometimes, loss of teeth occurs due to gum disease. Disease can also spread to the rest of your wirehaired vizsla’s body. Your vet will usually clean the wirehaired vizsla’s teeth during the routine health checkup.
wirehaired vizslas with Bad Breath
Although halitosis caused by periodontal disease may not be serious if detected early, some bad breath may also indicate fairly serious, long-term issues. A pleasant, even fruity smell may usually be a sign of diabetes, while liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath. If your wirehaired vizsla’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease might be the reason. When you notice your wirehaired vizsla has smelly breath along with other indicators of disease, like loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, loss of weight, depression, too much urination or drinking, plan a consultation with his vet.
wirehaired vizsla Flea and Tick Issues
Daily, regular checks of your wirehaired vizsla for fleas and ticks during the summer are important. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are many new technologies of tick reduction. Talk with your vet about these and other options.
wirehaired vizslas With Heartworm Issues
The heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart and is passed from an infested dog to your wirehaired vizsla by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections are known to be fatal. Your wirehaired vizsla should have a heartworm screen each spring—this is important to detect infections from the past year. A monthly tablet given during mosquito season can protect your wirehaired vizsla. Your wirehaired vizsla should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some milder climates, vets recommend preemptive worm medication be taken all year.
Toxins and Medicines
Do not ever give your wirehaired vizsla medication that hasn’t been prescribed by her vet. For example, are you aware that 1 regular-strength ibuprofen pill can possibly cause ulcers in wirehaired vizslas? Make sure your wirehaired vizsla is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. Be sure to notify your dog’s vet if you think your wirehaired vizsla has eaten poison. You may also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
wirehaired vizsla Sterilization Operations
Male wirehaired vizslas should be neutered – the extraction of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by six months of age. You can significantly reduce your female’s risk of breast cancer by spaying before maturity. Spaying also eradicates the chance of a sick uterus, a traumatic issue in older females that can only be treated with intensive medical care. Neutering male wirehaired vizslas helps prevent testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
Innoculating your wirehaired vizsla
- The combination vaccine (also known as a “5-in-one shot”) ought to be given to your wirehaired vizsla at 2, three, and four months of age and then once each year. This innoculation immunizes your pup from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your wirehaired vizsla must be innoculated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If you have the rare wirehaired vizsla who has not been vaccinated and is older than four or 5 months, he must get a series of 2 vaccinations given 2 or 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual immunization.
- wirehaired vizsla pup socialization and innoculation should go hand in hand. You can bring your wirehaired vizsla pup to socialization classes by eight or 9 weeks old, according to many veterinarians. At this point, they should have already received their first series of vaccines.
Since statutes vary around the country, contact your neighborhood doctor to get info on rabies immunization. In NYC, for example, the rule states that all pets older than 3 months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. After the first vaccination, she must get another vaccination the next year, and then every 3 years after that. There are several immunizations that are effective for your wirehaired vizsla. Your veterinarian can tell youmore about them. By the way, if your wirehaired vizsla gets ill because he is not vaccinated, the immunization must be taken once your companion animal fully recovers.
Tapeworms in wirehaired vizslas
wirehaired vizslas are commonly exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by intestinal worms are transmitted through an infected dog’s stool. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry intestinal worms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the key to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medication will be successful against your wirehaired vizsla’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, won’t kill tapeworms. Your wirehaired vizsla’s doctor can best identify the culprit—and decide the most effective medicine.
Miscellaneous wirehaired vizsla Care Tips
Checklist of wirehaired vizsla Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for wirehaired vizslas and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with warm sheet or towel
- Doggie toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
Never, ever feed your wirehaired vizsla the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Raisins and grapes
- Moldy or spoiled food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your wirehaired vizsla on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a secured, fenced-in spot. When your wirehaired vizsla does #2 on a neighbor’s yard, her sidewalk or any other public spot, please remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about wirehaired vizslas
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