Owning dogs, in particular providing care for the american cocker spaniel, is nothing new for people across the world. Historians have proven dogs were domesticated sometime between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that all dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of the tallest canine. However, the most preferred canines are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The american cocker spaniel is another favorite pick with canine owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of many of the most crucial american cocker spaniel care tips.
Typical health care cost of the american cocker spaniel
The annual cost of providing for the american cocker spaniel—including everything from meals, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and $780. This is not even accounting for capital costs for sterilization surgery, a collar and leash, a dog carrier and a crate. Note: Be positive you have obtained all of your items before bringing your american cocker spaniel home.
General american cocker spaniel Care
Feeding the american cocker spaniel
- american cocker spaniel puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need 4 meals every twenty-four hours.
- Feed american cocker spaniel puppies three to 6 months old three meals every 24 hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months to 1 year old two meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- By the time the american cocker spaniel makes his first birthday, 1 meal in a 24 hour period is typically adequate.
- Some american cocker spaniels might do better with two lighter helpings. It’s your job to adapt to your american cocker spaniel’s eating schedule.
Top-quality dry food provides a balanced diet to adult american cocker spaniels and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your american cocker spaniel may also dig cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these should be less than ten pct of his daily calorie intake. american cocker spaniel puppies should probably be fed excellent-quality, name brand puppy food. You should cut down on “people food”, though, because it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and may result in very finicky eating habits and obesity. Clean, potable water should be available exclusively, and be sure to clean food and water bowls daily.
american cocker spaniel Care Tips: Your american cocker spaniel needs exercise daily
american cocker spaniels need some daily exercise so they can stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and maintain good health. Physical activity also really helps american cocker spaniels avoid boredom, which often leads to naughty behavior. Getting out can appease many of your american cocker spaniel’s desires to dig, retrieve, chase, chew and herd. Individual exercise needs can depend on your american cocker spaniel’s age and his or her level of health—but just a couple of walks around the block every day and 10 minutes in the backyard probably won’t do. If your american cocker spaniel is a 6 to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be relatively more.
Grooming tips for american cocker spaniels
You can help keep your american cocker spaniel clean and reduce shedding with brushing. Check for fleas and ticks every day during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes american cocker spaniels don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to bathing, comb or cut out any and all mats from the american cocker spaniel’s hair. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap.
Handling Your american cocker spaniel
Puppies, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. While carrying your american cocker spaniel pup, place one of your hands under the dog’s chest, with either your forearm or your other hand supporting his back legs and rear. Never attempt to grab or lift your pup by her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you have to pick up a larger, full-grown american cocker spaniel, pick it up from underneath, bracing his or her chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other arm.
How to House the american cocker spaniel
american cocker spaniels need a comfy quiet spot to be able to rest away from all the breezes and off the floor or ground. You may wish to think about buying a dog bed, or prefer making one from a wood box. Put a clean sheet, comforter, blanket, or pillow inside the bed as cushioning. Wash the american cocker spaniel’s bedding frequently. If your american cocker spaniel will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain she has shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry shelter during the winter.
american cocker spaniel Licensing
Make sure to follow the city’s licensing rules. Be certain you affix the license to your american cocker spaniel’s collar. The license, together with an identification tattoo or tag, can possibly help you recover your american cocker spaniel if she happens to go missing.
Facts on american cocker spaniel Temperament
About Training Your american cocker spaniel
Well-mannered, companion american cocker spaniels can be a blessing to own. But when left untrained, your dog may be a big headache. Teaching your american cocker spaniel the basics—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will bolster the relationship with both your dog and the visitors. If you’re the owner of a pup, start teaching him or her manners quickly! Meals can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups can be enrolled in obedience classes when they have been adequately vaccinated. Contact your local humane society or SPCA for information about training classes. You should always walk your american cocker spaniel on a leash in public, even while a puppy. Be certain your dog will come to you if you call him. An aggressive or disobedient american cocker spaniel should not be allowed to play with kids.
american cocker spaniel Health
american cocker spaniels should visit the vet for a complete diagnosis, shots and heartworm screening every year, and immediately if he is hurt or sick.
Knowing Your american cocker spaniel’s Oral Health
Although we might object to our american cocker spaniel’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might mean. Bad breath is a symptom that your american cocker spaniel should get an oral screening. Dental plaque , which is caused by germs brings a terrible odor that can only be eliminated by treatment by a professional. After a professional cleaning, her teeth and gums may be kept healthy by eliminating table food, feeding a special diet focused on maintaining dental health, and brushing regularly. The vet can give you other information for mitigating periodontal diseases as well as bad breath. You can brush your american cocker spaniel’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste twice weekly. You can clean them with a gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched across your finger, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the teeth and gums, often affects american cocker spaniels. This dreadful affliction can possibly lead to loss of teeth and also cause infections throughout her body. The doctor will sometimes brush your american cocker spaniel’s teeth during the typical health evaluation.
Bad Breath in american cocker spaniels
While halitosis due to periodontal disease might not be very serious if caught early, some odors may also indicate more serious, long-term causes for concern. A fruity, sweet smell can frequently be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the intestines or liver may cause foul breath. If your american cocker spaniel’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease is a possible cause. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your american cocker spaniel 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 american cocker spaniels
During the summer, it’s important for you to perform regular, daily checks of your american cocker spaniel for fleas and ticks. Remove and find fleas using a flea comb. There are several new procedures of tick management. Ask your vet about his options.
Heartworms in american cocker spaniels
Your american cocker spaniel is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. The insect carries heartworms from dog to dog. Heartworm infections are potentially deadly. It is wise to give your american cocker spaniel a blood test for heartworms each spring—this is critical to stop infestations from the previous year. It’s also wise to give your american cocker spaniel a monthly pill throughout the warm, wet time of the year to be able to protect her from heartworms. Your american cocker spaniel should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some places, usually the locations with milder temperatures, where doctors recommend parasite pills be used year round.
Medicines and Poisons
If you’re pondering giving your american cocker spaniel medication that was not prescribed for him by his veterinarian, don’t. For example, did you know that just 1 regular-strength ibuprofen caplet can cause stomach ulcers in american cocker spaniels? Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your american cocker spaniel. If you believe that your pooch has been exposed to a poison, call the vet or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hour animal poison information.
american cocker spaniels: Spaying and Neutering
Female american cocker spaniels should be spayed—which is the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by six months of age. You will significantly reduce your female american cocker spaniel’s chance of breast cancer by spaying before adulthood. The chance of a sick uterus, which is also a serious disease that impacts more mature females, will be eliminated by spaying when young. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias can be prevented by neutering males.
american cocker spaniel Immunizations
- The combo vaccine (also called the “5-in-1 shot”) must be given to your american cocker spaniel at 2, 3, and 4 months of age and again once yearly. This innoculation immunizes your pup from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your american cocker spaniel puppy’s vaccination regimen cannot be finished before four months old.
- If you have an unvaccinated american cocker spaniel older than 4 or five months, she must have a series of 2 vaccinations two to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly innoculation.
- american cocker spaniel pup socialization and innoculation should go hand in hand. Many veterinarians advise that new owners bring their american cocker spaniel pups to socialization courses, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks old. They should have received their first innoculations by then.
Laws vary so much around the country, that it’s best to call your local vet to get rabies vaccination info. For example, New York City regulations state that pets older than three months must be immunized for rabies. The initial rabies vaccine must be followed by a subsequent vaccination the following year, and then every three years. There are many immunizations that may or may not be effective for your american cocker spaniel. Your vet can give you his advice. You should be aware, if your american cocker spaniel happens to get sick because she is not immunized, the shots needs to be administered once your pet is better.
Hookworms in american cocker spaniels
american cocker spaniels are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both urban and rural. Tiny eggs made by intestinal worms are passed in an infected dog’s stool. Even the healthiest of american cocker spaniel puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. The secret to treatment is early diagnosis. This will make certain that the medication is successful against the worms your american cocker spaniel has. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your vet can best define the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
american cocker spaniel Care Tips: Additional Info
american cocker spaniel Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and treats specifically for american cocker spaniels and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with comforter or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to american cocker spaniels:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Caffeinated foods, like coffee, tea or chocolate
- Raisins & grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, chives or garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured location, keep your american cocker spaniel on a leash at all times. And please, when your american cocker spaniel defecates on your neighbor’s yard, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about american cocker spaniels
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