Owning dogs, especially taking care of the chow chow, is nothing new for humans across the globe. Historians postulate dogs were domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from the wolf. Since those days, we have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, varying in size from four-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest dog. But the most widespread dogs are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The chow chow is also a popular pick with dog owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of some crucial chow chow care tips.
Cost of care for your chow chow
The yearly cost of rearing the chow chow—which includes food, to doctor bills, toys and license—could range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even include capital expenses for spay/neuter procedures, collar and leash, carrier and a crate. Note: Be positive you have procured all your items before bringing your chow chow home.
Typical chow chow Care
chow chow Feeding Routine
- chow chow puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period.
- chow chow pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed three meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed pups 6 months old to one year old 2 bowls of food in a day.
- When the chow chow reaches his first birthday, one feeding in a day is enough.
- Many times adult chow chows might prefer 2 lighter servings. It is your responsibility to adapt to your chow chow’s eating tendencies.
Top-quality dry dogfood provides balanced nutrition for adult chow chows and may be mixed with canned food, broth, or water. Your chow chow may also enjoy fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these should be less than 10 pct of his daily calorie intake. chow chow pups ought to be fed top-quality, name brand puppy food. Please limit “table food”, though, because it can cause mineral and vitamin imbalances, tooth and bone concerns, and may create some extremely finicky eating habits and obesity. Give clean, potable water at all times, and make certain to clean food and water dishes very regularly.
chow chow Care Tips: Your chow chow needs physical activity daily
chow chows need daily physical activity so they can stay healthy, recharge their minds, and stay healthy. Physical activity also tends to help chow chows avoid boredom, which can lead to destructive behavior. Physical activity will curb most of your chow chow’s desires to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs depend on your chow chow’s age and his or her level of health—but ten minutes in the backyard and just a walk down the street every day probably isn’t enough. If your chow chow is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be relatively more.
Grooming tips for chow chows
Frequent brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your chow chow clean. Check for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Many chow chows don’t need a bath more than a few times a year. Prior to a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the chow chow’s coat. Carefully rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to soap residue.
Handling Your chow chow
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to handle. While carrying your chow chow pup, place 1 of your hands beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting the back legs and rump. Never try to lift or grab your puppy by his or her front legs, back of the neck or tail. If you must pick up a larger, full-grown chow chow, lift from the underside, holding his or her chest with one of your arms and rump with your other arm.
chow chow housing
Your chow chow needs a comfortable peaceful place to be able to rest apart from all the drafts and away from the ground or floor. You may want to think about purchasing a dog bed, or make one from a wooden box. Place a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow in the bed. Wash the chow chow’s bed covering often. If the chow chow will be outdoors much, be sure she has access to covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a covered, warm, dry area during the winter.
chow chow Identification
Your community has licensing rules to follow. Make sure you affix the license to your chow chow’s collar. The license, together with an ID tattoo, may help you recover your chow chow should he go missing.
chow chow Behavior Facts
About Training Your chow chow
Well-behaved, companion chow chows are a joy to own. But left untrained, your chow chow can be nothing but trouble. Teaching your chow chow the minimums—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship with both the dog and your relatives. If you have a pup, start teaching him the right responses as fast as you can! Doggie treats can be used as incentive and recognition. Puppies should begin obedience class when they are adequately immunized. Call your community humane society or SPCA for training course recommendations. It is wise to walk your chow chow leashed while in public, even as a pup. Be certain your doggie will come back to you when you call her. A disobedient or aggressive chow chow shouldn’t play with kids.
About your chow chow’s Health
Your chow chow should visit the veterinarian for a thorough examination, innoculations and a heartworm examination each and every year, and promptly if she is injured or sick.
The Oral Health of Your chow chow
Although we might object to our chow chow’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may be a sign of. Foul breath is a symptom that your chow chow needs an oral screening. Plaque , which is caused by bacteria creates a bad odor that necessitates professional treatment. After a professional cleaning, her teeth and gums can be kept up by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can provide you with additional tips on eradicating dental problems as well as halitosis. You should brush the chow chow’s teeth with a doggie toothpaste or a homemade baking soda and water paste once or twice per week. Brush them with a gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gum and tooth, sometimes affects chow chows. Often, teeth loss occurs because of gum infection. Infections will sometimes also propagate to the rest of your chow chow’s body. Your vet will usually clean your chow chow’s teeth while performing her regular health checkup.
chow chow Bad Breath
While the foul odors brought on by oral disease might not be too serious if found early, some those odors may indicate more serious, chronic problems. A pleasant, even fruity smell can be a sign of diabetes, while diseases of the liver or intestines may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible cause when your chow chow’s breath smells of urine or ammonia. Any time you notice your chow chow has foul breath along with other indications of disease, such as diminished appetite, vomiting or nausea, weight loss, depression, a lot of drinking and urination, set up a trip to the doctor.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in chow chows
During the warm seasons, it’s important for you to perform daily inspections of your chow chow for ticks and fleas. Find fleas using a flea comb. There are many new methods of tick and flea control. Talk with your chow chow’s doctor about his recommendations.
Heartworms in chow chows
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your chow chow by mosquitoes. Several chow chows die yearly because of heartworm infestations. It is wise to make sure your chow chow takes a blood test for heartworms each spring—this is important to catch infections from the previous year. A once-a-month tablet given throughout the course of the warm, wet time of the year can protect your chow chow. Should you ever travel in a warmer-than-usual climate with your chow chow during the winter, your dog ought to be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some of the warmer areas, veterinarians advise preventative worm medication year round.
Toxins and Medications
Remember to never give your chow chow medicine that has not been prescribed by a vet. For example, are you aware that 1 ibuprofen capsule causes ulcers in chow chows? Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your chow chow. Make sure you contact your chow chow’s vet if you have cause to believe your chow chow has eaten a poison. You should also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four hour help.
chow chow Reproductive Surgery
Male chow chows should be neutered – the removal of the testicles – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. You usually will greatly reduce your female chow chow’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to adulthood. The possibility of an infected uterus, which is another serious affliction that impacts more mature females, will also be eliminated by spaying prior to 6 months. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, certain types of aggressions and some hernias can be prevented by neutering male chow chows.
Shots for your chow chow
- The combination vaccine (also called a “five-in-one shot”) should be given to your chow chow at 2, 3, and 4 months old and again once each year. This vaccine immunizes your puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your chow chow puppy’s innoculation regimen cannot be finished prior to 4 months of age.
- If your chow chow has not been innoculated and is older than four months, he will need to be given two innoculations asap, 2 or 3 weeks apart. After that you must innoculate yearly.
- Your chow chow puppy’s immunizations should coincide with her socialization program. You should bring your chow chow puppy to socialization courses as early as eight to 9 weeks of age, according to many vets. They should have already received their first innoculations by this age.
Rules are so varied between different areas, the best thing is to call your neighborhood doctor for rabies immunization details. In NYC, for instance, the rule requires all pets older than 3 months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. After the first vaccination, he must get a second immunization the following year, and then every 3 years. There are many innoculations that could be right for your chow chow. Ask your chow chow’s vet for his recommendation. By the way, if your chow chow gets sick because she is not vaccinated, do not administer the shot until the dog has made a full recovery.
Tapeworms in chow chows
chow chows are often exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry intestinal worms are transmitted through a dog’s feces. Most pups, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry intestinal worms. An accurate, early detection is the key to effective treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed treatment will be effective against your chow chow’s worms. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your chow chow’s doctor can best figure out the culprit—and decide the appropriate medication.
Additional chow chow Care Tips
Checklist of chow chow Supplies
- Top-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for chow chows and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with license and identification tag
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for pups)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with warm sheet or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to chow chows:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Grapes and raisins
- 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 & stems
- Dough
Final Thoughts
Keep your chow chow on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured place. And please, when your chow chow defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about chow chows
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