Owning dogs, especially providing care for the english water spaniel, is nothing new for people across the world. Some experts have proven dogs were originally domesticated sometime between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since those days, humans have selectively bred more than 400 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. However, the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The english water spaniel is another popular choice with dog owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of many critical english water spaniel care tips.
General health care cost for your english water spaniel
The yearly budget for rearing the english water spaniel—which includes meals, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and seven hundred eighty dollars. This figure doesn’t include capital expenses for sterilization procedures, collar and leash, dog carrier and a crate. Tip: Make sure you have obtained all your supplies before you bring your english water spaniel home.
General english water spaniel Care
How To Feed your english water spaniel
- english water spaniel pups between eight and twelve weeks old need four meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed english water spaniel pups 3 to 6 months old three meals in a day.
- Feed puppies 6 months to 1 year old two times every 24 hours.
- By the time the english water spaniel makes her first birthday, 1 meal daily is adequate.
- Many times english water spaniels, however, do better with two lighter meals. It’s your duty to learn your english water spaniel’s eating habits.
Top-quality dry dogfood ensures a well-balanced diet to grown english water spaniels and can mix with water, canned food, or broth. Your english water spaniel may also be fond of fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these foods should be less than ten percent of his or her daily allowance. english water spaniel pups must be given top-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should limit “people food”, however, since it can result in mineral and vitamin imbalances, bone and teeth concerns, and might create very finicky food choices as well as obesity. Clean, fresh water should be made always, and be sure to clean water and food bowls daily.
english water spaniel Care Tips: Make sure to give your english water spaniel plenty of daily physical activity
english water spaniels must get some daily exercise in order to stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and keep healthy. Physical activity also really helps english water spaniels avoid boredom, which would often lead to difficult behavior. Exercise can curb many of your english water spaniel’s instinctual urges to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Individual exercise needs will depend on your english water spaniel’s age and her level of health—but 10 minutes in back of the house and just a walk down the street every day probably will not do. If your english water spaniel is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will probably be much greater.
english water spaniel Grooming
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your english water spaniel clean. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Most english water spaniels don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Prior to a bath, comb or cut out any mats from the english water spaniel’s hair. Carefully rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your english water spaniel
Pups, as opposed to adults, are obviously easier to manage. When carrying the english water spaniel puppy, take one hand and place it under your dog’s chest, with either the forearm or other hand supporting her hind legs and rear. Don’t attempt to grab or lift your pup by his forelegs, tail or nape. If you have to lift a bigger, adult english water spaniel, pick it up from underneath, bracing his chest with 1 of your arms and rump with your other arm.
Housing your english water spaniel
english water spaniels need a cozy peaceful spot to be able to relax away from all breezes and away from the ground or floor. You might want to purchase a dog bed, or feel like making one out of a wooden box. Place a clean comforter, sheet, or pillow in the bed as cushioning. Wash the english water spaniel’s bed covering frequently. If the english water spaniel will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure he has shade and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, dry, covered shelter in the cold.
english water spaniel Identification
There are licensing regulations to heed in your city. You should connect the license to the english water spaniel’s collar. The license, along with an identification tattoo or tag, can possibly help secure your english water spaniel’s return should he become lost.
Information on english water spaniel Behavior
About Training Your english water spaniel
A well-behaved, companion english water spaniel is truly a joy to raise. However, left untrained, your dog will most likely be a headache. Training your english water spaniel on the fundamentals—”Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, and “Leave it”—will improve your relationship both with your english water spaniel as well as the company. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin teaching him or her manners as soon as possible! Treats can be used as incentive and recognition. Pups should commence obedience class when they have been sufficiently immunized. Call the local SPCA or humane society for information on obedience class recommendations. Invariably you should walk your english water spaniel on a leash while in public, even while a puppy. Just be positive your doggie will come to you whenever you say. A disobedient or aggressive english water spaniel should not be allowed to play with people.
About your english water spaniel’s Health
english water spaniels should visit the veterinarian for a thorough exam, immunizations and a heartworm exam each year, and ASAP when he is sick or hurt.
The Dental Health of Your english water spaniel
While many of us might object to our english water spaniel’s foul breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might represent. Halitosis is usually a symptom which means that your english water spaniel needs an oral examination. Dental plaque caused by bacteria causes a bad odor that can only be eliminated by professional treatment. After you give your english water spaniel a professional oral cleaning, his gums and teeth may be kept up by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can give you additional tips for mitigating periodontal disease as well as bad breath. You can clean your english water spaniel’s teeth using a dog toothpaste or a homemade paste made of baking soda and water twice weekly. You can clean them with a sterile gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Some english water spaniels get periodontal disease, also known as an infection between the gums and teeth. This dreadful condition can possibly cause loss of teeth as well as cause infection throughout her body. The doctor usually will brush the english water spaniel’s teeth during the routine health examination.
english water spaniels with Bad Breath
Although periodontal disease in isolation is not very serious when caught early, the foul odors may also indicate serious, chronic issues. Diseases of the liver or intestines sometimes also cause halitosis, and a sweet, even pleasant smell can be indicative of diabetes. Kidney disease might be the reason when your english water spaniel’s breath smells like ammonia or urine. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your english water spaniel has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
english water spaniel Flea and Tick Issues
Daily checks of your english water spaniel for ticks and fleas throughout the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are numerous new techniques of flea and tick elimination. Talk with your veterinarian about his options.
english water spaniels With Heartworm Issues
The heartworm is a parasite that resides in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your english water spaniel by mosquitoes. Many english water spaniels die yearly as a result of heartworm infestations. It is very critical you make sure your english water spaniel has a blood screening for heartworms each year during the spring. It is recommended that you give your english water spaniel a once-a-month pill during mosquito season to be able to protect her from heartworms. Your english water spaniel should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some of the warmer regions, vets advise preemptive worm medication be taken continually.
Medicines and Poisons
Please don’t give your english water spaniel medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by his veterinarian. Just one ibuprofen tablet is known to create stomach ulcers in english water spaniels. Make sure your english water spaniel is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. If you have reason to believe that your dog has eaten a toxin, immediately call the doctor or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24-hr. animal poison help.
english water spaniel Reproductive Surgery
Male english water spaniels should be neutered – the extraction of the testicles – and females spayed – the removal of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months of age. You can significantly reduce your female english water spaniel’s risk of breast cancer by spaying prior to maturity. The risk of a diseased uterus, which is also a serious disease that impacts more mature females, will also be removed by spaying while young. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias are preventable by neutering males.
english water spaniel Vaccinating
- The combination vaccine (also known as a “five-in-one shot”) should be given to your english water spaniel at two, three, and 4 months of age and then once each year. This vaccine protects your english water spaniel puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The english water spaniel must be vaccinated for at least the first four months of his life.
- If you have an uninnoculized english water spaniel older than four or 5 months, he must have a series of two vaccinations two to three weeks apart, followed by an annual innoculation.
- Your english water spaniel puppy’s socialization should coincide with the immunization program. You may bring your english water spaniel puppy to socialization classes by eight to nine weeks old, according to many doctors. At this point, they should have received at least their first immunizations.
Statutes are so different around the country, the best thing is to call your local doctor to get rabies immunization info. In NYC, for example, the law states that any pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. After the first shot, he must have a second immunization the next year, and then every three years. There are several immunizations that are appropriate for your english water spaniel. Your vet can tell you about them. You should be aware, if your english water spaniel happens to get sick because she is not vaccinated, the shots needs to be given once your companion animal is back to health.
Roundworms in english water spaniels
english water spaniels are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry roundworms are transmitted through a english water spaniel’s stool. Even the healthiest of english water spaniel puppies carry intestinal worms. The secret to effective treatment is early detection. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be successful against your english water spaniel’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your vet can best determine the culprit—and assign the appropriate medicine.
english water spaniel Care Tips: Additional Information
Checklist of english water spaniel Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically designed for english water spaniels and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with identification tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Box or dog bed with quilt or towel
- Child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to english water spaniels:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Grapes or raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems & unripe fruit
- Dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured location, keep your english water spaniel on a leash at all times. And please, when your english water spaniel defecates on your neighbor’s yard, remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about english water spaniels
Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
Follow