Raising dogs, especially taking care of the karst shepherd, is nothing new for people across the world. Experts theorize that dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that canines evolved from the wolf. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than four hundred breeds, which range in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, whose three-foot stature earns them the title of the tallest canine. However, the most popular canines are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The karst shepherd is also a favorite pick with dog owners. Some owners are uninformed, however, of many of the most common karst shepherd care tips.
Cost of care for the karst shepherd
The yearly budget for raising your karst shepherd—including everything from meals and treats, to doctor bills, toys and license—could vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This does not even consider capital costs for sterilization surgery, dog collar and a leash, a dog carrier and a crate. Note: Be sure you have all your items before bringing your karst shepherd home for the first time.
Basic karst shepherd Care
Feeding your karst shepherd
- karst shepherd puppies between 8 and twelve weeks old need four meals a day.
- Feed karst shepherd puppies 3 to 6 months old 3 meals in a day.
- Feed puppies six months to 1 year old 2 times every twenty-four hours.
- By the time the karst shepherd reaches his 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is usually all that’s necessary.
- Many times karst shepherds might do better with 2 lighter meals. It’s your responsibility to adapt to your karst shepherd’s eating habits.
Premium-quality dry dog food provides balanced nutrition for adult karst shepherds and can mix with broth, water, or canned food. Your karst shepherd may dig cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these dishes shouldn’t add up to more than 10 percent of his daily food allowance. karst shepherd puppies must be given a high-quality, name brand puppy food. Try to cut down on “people food”, though, because it can cause mineral and vitamin deficiencies, bone and teeth problems, and might result in some very picky eating habits as well as obesity. Give fresh, clean water at all times, and make sure to clean water and food dishes very regularly.
karst shepherd Care Tips: Make sure your karst shepherd does plenty of daily exercise
karst shepherds must have daily physical activity in order to stay fit, recharge their brains, and stay healthy. Physical activity also really helps karst shepherds fight boredom, which can often lead to naughty behavior. Getting out of the house can quell most of your karst shepherd’s desires to retrieve, dig, chew, chase and herd. Exercise needs are dependent on your karst shepherd’s age and her level of health—but ten minutes in back of the house and just a walk around the block every day probably won’t do. If your karst shepherd is a six to eighteen month adolescent, his requirements will be much greater.
karst shepherd Grooming
You can help reduce shedding and keep your karst shepherd clean with frequent brushing. Check for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes karst shepherds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times during the year. Before a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the karst shepherd’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or the dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your karst shepherd
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly easier to manage. To carry the karst shepherd pup, take one of your hands and place it beneath the dog’s chest, with either the forearm or your other hand supporting his hind legs and rump. Never attempt to grab or lift your pup by the front legs, tail or back of the neck. If you must lift a bigger, full-grown karst shepherd, pick it up from the underside, holding her chest with one arm and rear end with the other arm.
karst shepherd housing
karst shepherds need a comfy peaceful spot in order to relax away from all drafts and away from the ground. You might want to think about buying a dog bed, or prefer making one from a wood box. Place a clean comforter, blanket, sheet, or pillow in the bed as cushion. Wash your karst shepherd’s bed covering frequently. If your karst shepherd will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has access to shade and plenty of cool water in hot weather, and a dry, warm, covered area when it’s cold.
karst shepherd Identification
There are licensing regulations to heed in your area. You should attach the license to your karst shepherd’s collar. The license, together with an ID tag or tattoo, will most likely help secure your karst shepherd’s return should she become lost.
Information on karst shepherd Behavior
Thoughts on Training Your karst shepherd
A well-behaved, companion karst shepherd is truly a joy to own. But when untrained, your karst shepherd may be a headache. Teaching your karst shepherd the basics—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship with both the karst shepherd as well as the friends. If you’re the owner of a pup, start teaching him or her the appropriate behavior immediately! A treat can be used as a lure and recognition. Puppies should begin obedience class when they have been adequately immunized. Call your community humane society or SPCA for information on training courses. Invariably you should walk your karst shepherd leashed in public, even as a puppy. Just be sure your doggie will come back to you every time you tell him to. An aggressive or disobedient karst shepherd cannot play with people.
Knowing Your karst shepherd’s Health
Your karst shepherd should see the veterinarian for a thorough screening, shots and a heartworm screening every year, and immediately if he is injured or ill.
About your karst shepherd’s Oral Health
Although we might object to our karst shepherd’s halitosis, we should be aware of what it might represent. Halitosis is a symptom that your karst shepherd is in need of a dental screening. Dental plaque due to unhealthy bacteria brings a bad smell that requires treatment by a professional. Once you have given your karst shepherd a professional cleaning, her gums and teeth may be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. The vet can provide you with other tips on eradicating dental disease and halitosis. You can brush the karst shepherd’s teeth with a dog paste or a paste made of baking soda and water twice weekly. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the tooth and the gum, sometimes affects karst shepherds. Frequently, tooth loss occurs due to periodontal disease. Disease can also spread to other areas of your karst shepherd’s body. Veterinarians will most likely brush your dog’s teeth as a regular part of your karst shepherd’s health appointment.
Bad karst shepherd Breath
Even though periodontal disease in and of itself is not critical if it is caught early, bad breath may also be indicative of serious, long-term causes for concern. A pleasant, even fruity smell can be indicative of diabetes, while liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath. If your karst shepherd’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible cause. Any time you determine your karst shepherd has bad breath accompanied by other symptoms of disease, such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, bad mood, increased urination or drinking, schedule a trip to your dog’s vet.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in karst shepherds
Regular, daily inspections of your karst shepherd for ticks and fleas during the warm seasons are critical. Use a flea comb to remove fleas. There are several new methods of tick and flea mitigation. Talk with your karst shepherd’s doctor about her recommendations.
Heartworm problems in karst shepherds
Your karst shepherd is at risk of contracting heartworms if he is exposed to lots of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes transport heartworms from dog to dog. Several karst shepherds die annualy because of heartworms. Your karst shepherd should have a heartworm screen each spring—this is critical for stopping infections from the prior year. It’s also wise to give your karst shepherd a monthly pill throughout the course of mosquito season in order to protect him from heartworms. Whenever you travel in a warmer-than-usual region with your karst shepherd in winter, she should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some milder climates, veterinarians recommend preventative heartworm medication be taken all year.
Toxins and Medications
If you’re considering giving your karst shepherd medication that was not prescribed for her by his doctor, don’t even think about it. Did you know that just one ibuprofen pill can easily cause ulcers in karst shepherds? Make sure your karst shepherd is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you have reason to suspect that your doggie has been exposed to a toxin, immediately call your doctor or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 24 hours per day for help.
karst shepherd Reproductive Surgery
It is recommended that female karst shepherds be spayed—which is the extraction of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—by 6 months old. Spaying before maturity greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer, which is a common and frequently fatal disorder of more mature female karst shepherds. The possibility of a sick uterus, which is also a serious condition that affects older females, can also be removed by spaying before six months. Neutering male karst shepherds eliminates the risk of testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression.
Vaccinating your karst shepherd
- Your karst shepherd puppy should be vaccinated with a combo vaccine (called the “five-in-1”) at two, 3 and 4 months of age, and then once yearly. This vaccine immunizes your karst shepherd puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Your karst shepherd must be innoculated for at least the first four months of her life.
- If you have an uninnoculated karst shepherd older than four or five months, he will need a set of two innoculations two or three weeks apart, followed by an annual immunization.
- karst shepherd puppy socialization and innoculation should go together. You can take your karst shepherd pup to socialization classes by eight or 9 weeks old, as recommended by many veterinarians. They should have already received their first immunizations by this point.
Statutes are so varied between different areas, the best thing is to contact your local vet for rabies innoculation information. For example, New York City codes state that pets older than 3 months must be innoculated for rabies. The initial rabies vaccine must be followed up by a subsequent vaccination a year later, and then every three years after that. There are many vaccines that may or may not be effective for your karst shepherd. Ask your karst shepherd’s vet for his opinion. Note, if your karst shepherd happens to get sick because she is not properly vaccinated, the vaccination must be administered once your pet is back to health.
Intestinal Worms in karst shepherds
karst shepherds are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Tiny eggs created by roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through an infested karst shepherd’s feces. Most pups, from all environments, even those with healthy mothers, carry hookworms or roundworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the key to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be successful against your karst shepherd’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your vet can best determine the culprit—and decide the best medicine.
karst shepherd: Miscellaneous Care Tips
karst shepherd Supply Checklist
- Premium-quality dog food and snacks specifically for karst shepherds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush and comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with quilt or towel
- Dog toothbrush
Warnings to be Heeded
The following items should never be fed to karst shepherds:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Grapes or raisins
- Moldy or spoiled food
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt or salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit & stems
- Dough
The scoop on poop
Unless you are at home, or in a fenced-in, secured location, always keep your karst shepherd on a leash. And please, when your karst shepherd defecates on your neighbor’s grass, dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about karst shepherds
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