Owning dogs, especially providing care for the portuguese podengo, is a specialty of humans across the world. Historians postulate dogs were originally domesticated sometime between twelve thousand and twenty five thousand years ago—and that all dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, human beings have selectively bred more than 400 breeds, which vary in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of the tallest pooch. But the most preferred dogs are the non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The portuguese podengo is also a popular choice with canine owners. Some owners are unaware, however, of some of the most critical portuguese podengo care tips.
Typical health care cost of the portuguese podengo
The yearly cost of rearing your portuguese podengo—which includes everything from meals, veterinary care, toys and license—could range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even include capital expenses for sterilization operations, a collar and leash, carrier and a doggie crate. Note: Be sure you have all of the necessary supplies before bringing your portuguese podengo home for the first time.
General portuguese podengo Care
portuguese podengo Feeding Routine
- portuguese podengo pups between 8 and 12 weeks old need four bowls of food a day.
- portuguese podengo pups 3 to 6 months old should be fed 3 meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed pups six months old to 1 year old two meals in a day.
- When the portuguese podengo makes her first birthday, one bowl daily is sufficient.
- Many times portuguese podengos might do better with 2 lighter helpings. It is your job to learn your portuguese podengo’s eating habits.
Top-quality dry dog food ensures balanced nutrition for grown portuguese podengos and may be mixed with broth, canned food, or water. Your portuguese podengo may be fond of fruits and vegetables, cottage cheese, and cooked eggs, but these foods should not total more than 10 percent of his daily nutrition. portuguese podengo pups should be fed top-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please cut down on “table food”, however, since it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems, and might cause very finicky eating habits and obesity. Clean, fresh water should be made at all times, and make sure to clean food and water bowls regularly.
portuguese podengo Care Tips: Make sure your portuguese podengo does plenty of daily physical activity
portuguese podengos need some physical activity to stay in shape, stimulate their minds, and stay healthy. Daily activity also really helps portuguese podengos fight boredom, which often leads to difficult behavior. Playing outside can curb most of your portuguese podengo’s desires to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs can depend on your portuguese podengo’s level of health and his or her age—but ten minutes outside and merely a couple of walks around the block every day probably will not be sufficient. If your portuguese podengo is a six to 18 month adolescent, her requirements will be much greater.
portuguese podengo Grooming Tips
Frequent brushing will help keep your portuguese podengo clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for fleas and ticks daily during warm weather. Sometimes portuguese podengos don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to giving him a bath, comb or cut out all mats from the portuguese podengo’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your portuguese podengo
Pups are clearly easier to handle. When carrying the portuguese podengo pup, take 1 hand and place it beneath your dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting the back legs and rear. Don’t try to grab or lift your pup by the forelegs, nape or tail. When you must pick up a larger, adult portuguese podengo, pick it up from underneath, holding his or her chest with one of your arms and rump with the other arm.
Housing your portuguese podengo
portuguese podengos need a comfortable peaceful spot to be able to sleep away from all the breezes and off the floor. You may want to think about buying a dog bed, or consider making one from a wooden box. Put a clean comforter or pillow in the bed for cushioning. Wash your portuguese podengo’s bed covering frequently. If the portuguese podengo will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has access to covering and plenty of cool water in the summer, and a warm, covered, dry area during the winter.
portuguese podengo Identification
Your town has licensing rules to heed. Be certain to affix the license to your portuguese podengo’s collar. This, together with an ID tag, can help secure your portuguese podengo’s return should he go missing.
Info on portuguese podengo Temperament
Thoughts on Training your portuguese podengo
Well-mannered, companion portuguese podengos can truly be a a joy. However, left untrained, your portuguese podengo may be a lot of trouble. Training your portuguese podengo on the minimums—”Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, and “Leave it”—will improve your relationship both with your dog and the house guests. If you have a pup, start training her on the appropriate responses as soon as humanly possible! Use doggie treats as recognition and incentive. Puppies can begin obedience courses when they have been sufficiently immunized. Contact your local humane society or SPCA for details about obedience schools. Always walk your portuguese podengo leashed in public, even while a pup. Just be certain your dog will come to you at all times whenever you tell him. A disobedient or aggressive portuguese podengo should not play with people.
Knowing Your portuguese podengo’s Health
portuguese podengos should see the vet for a complete assessment, immunizations and heartworm examination each and every year, and promptly if he is hurt or ill.
Your portuguese podengo’s Dental Health
Although we might simply dislike our portuguese podengo’s halitosis, we must pay attention to what it might be a sign of. Foul-smelling breath is a sign that your portuguese podengo should have an oral check up. Plaque brought on by germs results in a foul smell that can only be cured with the help of a professional. Once your portuguese podengo has had a professional oral cleaning, her teeth and gums can be maintained by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can supply you with other information for eliminating periodontal diseases and stinky breath. You can use a baking soda and water paste or a dog toothpaste once or twice per week to brush your portuguese podengo’s teeth. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger. Some portuguese podengos get periodontal disease, another name for gum disease. This painful condition will sometimes result in loss of your portuguese podengo’s teeth and spread diseases throughout the rest of his body. Your vet will sometimes brush your portuguese podengo’s teeth during his regular health diagnosis.
Halitosis (bad breath) in portuguese podengos
If your portuguese podengo has foul breath, gum disease may only be the tip of the iceberg as far as his health issues. A fruity, sweet smell can frequently be indicative of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. Kidney disease is a possible cause if your portuguese podengo’s breath smells of urine or ammonia. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your portuguese podengo has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Fleas and Ticks in portuguese podengos
Throughout the warm seasons, it’s of utmost importance for you to perform regular, daily inspections of your portuguese podengo for fleas and ticks. You can find fleas with a flea comb. There are many new procedures of tick and flea mitigation. Speak to your veterinarian about his or her options.
Heartworms in portuguese podengos
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your portuguese podengo by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infestations can be potentially deadly. It is wise to make sure your portuguese podengo submits to a blood test for heartworms every single spring—this is crucial to stop infections from the past year. It is also good to give your portuguese podengo a monthly pill during the warm, wet time of the year to help you protect her from heartworms. Your portuguese podengo should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. There are some locations, usually the locations with milder temperatures, where doctors advise worm tablets be taken all the time.
Medications and Poisons
Do not ever give your portuguese podengo medication that has not been prescribed by his vet. For example, did you know that just 1 regular-strength ibuprofen tablet will cause stomach ulcers in portuguese podengos? Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your portuguese podengo. Make sure to immediately call your portuguese podengo’s doctor when you have reson to think your portuguese podengo has ingested a toxin. You should also contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hr. help.
portuguese podengo Reproductive Surgery
Male portuguese podengos should be neutered – the removal of the testes – and females spayed – the extraction of the uterus and ovaries – by 6 months old. Spaying before maturity significantly diminishes the breast cancer risk, which is a frequently deadly and common ailment for older female portuguese podengos. The risk of an infected uterus, which is another serious disease that affects more mature females, will also be eliminated by spaying when young. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, certain types of aggressions and some hernias are all preventable by neutering male portuguese podengos.
portuguese podengo Shots
- Your portuguese podengo pup should be innoculated with a combo vaccine (called the “five-in-one”) at two, three and four months old, and again once annually. This immunization protects your puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your portuguese podengo must be innoculated for at least the first 4 months of his life.
- If your portuguese podengo has not been immunized and is older than four months, he will need to be given 2 immunizations promptly, two to 3 weeks apart. Then you must innoculate yearly.
- portuguese podengo puppy socialization and immunization should coincide. Most veterinarians advise that new owners bring their portuguese podengo pups to socialization courses, as early as 8 or 9 weeks of age. At this age, they should have already received at least their first series of vaccines.
Laws are so different between different areas, that it’s best to call your neighborhood doctor to get rabies innoculation details. For instance, New York City laws declare that pets older than 3 months must be innoculated for rabies. The first rabies immunization must be followed by another vaccination a year later, and then every three years after that. There are a variety of vaccines, many of which are right for your portuguese podengo. Others, however, are not. Ask your portuguese podengo’s vet for her recommendation. By the way, if your portuguese podengo happens to get sick because he is not vaccinated, the shot can be given after your companion animal has recovered.
Worms in portuguese podengos
portuguese podengos are often exposed to worms—even in urban areas. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a portuguese podengo’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry hookworms or roundworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the secret to effective treatment. This will maximize the possibility that the medication is highly effective against the parasite your portuguese podengo has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and decide the effective medication.
portuguese podengo Care Tips: Additional Info
Checklist of portuguese podengo Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and treats designed for portuguese podengos 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 license and identification tag
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog box or bed with warm blanket or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to portuguese podengos:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocolate, coffee, or tea
- Grapes & raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food
- Onions, chives or garlic
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Yeast dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your portuguese podengo on a leash when you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured location. When your portuguese podengo goes number two on your neighbor’s lawn, on the sidewalk or any other public spot, please dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about portuguese podengos
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