As there are certain health issues that affect only the female dog, care should be taken to ensure that these are fully understood before deciding whether or not to buy a bitch.
The most important dog health care concern is that of spaying.
Only those who are fully educated in all aspects of a specific breed and who have the time and energy to put into making sure that bloodlines are kept strong and healthy should ever consider breeding. With that in mind, most owners of female dogs will not be thinking of breeding and should therefore seriously consider having their pet spayed.
If the necessary surgery is carried out before your dog has her first heat cycle, the likelihood of her ever developing breast cancer will become almost zero percent. That alone is a very good reason to have your dog spayed as breast cancer is otherwise relatively common in older bitches. The chances of your dog developing pyometra, a disease of the uterus that can be fatal, is also greatly reduced.
Having your dog spayed will also relieve her of the twice yearly 'season' and the anxiety that often becomes part of it. She'll no longer want to roam in order to find male dogs to mate with and you'll no longer have to put up with the crowds of dogs who follow you during walks or who gather outside your home. And most importantly of all, unwanted pups will not become a problem.
If your female dog starts collecting her toys and treating them as if they were puppies, she's almost certainly experiencing a false pregnancy. Fortunately, this rarely lasts more than a week and although the dog will become very protective of her imaginary offspring, treat her as normal and she'll soon forget them.
If you've opted to not have your dog spayed, it's important to understand how her heat cycle works. The first 10-14 days is the period BEFORE ovulation and this is the time during which she will bleed. Ovulation occurs as the bleeding stops so it's important to understand that it's during the 10-14 days following bleeding that she's actually most likely to become pregnant. Far too many owners make the mistake of believing that their female dog is safe once the bleeding stops and over-filled dog pounds are the sad result.
Doggie diapers are available in most pet stores and come in a range of sizes to fit different breeds. These are designed to stop the dog leaving blood on your furniture and rugs but unfortunately, unless the dog has been taught to accept wearing them from a very young age, most will soon chew them off.
Female dog owners who choose not to have their dog spayed MUST monitor their dog regularly for any lumps in the breasts and remember that unless they're serious about breeding, they have a duty to ensure that their dog doesn't produce unwanted puppies who will eventually find themselves sitting in a pound waiting for their death sentence to be passed.
copyright@2005 by Aki Desorcy. Aki Desorcy is the Author of dog health care
Where you will find free dog care tips,dog treat recipes and other useful dog health care info for your pooch.
local house cleaners Park Ridge ..It's beginning to get cooler and as such it is... Read More
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More
Are you irritated by your dog's drooping ears or your... Read More
Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several... Read More
My love of horses began at the age of 11... Read More
Parachromis managuense has a bad reputation, just like many of... Read More
Studies have shown that regularly petting a dog brings a... Read More
Chihuahua Training is Easy! You may be wondering if Chihuahua... Read More
The 4th Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long... Read More
Most parrot people are aware of some of the basic... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
Do you have at least one framed photo of your... Read More
Chocolate. Who can resist it?Your dogs health depends on it!... Read More
Piranhas are unique creatures that have gained popularity not just... Read More
So you're thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In... Read More
Advice!!!-Pet products that are useful, fun and enjoyable will make... Read More
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More
Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby,... Read More
If the "tweet, tweet" of little beaks is in your... Read More
They say the eyes are are the gateway to the... Read More
Training one dog can be hard enough, but two, now... Read More
In most cases you should not be too concerned about... Read More
Have you ever thought about what you need to do... Read More
Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More
I'm a dog lover who believes that every dog owners... Read More
move out cleaning service Glenview ..Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
You know that cats should always have a supply of... Read More
Talk to the animals?Yes.And what's more, they talk to us!If... Read More
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior... Read More
The groups of fishes commonly referred to as Cichlids, comprise... Read More
Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More
Vaccinations play an important part in the preventive healthcare of... Read More
Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities... Read More
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More
Most of the diseases that threaten goldfish can be cured.... Read More
My dear owner,Thank you once again for giving me shelter.... Read More
My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to... Read More
It has been said that everything old is new again.... Read More
Could a horse trainer, born about 154 years ago, teach... Read More
Okay, so it's not the cleanest or most appealing of... Read More
One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract... Read More
While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are... Read More
Beaks, Bills, Face Knives, Beakers - whatever we want to... Read More
The 10 Greatest Puppy Training Tips of All Time According... Read More
Dog's come in all shapes and sizes ? out of... Read More
HistoryThroughout the US and in many parts of the world,... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding... Read More
Making sure that accidents don't happen in the first place... Read More
The Story Continues... Following the first of many visits to... Read More
Pet |