Labradoodle General Care and Health
Trimming Your Dog's Claws
It can be a daunting task, but is absolutely necessary. You must trim your dog's claws on a regular basis, usually once or twice a month. Don't forget the dew claws on the inner side of the front paws! They are easily forgotten but must be trimmed like every other nail. If you do not trim them, it is much more likely for them to snag on something and be torn. A torn dewclaw is a very painful thing for your dog to experience and can many times result in a trip to the vet.
Each dog will need to be trimmed at different intervals depending on their lifestyle and activity level. A lot of people are very nervous about trimming claws. If you are not comfortable, have a groomer or vet show you how. To assist you in proper nail trimming, below are some links with information and pictures.
Cleaning Ears & Plucking Ear Hair
Ear cleaning is not the most fun job in the world, but it should be part of your normal grooming routine. Your dog's ear health depends on you. Infections come on quickly, and keeping your dog's ears dry and clean is necessary. If you notice your dog scratching at his ears, or redness in the ear, or an unpleaseant odor, your dog may be developing an ear infection. Cleaning alone will not clear up an infection. Visit your vet if you notice any of these symptoms. For general ear cleaning, here are a few links to helpful techniques.
Bacteria thrive in moist places like the ear canal. Removing excess hair may be necessary to allow proper air flow. Keep the hair trimmed short just underneath the ear flap, and if the ear canal itself has an abundance of hair, clipping it short or plucking some of the hair out may be helpful. Refrain from excessive plucking as too much irritation to the skin can allow for entry points for bacteria as well. Your vet or groomer can show you how to pluck ear hair efficiently.
Eye Care
There are things you can do to prevent eye infections in your dog. Regular cleaning and care is simple.
- Keep the hair trimmed away from your dog's eyes using blunt tipped scissors. Hair that rubs against your dog's eyes can place bacteria into the eye which can lead to infection.
- Keep eyes clean by using an eye wash or pads designed to wipe away debris and gunk from the eye.
- Check eyes regularly and if anything looks abnormal, call your vet for an appointment.
Teeth Cleaning and Care
Good dental care is mandatory for your dog. Preventing oral disease is simple with regular dental care. Regular brushing of your dog's teeth is very important. For more information about veterinary and home care for your dog, please read the following information.
Exercising Your Dog
Dogs need exercise for their physical health and mental well being. Every dog will have different energy outlet needs. In general, you can expect your dog to require an hour every day of physical activity. Some good options are running and playing in a good game of fetch, or a long walk, jogging or biking along with you. Not only is this good for your dog's health, it is good for the dog-human bond as well.
If your dog has any pre-existing health issues, discuss with your vet what they recommend for your exercise plan with your dog. It's also important to talk with your vet about the appropriate exercise for the age of your dog and for joint development. Some exercises can actually harm the developing joints. Here are some things to remember when exercising your dog.
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If your dog is still growing, do not take him for long jogs, and definitely do not take him running with you. Developing joints may be harmed by repetitive motion on hard surfaces.
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Avoid exercising in extreme heat, and if you would take water along for you, remember your dog would will need water too.
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If your dog seems tired, discontinue what you are doing and allow him to rest.
Top Quality Dog Foods
For your use we have compiled a list of dry dogs
foods consistently ranked at the top. Please consult your vet on any dog food choices. The Whole Dog Journal also provides a fantastic annual assessment of dog foods. Any food they recommend must have high quality animal proteins, no by-products, no unidentified fat or protein sources, only whole grains and vegetables, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, no added sweeteners, and products with organic ingredients. When considering dog foods, don't forget those treat you buy your four legged friend! It is just as important to find healthy treats to give to your dog that are not filled with preservatives, fillers or by-products.
- Artemis 800-282-5876 Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients, Azmira Holistic Animal Care, Azmira Classic
- Back to Basicsfrom Beowulf Natural Feeds 1-800-219-2558 Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients
- Blue Buffalo 800-919-2833 Human grade ingredients
- Burns 877-983-9651 Burns Pet Nutrition, Brown Rice & Ocean Fish
- California Natural 1-800-532-7261 Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Often recommended for dogs with allergies, has the fewest ingredients.
- Canidae 800-398-1600 Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients
- Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul 800-442-0402
- Drs. Foster & Smith 800-826-7206 Hormone free meat, Adult Maintenance Formula, Chicken & Brown Rice
- Eagle Pack Holistic Select 800-255-5959 Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. "Eagle Pack Super Premium formulas are nutritionally balanced so pet owners can mix up to 25% raw food with the Eagle Pack formulas."
- Fromm Four Star Nutritionals 1-800-325-6331
- Innova 1-800-532-7261 EVO, Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients.
- Innovative Veterinary Diets (IVD) 800-359-4483 or 800-466-0912 Special diets for specific conditions, including allergies, IBD, kidney disease, etc.as well as a standard line of pet foods. Available from veterinarians, also available at http://www.waggintails.com/
- Karma Organic 1-800-532-7261 Over 95% organic ingredients
- Merrick Pet Foods 800-664-7387 Human grade ingredients
- PHD (Perfect Health Diet) 1-800-743-1502
- Pinnacle from Breeder's Choice 800-255-4286
- Prairie from Nature's Variety 888-519-7387
- Royal Canin Natural Blend 800-592-6687 (US) or 800-527-2673 (Can)
- Solid Gold 800-364-4863 Specific products mentioned are Hund-N-Flocken and Mmellennia, but all are considered good
- VeRUS 888-828-3787
- Wellness from Old Mother Hubbard (800) 225-0904 Human grade ingredients, Wellness Super5 Mix Lamb
- Wysong 800-748-0233 or 800-748-0188 Human grade ingredients, Wysong Maintenance
Spay and Neuter:
Testing and Other Information:
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Australian Labradoodle Association of America, Inc.