Owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences.
This has been recognised over the centuries, with dogs being the first animals to be domesticated and welcomed into our homes.
Initially kept for their benefits to us, such as to assist with hunting or to keep watch, they are now more commonly with us to be a family member.
Britons spend an average of £14.9 billion per year on our canine friends – with £595 million on Christmas gifts! It’s evident that we adore our dogs, and so it’s highly important to know what to do when things go wrong.
Accidents and Illnesses
Responsible owners will protect their dogs as best they can, with initial and annual vaccinations, regular vet checks and consistent fleeing and worming, as well as keeping your environment safe, i.e., removing harmful plants or hazardous cleaning products. Keeping your dog healthy also consists of TLC, such as clipping nails (dewclaws, in particular, are prone to curling and piercing the dogs’ pads, which can be extremely painful and likely to become infected).
Finding the right food to benefit your dog is crucial; a bad diet can shorten their life span and make them more at risk of various illnesses.
However, there are some things that we cannot prevent from happening, which are accidents and illnesses. It is estimated that vehicles hit more than 1,000,000 dogs each year in the UK.
However safe you have made your property, dogs can still escape or come loose of their leads during a walk, resulting in being injured by a car. The important thing to do is to seek veterinary treatment immediately; never try to treat your dog at home.
If you have pet insurance, then this is when it comes in handy. If not, many vets will work out a payment plan with you to cover the treatment costs.
Pay attention to your dog. When they show signs of not being themselves, such as a loss of appetite, strange behaviours or dry noses, these are clear indications that you have a poor dog. In general, dogs will be ill due to something they’ve eaten that they shouldn’t or a dramatic food change which hasn’t agreed with them or maybe an infestation of worms or fleas – minor ailments which can quickly be sorted with the correct care but left untreated can be much more severe, or even fatal.
Of course, we touched on the importance of insurance earlier, but this is something I feel needs re-iterating. Nothing is more important than being covered for any emergency.
Pet insurance is a relatively small cost that could be the difference in funding a critical operation or treatment for your pet.
There are some great policies out there, and you can ensure that you’re covered for many different breed-specific conditions. If something untoward happens, you can rest assured that you wouldn’t have to make a difficult choice about your pet’s treatment due to cost.