Female Dog Care

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 http://www.dog-treats-n-dog-care-tips.com/

Where you will find free dog care tips,dog treat recipes and other useful dog health care info for your pooch.

---

Are You Listening To Your Cat Talking?

Is your cat talking to you?Many cat lovers claim that... Read More

3 Tips For Dealing With Dog Emergencies

Have you ever thought about what you need to do... Read More

7 Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe On Halloween

... Read More

Dog Anxiety - Fear of Thunderstorms, and Other Dog Fears

How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More

Three Important Litter Box Considerations

There are three important litter box considerations to account for... Read More

Boston Terrier - Special Concerns For This Adorable Breed

Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More

Taking Care of Your Sick Dog

Just like humans, dogs are subject to diseases and illnesses.... Read More

How To Recognize A Respiratory Tract Ailment In Your Parrot

A respiratory tract ailment can be fatal to your parrot... Read More

Top Five Dog Breeds for Homes with Children

Top five dog breeds for homes with children* Beagle *... Read More

Who Let The Dogs Out? Pointers For In Home Dog Training

Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More

Hamsters; The Perfect Starter Pet

As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More

How to Groom Your Horse

Grooming means taking care of the physical maintenance of the... Read More

Down On The Farm

As I listen on my long drive to my grandpa's... Read More

Caring For Your Pomeranians Teeth

Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not... Read More

Applehead Chihuahua

The term applehead Chihuahua refers to the shape of a... Read More

Why Does My Pet Eat Grass?

Are you concerned when your dog or cat eats grass,... Read More

Dog Crate Training: The Basics

Dog crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More

Goldfish Analysis

When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More

Dogs, Cats, Horses?We Love Them All!

We have a long history with domesticated animals and even... Read More

Dog Breeds for Allergy Sufferers

Allergies to dogs can strike anyone at any age, yet... Read More

The Truth About Declawing

There seems to be an alarming trend to have cats... Read More

Your Purrrfect Companion

Out of all the pet animals, the cat is most... Read More

One Of The Benefits Of Using RecoveryPets.Com

One of the benefits of registering your pet with a... Read More

Fat and Obese Dogs Live Shorter Lives

Obesity is one of the most important health concerns facing... Read More

Protecting Your Child from a Dog Bite

Dogs make great loyal pets and are always pleased to... Read More

Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?

As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care... Read More

Keeping Gars - A Short Review

If you take a quick look at this species they... Read More

Puppy Vaccines Assure Wagging Tails and Wet Noses

When you get a new puppy it is imperative that... Read More

Health Concerns for Goldfish

Most of the diseases that threaten goldfish can be cured.... Read More

Is Dog Obedience School for You?

Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know... Read More

Veterinarians Set Record Straight

Most pet owners have become very educated about their pet... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Dogs Sleeping Habits

It's important to understand your dog's sleeping habits and how... Read More

How To Use Leading Your Horse To Get Control And Response

I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More