bassethound club

Caring for your dog

A dog will require care, attention and a commitment to look after it during its life which could be 10-15 years or longer. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the dog but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the dog becomes ill.

Vaccination
A dog will also need to be vaccinated at 8-10 weeks old and annually thereafter against Canine Distemper, Canine Viral Hepatitis, Canine Leptospirosis, Canine Parvovirus and in some countries, Rabies. In addition dogs need worming every 6 months and so there are regular medical costs associated with owning a dog.

Insurance
Dog owners should seriously consider insurance, not just of the dog but also to help spread the cost of veterinary costs.

Keeping your dog safe

• Ensure your garden is escape proof – most larger dogs can jump or scale fences under two metres high
• Always keep your dog on a short (not an extending) lead near roads and livestock
• Lock away all medicines, cleaning products and dangerous chemicals
• Keep all chocolate, cocoa powder, raisins, grapes and macadamia nuts shut away, as these are poisonous to dogs
• Do not use cocoa shell mulch in your garden as this can cause illness and death
• Do not use rat poison, slug pellets, weedkillers, fertilizers (especially bonemeal) or insecticides that are dangerous to dogs
• Use a car harness, crate or fitted cage when travelling in the car
• Do not let your dog hang its head out of an open car window
• Never leave your dog in a warm or hot car (even with the windows open) as it could suffer very quickly from heatstroke
• Always take care to make sure your dog cannot run out of an open front door or escape through an open window
• Never leave your dog alone tied up outside a shop in case it gets stolen
• Keep your dog inside on fireworks night, and keep it on a lead when outside.

Microchipping

Microchipping provides a permanent, inexpensive form of identification that cannot be lost, altered, or intentionally removed. The process is quick and painless and can help ensure a happy reunion.

Microchips are no bigger than a grain of rice and are inserted in the scruff of the pet’s neck. Each microchip has a unique identification number that is never duplicated. Once implanted it can be scanned to find the details of the pet’s home and owner.

Petlog
Use microchiiping in conjunction with the Kennel Club's Petlog scheme, ensuring that if your pet is lost an authorised person such as an animal warden can use a scanner and locate your details rapidly. Rapid identification will help you get your dog back as quickly as possible. For more details, see The Petlog website.

Dogs, your Garden and Plants

There are many house and garden plants that are poisonous to dogs, here are some of the most common ones:

If your dog chews or eats any of these, seek veterinary help immediately.

Canine care information provided by The Kennel Club