If you’re considering the purchase of a new pooch this Christmas, just think about what you’re going to let yourself in for. It is unfortunate that there are so many dogs in the shelters, but this is often because people cant cope after they bought the dog as a Christmas present, thinking it would be ‘fun’ without realising the hard work that goes into owning a dog. The dogs that don’t even get taken to a shelter just end up on the streets and die. Naturally, this is a harrowing thought for pet lovers out there, but it is still a reality.

It is important to remember that a dog is for life and not just for Christmas. Boyfriends buying a puppy for a girlfriend should carefully consider it to make sure the dog will be brought up in a suitable environment and that it is going to get enough attention. If you cant guarantee love, care and affection for your pet, its best not to buy it in the first place. The problem is that when boyfriends and girlfriends break up, the dog gets brought into it and often ends up without a home. They don’t want to see the animal and the pet then gets treated very badly. Buying pets as gifts often ends in tears, so its best not to risk it. The dog should be a loved family member too.

Many people would agree that what we need is a better dog health care advice, so fewer dogs end up in shelters by the New Year. The dog should be loved like everyone else in the family too, and its health is important. If you feed, play and walk it then these are the basic things needed. Just spend a good few months getting to know your pet and how best to look after it, taking into account all good dog health care tips, and this will prevent the influx of dogs at the shelter all year round. With rising dog numbers in shelters up and down the country, something needs to be done to stop people from buying pets when they can’t look after them properly. Don’t buy a pet at Christmas time, or any other time, unless dog health care really will be top of your priorities.

As a nation of dog lovers, we’re all aware of the curious nature of our pets, which can lead them to eat anything but some things are really bad for them. There are many things outside the home that dogs end up eating, but the same also applies inside the home, and with a number of toxic chemicals lying around, there is a great risk of harm coming to your dog. So, if you read on you’ll see that there is a list of 4 very important home-based products that should be kept out of your dog’s reach. Take the advice below and it will help you make sure your dog health care routine isn’t compromised.

1) Antifreeze: Something like antifreeze can kill pets quickly and painfully. It’s the sweet smell of the antifreeze that attracts dogs. Ethylene glycol is toxic however, and each winter, many animals are killed by it. Symptoms of toxicity include seizures, vomiting, stumbling and lethargy leading to kidney failure. So, to prevent this, simply keep antifreeze far away from your dog. If your dog does end up ingesting some antifreeze, call the vet immediately.

2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. It does usually take a large amount of chocolate to kill a dog, but even small amounts can be fatal. Chocolate poisoning has horrific symptoms for dogs, including frequent urination and hyper-activity. This can progress to seizures and unusual heart rhythms. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate ingestion is very dangerous for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: As you might imagine, household bleach is toxic to dogs. Anything containing bleach should be out of sight and out of mind. Symptoms of bleach poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It is an owner’s common instinct to try and make the dog be sick to get rid of the product it has eaten, but doing this can be fatal for your pooch, so please don’t try it. You have to keep your dog health care routine in check otherwise these substances could kill.

4) Mouthwash: Highly toxic to dogs is an owner’s mouthwash, and this is commonly found in the home. Symptoms of poisoning by mouthwash include vomiting, drooling, seizures, and coma. Once again, any mouthwash ingestion requires a visit to the vet.

With diligence on our part, we can help prevent our dogs from getting into substances that are toxic to them. As owners, we try our best to keep on top of a dog health care routine, but its no good washing them and grooming them if you then poison them accidentally with household substances. As always, if you think your dog may have eaten something dangerous, contact your veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the closest emergency clinic.