The inquisitive nature of dogs often means we see them eating lots of varied things and they really don’t care what it is they eat. 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. The following is a list of 4 common household substances that you should make sure to keep 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: Although not widely known, antifreeze can be a killer for dogs. Unfortunately, the sweet smell makes it appealing to your dog. Inside antifreeze you’ll find ethylene glycol and this is toxic. Once ingested, antifreeze can cause seizures and other horrific symptoms which put your dog through lots of pain. So, to prevent this, simply keep antifreeze far away from your dog. Of course, if the worse does happen, take your dog to a vet for a health check.

2) Chocolate: Dark chocolate is a prime example of something very dangerous to dogs. People assume that only large amounts kill pets, but in fact any amount can prove dangerous. The symptoms you need to be aware of with chocolate poisoning are diarrhea and vomiting. Your dog might even suffer seizures and it can raise the heartbeat. Even the slightest suspicion that your dog might have even chocolate means you have to visit the vet to get checked out. Chocolate is bad for your dog’s health.

3) Bleach: Something like bleach is highly toxic to your dog. Keep all products containing bleach out of your dog’s reach. Bleach-related symptoms include drooling and vomiting. However, one important thing to remember is that vomiting should not be induced s this can make the situation worse. Remember that by doing these simple things, your dog health care routine stays in check.

4) Mouthwash: Highly toxic to dogs is an owner’s mouthwash, and this is commonly found in the home. There are some symptoms associated with mouthwash which are very unpleasant, and these include drooling and seizures. Just like with the other household products, a dog that’s drunk mouthwash should be taken to see the vet.

If you own a pet then you have to take responsibility for it and this means looking after its health and keeping toxic products out of reach. 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.

If you own a puppy, you’ll know how stressful it can be to clean him. Please persevere with puppy bathing though, if only for the sake of your dog health care routine. Remember that the way you bathe your puppy teaches your dog a lot about how he has to be kept clean. So, in order to have a clean, happy dog at the end, the way you go about your pet health practices is important and you should take the following advice:

To start with, you need to get your essential supplies in order. Get a dog coat conditioner and a decent sized brush if your dog has a long coat. Don’t forget a towel either. There will be lots of water splashing around shortly, so put some old clothes on. It is advisable to bathe the puppy when he is hungry, as he will be more attentive then. If you call your puppy over and give him some treats he will be well behaved in the bath. Most importantly, you have to convince your dog that this is a fun process. Then its time to get the brush out, which some dogs don’t like. Any knots or tangles in your puppy’s coat will tighten and become worse when wet, so you want to comb out all tangles before turning on the tap. Rub conditioner on the puppy’s fur and massage it in.

Something important to remember is that the dog’s ears need cleaning at the back. Tell your puppy how good he is at having a bath and reward him with treats. Show him his toy and let him play with it a little in the tub before you turn on the water. If your puppy has sensitive eyes, use a baby shampoo on his head area. Don’t let the water touch the dog until you are sure it is the right temperature. Now, thoroughly soak the coat with water. Avoid the eyes and ears, and keep praising. The trick with shampoo is massaging it, and this should be done in short circles. It is also useful to use a scrub brush to massage the shampoo in. When you are sure you’ve rinsed out all the soap, do it again. There’s always more soap that needs to be removed. The final step is to condition the fur and rinse, and when this is complete its time for the towel to dry your puppy off.