Caring For Your New Dog: What You Should Know When You Adopt From A Shelter
Posted on: 10 September 2015
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When you decide that it is time to get yourself a new dog, you excitedly head to your local animal shelter to see what dogs are available for adoption. Seeing and meeting your perfect companion can take time, but when you find the right dog for you and your family, you just know it. Once you bring your new family member home, you will need to make sure that your dog is healthy and in good physical and mental condition so that they can happily integrate themselves into your family without worry or incident. Get to know some of the services your new dog will need shortly after coming home from the animal shelter.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning and Grooming Appointment
You never know what kind of life your new rescue pet had before you met them. As such, you never know when they last had a thorough dental cleaning and grooming appointment.
Ensuring that your new family member has clean and healthy teeth and has been brushed and bathed will help to make them feel happier and healthier, and you to rest easy that they are starting off their new life with you on the right foot. You will also find out right away whether or not your dog has any major dental issues that you will need to deal with and keep an eye on in the future.
And finally, a grooming appointment will tell you if your new dog has any issues with their paws being handled, being brushed or being bathed. Some dogs at a shelter may have been abused or developed bad habits with their previous owners you will need to help them overcome.
Get Them To The Vet Within A Few Days
You likely do not want to upset or traumatize your new shelter dog by taking them to the vet the first day you bring them home. This is understandable as you want to solidify your relationship with your new dog.
However, within a few days of adopting your new dog, take them to your veterinarian with your adoption paperwork. Your vet will get all of your new dog's medical records entered into their system and give them a thorough inspection and check-up.
Many shelter dogs have had optional vaccinations that have lapsed and will need boosters or initial vaccines. Additionally, kennel cough, an upper respiratory condition that is highly contagious, is common among shelter dogs. Your vet can look for signs of the condition and prescribe antibiotics or cough medication to help your dog heal if they have been infected.
Now that you know about the care your new shelter dog will require, you can get started as soon as possible to protect their health and ensure they are as happy and healthy as they can be while the settle into their new forever home. For more information, contact a company like Animal Medical Center Of Bradenton.