Veterinary Care in Massachusetts for Dog Owners in the South Coast Area
You might not know what kind of medical care dog owners in the South Coast area need if you are new to the area or if you are new to owning a pet. Setting up some simple pet care jobs in the fall is the best time to make sure your dog has a safe and happy winter. Make an appointment with the vet at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth for your pet’s yearly checkup. Don’t forget to ask any questions you may have about anxiety problems, heartworm treatment for dogs, and other important veterinary care in Massachusetts right now.
Regular Grooming and Care
A lot of dog owners choose this time of year to give their dog a really good bath. It’s time to clean up your dog after all the running, playing, and getting into things. For the next few months, he or she will be spending time inside with the family. This is the time of year when most dogs have allergic reactions or skin that itches, so giving your dog a good bath can help. Always make sure to tell your vet about any itchy or hot spots that need to be taken care of at your yearly visit.
Putting on flea and tick medicine is another important thing that should be done this time of year. There is some disagreement about whether or not to treat dogs for heartworms in the northeast during the winter. Talk to your vet to find out if your dog is at risk. By cutting your dog’s nails and cleaning his ears, you can find out if he has any parasites or other problems that need to be fixed.
Temperature and Weather Changes
Winter and fall are great times to spend time outside with your dog. Make sure you give him warm bedding and a safe place to stay when it gets cold or bad weather comes. Some people who have pets will let their dogs and cats use the garage during the winter or give them a big, well-insulated dog house to make it easier to give their pet a warm, safe, and comfortable place to curl up in the snow. Before putting any outdoor furniture in the dog house or another enclosed area, make sure to wash it and treat it for fleas and ticks. After bathing and treating your dog, you don’t want to leave him outside where ticks and fleas can bite him.
Make sure your dog can get clean, fresh water and good, healthy dog food during the winter to keep his digestion, energy, and immune system strong. Give your dog a fenced-in yard or run area to use for exercise during the winter, when people don’t want to walk their dogs every day around the neighborhood. Check the collar, leashes, fences, runs, leads, and tags on your dog to make sure they are all in good shape. Throw away or buy new things when they break or wear out. When there’s several feet of snow on the ground, you don’t want to have a problem with your tools.
Cleaning Your Home for Overall Health
This time of year, have a kit ready that will help you take care of your dog’s thicker hair. It will take twice as long to brush your dog, and if he spends most of his time inside, he will probably shed more in the winter because of the change in temperature. Thought about using special sprays, shampoos, and conditioners on your dog that can help cut down on the amount of shedding.
Also, make sure your vacuum and any other tools you use to keep furniture, rugs, and curtains hair-free are in good shape. Since dog hair can be hard on vacuum machines and HEPA filters, now is a good time to clean them out. During the winter, keep checking it a few times to make sure it stays working right. If you go through a lot of vacuums, you might want to get one that is made just for pets.
Visit Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth
In Massachusetts, Anchor Animal Hospital is the only place you need to go if you have questions about how dogs can deal with worry caused by the weather, if you are worried about giving your dog heartworm medicine in the winter, or if you need any other kind of veterinary care. Our team can give your pet good medical care, including treatment, protection, and other services. People who own pets in Rhode Island, Cape Cod, and the rest of Southeast Massachusetts can get our services. Coral Animal Hospital in Dartmouth takes all kinds of pets, like cats, dogs, birds, snakes, and small pets like hamsters and guinea pigs. You can call us to make an appointment or come by to see our building.