Consider your other responsibilities. Young kids, your career, and any other commitments that you have can all limit the amount of time and effort you can dedicate towards a pet.
Puppies need even more attention than adults, and if you aren't providing the training, structure, and boundaries, then your puppy will likely form some destructive and dangerous habits, like chewing, digging, and even self-harm tendencies, like over-grooming. Consider your current living situation. Is your home the ideal environment for a dog? If not, do you have reliable transportation to take your dog to an area with more suitable amenities?
Older pets or less active dogs may adjust to a city setting or apartment life better than a high-energy breed or a young puppy. You also need to consider whether you are allowed to have a dog in your home.
Do you rent? Find out if you can have a dog in your rental property before you get one. This is not a situation where it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. Does your house look like a spread from the Martha Stewart collection? Like kids, dogs are messy, and sometimes they break things. Dog-proofing your home can help. That might mean rearranging furniture, getting rid of floral arrangements and planters , or setting up a no-dog zone for valuable and prized possessions.
On the flip side, if you are a bit of a slob, then you need to consider how dangerous a messy lifestyle can be for a curious puppy. Over-filled garbage cans, loose food, and general clutter can all be things your nosey pooch will want to explore, and potentially snack on. A tidy house is a safe house. Getting a new dog means a lot of one-off purchases, so you'll need to save up for the right gear and accessories, but regular maintenance costs need to be considered too.
Just how much does owning a dog cost? This is the average yearly cost of owning a dog in Canada. Energy Level. How much daily exercise will you give your dog? None, I'm basically a couch potato. More than 1 hour. Pet Care. What size dog are you looking for?
Toy: Compact enough to call my lap "home". I don't care. How long do you want your dog's coat to be? How often will your dog be groomed each week?
Let's not go overboard, once a week should do it. Two or three times a week. I'm hoping life will be pretty much the same. I'm hopeful that life will be better. I reckon it will be joyful, but also scary at times.
How much would you be able to spend on a dog? My budget doesn't have room for a dog. I could afford it, but I'd rather go on vacation. I can't afford it now, but will in the near future. Money isn't an issue, the benefits of having a dog are so worth it. If you were suddenly given a dog, would you know what to do?
No, I know nothing about dogs and I don't have the time to learn. I don't have any experience with dogs. I have some experience with dogs but no time to learn. I have a lot of experience with dogs.
What is your main reason for wanting a dog? My family and friends expect me to, so I feel a pressure to do so. It would be fun to take it on walks outside and would look good on my Instagram page. I recognize all the many benefits of owning a dog and really want one. If you woke up at 3 am to a huge mess in your kitchen from the dog, how would you react? While a physical exam, blood work and urinalysis now take precedent, your vet may still recommend that your pet undergoes these tests yearly depending upon his likelihood of exposure.
These supplemental tests could be crucial in identifying a health issue that your dog is experiencing. Because of this, your veterinarian may recommend the following additional tests:. Thyroid testing. Many older pets may experience weight gain or lethargy, which are often the first signs of hypothyroidism in dogs.
ACTH stimulation or low dose dexamethasone suppression test. These tests check for an over production of cortisol by the adrenal glands, Konecny says. Chest radiographs. Abdominal ultrasound. Your vet may recommend your dog receive an abdominal ultrasound to look for diseases associated with the spleen which is poorly assessed on blood work , as well as the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, urinary bladder, abdominal lymph nodes, adrenal glands, liver and kidneys. Specialized testing for inherited diseases.
Some tests may be used to diagnose inherited diseases specific to a particular breed.
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