In the first year of raising a dog, you may regret it if you don’t do these care points

Many people have done a lot of homework to choose dog food before raising a dog, but they have little idea of the monthly daily care process - when to give vaccines, how long it takes to deworm, how to deal with the shedding period... This article will explain these practical implementation issues clearly at once.

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Vaccination: The Basics of Dog Protection

Core vaccines (all dogs must have them):

Vaccines	Disease prevention	Vaccination time
Canine six- or seven-part vaccine	Canine distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, etc.	Start at 8 weeks old
Rabies vaccine	Rabies (mandatory by law)	3 months and older

Vaccination Procedure:

• 8 weeks old: first dose of canine polyplex
• 11–12 weeks of age: second dose of canine polyplex
• 14–16 weeks of age: 3rd dose of multi-canine vaccine + 1st dose of rabies vaccine
• Every year thereafter: multi-unit + rabies (rabies can be strengthened every 3 years in some areas, subject to local regulations)

Note:

• Make sure the dog is in good health before vaccination (no fever, diarrhea, or mental illness)
• Bathing or strenuous exercise is not recommended for 3–7 days after vaccination
• Dogs from stray dogs are recommended to be quarantined and observed for 2 weeks before vaccination.

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Deworming: internal + external, non-stop every month

External insect repellent (fleas, ticks)

Frequency: 1 time per month (maintain throughout the year, don’t just use it in summer)

Common dosage forms:

• Spot-on drops (on nape of neck, lasts 1 month)
• Insect repellent collar (lasts 8 months but needs to fit snugly around the neck)
• Oral chewable tablets (newer regimen, monthly or every 3 months)

High-risk scenarios: Check the fur for ticks promptly after walking in the grass, woods, or after contact with other dogs.

Dangers of Ticks:

• Transmission of Lyme disease, babesiosis
• Small size (the size of a sesame seed) is hidden in the armpits, behind the ears, and on the abdomen, making it easy to miss
• Do not remove the tick directly after discovery. Use a tick clip or ask a veterinarian to handle it (direct removal of the tick may remain in the skin)

Internal deworming (nematodes, tapeworms)

Age range	Frequency
Puppies (< 6 months old)	Every 2–4 weeks
Adult dogs (lots of outdoor activities)	Every 1–3 months
Adult dogs (indoor only)	Every 3–6 months

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Frequency of bathing: Frequent is not always better

Bathing frequency for different hair types:

Hair type	Frequency
Short-haired dogs (Shiba Inu, French Bulldog, etc.)	Every 4–6 weeks
Long-haired dogs (Teddy, Schnauzer, etc.)	Every 2–4 weeks
Dogs with body odor problems	The frequency can be increased appropriately, but no more than once a week

Problems with frequent bathing: Destroying the skin's oil barrier can lead to dry skin, itching and secondary infections.

Bathing Tips:

• Use pet-specific body wash (human pH is not suitable for dog skin)
• Rinse thoroughly, residual body wash may cause skin problems
• Dry thoroughly after washing (especially ear canals, groin, and armpits)

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ear care

Dog breeds with long ears (such as beagles, golden retrievers) and dog breeds with hair covering their ear canals (teddy dogs, poodles) are more likely to have ear problems.

Cleaning Frequency:

• Normal dogs: Check + clean every 2–4 weeks
• After swimming: clean every time (water entering the ear canal can easily cause infection)

Cleaning Steps:

1. Drop an appropriate amount of ear canal cleaning solution into the ear canal
2. Gently massage the bottom of the auricle for 20–30 seconds (it is normal to hear a "gurgling" sound)
3. Let go and let the dog shake its head to shake out the secretions.
4. Gently wipe the visible part of the auricle with a cotton ball

Exception signal:

• A lot of black/brown discharge in the ear
• Strong odor in ears
• The dog repeatedly scratches its ears, shakes its head, and tilts its head → In the above situations, you should seek medical treatment and do not deal with it yourself.

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Dental care

About 80% of adult dogs over 3 years old have varying degrees of periodontal disease, which is one of the causes of many internal problems (heart, kidneys).

Brushing Frequency: Daily is optimal, minimum is 3 times a week

Tool Selection:

• Pet-specific soft-bristled toothbrush (or finger toothbrush) -Pet toothpaste (contains enzyme complex and can be swallowed; never use human fluoride toothpaste)

Auxiliary methods: Teeth cleaning gum (assisted mechanical cleaning), enzyme toothpaste (added to daily drinking water)

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Nail trimming

Frequency: Once every 3–4 weeks (urban dogs have more indoor activities, less natural wear and tear, and need regular trimming)

Judge whether it needs to be cut: The nails touch the ground when standing and there is a "click-click" sound when walking, which means they are too long.

Pruning Points:

• Find the "blood line" (pink/red part) clearly and cut 2mm before the blood line
• The blood line cannot be seen clearly on dark nails, so cut a little less each time
• Prepare hemostatic powder

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Anal glands: regular care that is easily overlooked

Anal glands are glands on the sides of a dog's butt that are normally emptied naturally during defecation, but in some dogs they just accumulate.

Signals that need to be cleaned:

• The dog rubs his butt on the ground ("rubbing")
• A fishy smell in the anal area
• Dog licks his butt frequently

Treatment method: You can teach yourself how to clean anal glands, or ask a pet groomer to handle it every time you bathe (about every 4–6 weeks).

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Hair changing care

Most double-coat breeds (golden retrievers, huskies, Shiba Inu, etc.) have two intensive shedding periods (spring and autumn) every year, and the amount of hair shedding is alarming.

Moulting period treatment:

• Brush 1–2 times a day (use a professional dog comb or depilation comb)
• Bath regularly (accelerates the shedding of old hair)
• Use a pet hair roller or vacuum indoors

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*This article refers to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and related pet health regulations. Please consult a licensed veterinarian for specific medication recommendations. *