The leg of a roe deer<\/a>, a sparrowhawk carcass, a bloated dead frog, poo… these are just a few of our Australian shepherd\u2019s favourite things. It\u2019s hard to stop our dog Dakota scavenging while out on a countryside walk \u2013 there\u2019s often something dead or decomposing in the next hedgerow. <\/p> When, a few months old, Dakota picked up the wing of a pigeon still attached to some grisly vertebrae, she carried it proudly around the valley like a glittering gold medal. I mentioned this to a seasoned-dog owner friend. \u201cNever let them eat bones,\u201d he warned. \u201cThey can cause all sorts of problems.\u201d Really? I thought that was just cooked bones. <\/p> I also wondered what the fuss about chocolate was; when I was a kid, our retriever once snaffled the Easter eggs and suffered no ill effects. It got me thinking \u2013 what was true and what was a myth when it came to dog care? I spoke to a local vet and researched the science. I learned that while the myths mostly have some basis in fact, the truth \u2013 as ever \u2013 is more nuanced.<\/p> The standard advice is to walk your puppy<\/a> for five minutes for every month of age they are and no more than twice a day. So, a four-month-old puppy could have two lots of 20 minutes\u2019 exercise. The reason for this is the ends of their bones are still soft and growing, and too much pressure on them causes damage, leading to conditions such as arthritis in later life.<\/p> But our experience was that Dakota needed more than was \u2018allowed\u2019 or she would have what dog-people call \u2018zoomies\u2019 \u2013 careering around and crashing into walls. Surely, we reasoned, a gentle walk would be better? Dr Max Cory, who works at our local practice, George Vet Group, says the five-minute rule is for people who want clarity and isn\u2019t hard and fast.<\/p> However, it\u2019s important to avoid stairs (I carried Dakota for months because our living space is down a steep flight) and jumping in and out of cars. Labradors<\/a> are prone to arthritis in their hips and elbows, and bigger dogs may be more affected, too.<\/p> \u201cWeight management is very important,\u201d Max adds. \u201cIf they are carrying a few too many pounds, that will put more weight through their joints.\u201d<\/p> Conclusion: mostly true.<\/strong><\/p> These days, dry, kibble food is regarded as the best for your dog. Our vet says it offers the optimum nutrition, balancing proteins, fats and carbohydrates. So that\u2019s what we went with. But then we got turned on to the new trend for raw foods. Dakota seems to relish these more, so we now give her dried food twice a day, raw once.<\/p> Max isn\u2019t a fan. \u201cThere\u2019s not enough scientific data in my view about them,\u201d he says. (I checked and he\u2019s right \u2013 of course.) There\u2019s no evidence they are better for your pet, and there\u2019s a risk they could be passing on pathogens, such as salmonella or toxoplasmosis.<\/p> Some people go completely freelance \u2013 homecooked chicken and rice, for example. Max says this doesn\u2019t provide a complete diet, and he\u2019s not convinced by vegan or vegetarian foods either. The key thing is to look at the ingredients: how much protein is there, how much fat, how much carbohydrate? Working dogs, and perhaps those that are lucky enough (like Dakota) to race around hills and woods on a regular basis, will need more of the first two.<\/p> Conclusion: mostly true \u2013 the evidence of the benefits for other foods is lacking.<\/strong><\/p> Dakota is one of nature\u2019s natural-born chewers. Sticks, sunglasses, plastic pots, the TV remote. You name it, she\u2019ll chew it.<\/p> A juicy-looking, marrow-filled bone from the local butcher would appear to be the answer \u2013 she certainly prizes them highly. But be warned, says Max Cory. \u201cBones can splinter and cause an obstruction in the gut and they can break teeth,\u201d he says.<\/p> Antlers are a real problem, a known cause of horizontal \u2018slab\u2019 fractures in teeth. The standard advice is not to give any cooked chicken (or other) bones. We absolutely avoid those (raw or cooked), but \u2013 despite Max\u2019s advice \u2013 we\u2019ll continue to get Dakota something substantial from the butcher every now and then.<\/p> The RSPCA<\/a> says always go for human grade bones that your dog cannot swallow or fit completely in its mouth. Still, Max provides a different insight. \u201cOnce you\u2019ve been up in the night opening up a dog to remove a bone from its gut, it changes how you think about these things,\u201d he says.<\/p> Conclusion: definitely avoid small bones.<\/strong><\/p> Full body harnesses are very in vogue these days, and I can see the advantages if the dog or puppy pulls a lot and is large and powerful.<\/p> Harnesses need to be properly fitted, and some retailers offer a bespoke fitting service. Max says harnesses are appropriate for the flat-faced breeds, such as pugs and bulldogs, because they suffer from breathing problems.<\/p> But I\u2019ve concluded that if your dog is pulling so much you need a harness, you should do more \u2018heel\u2019-related training<\/a>! I\u2019m not saying Dakota is perfect \u2013 far from it, especially when a roe deer flashes into view. And my view isn\u2019t coloured, in any way, by the fact we did buy her a harness, and after just a week, she swiped it off the table and spent a happy hour or two chewing it to destruction.<\/p> A new training regime has recently turned me on to the benefits of a choke lead \u2013 it\u2019s not to everyone\u2019s taste, but it\u2019s paying dividends in diverting Dakota\u2019s focus away from livestock and other temptations.<\/p> Conclusion: only for particular breeds.<\/strong><\/p> \u201cDad,\u201d wailed my 14-year-old son, \u201cI made myself a hot chocolate and Dakota ate some of the chocolate powder.\u201d Brilliant, I thought. What do I do now? Take her to the vet? Stick my fingers down her throat? Relax \u2013 she\u2019ll probably be fine? I wish I\u2019d known then what I know now.<\/p> Yes, chocolate (it\u2019s theobromine in the cocoa) is toxic to dogs, and in large-enough quantities causes seizures and internal bleeding. You need to be most concerned about dark chocolate. For a dog weighing 25kg, as little as 90g (3.5g for every kilo) could be dangerous.<\/p> For milk chocolate, however, the same dog would have to eat 350g. White chocolate contains almost no theobromine at all.<\/p> So, you need to know how much your dog has eaten. Treatment needs to start within the hour, and it\u2019s an injection to make them sick and some charcoal solution to mop up anything\u2019s that left. The bill \u2013 just north of \u00a3150 in our case \u2013 left me wincing financially though.<\/p> Raisins, sultanas, currants and fresh grapes are a different proposition. Just eating one could cause kidney failure and prove fatal. Ibuprofen (though not paracetamol) is also toxic, and lamb fat can inflame the pancreas.<\/p> Conclusion: yes \u2013 in certain quantities.<\/strong><\/p> It once seemed to me that you couldn\u2019t go anywhere near a vet\u2019s practice without being offered a treatment for ticks<\/a>, fleas<\/a> and worms<\/a> \u2013 whether your pet needed one or not. As a journalist specialising in environmental issues, I know that insecticides, such as fipronil and imidacloprid, routinely used in these products, have devastating impacts on a wide range of wildlife, from mammals to invertebrates. Happily, our practice is changing its approach.<\/p> \u201cWe are moving towards a more risk-associated protocol,\u201d Max says. \u201cRather than giving every dog everything on a monthly basis, we are working towards identifying how at risk each dog is and tailoring the approach.\u201d<\/p> So, where are they being walked? Are they plunging into marshes or coming into contact with deer? That would put them at risk of ticks. If they\u2019re just walking around town, it seems less likely. But ticks can spread lyme disease (symptoms include shifting lameness, weight loss and lethargy), while tapeworms can cause gastric issues and weight loss. Dakota was picking up ticks last summer, so I started her on a product containing afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime (impacts unknown), but I only dose her orally when I need to. If you use a spot-on treatment, don\u2019t allow your dog to swim in a river or lake for the next three to four days.<\/p> Conclusion: not necessary all year round.<\/strong><\/p> We have lots of fascinating features about dogs<\/a>, answering questions like why do dogs eat grass?<\/a>, as well as our comprehensive dog breed guides<\/a>, including the otterhound, Britain’s rarest dog breed<\/a><\/em>.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n When James Fair brought an Australian shepherd puppy home, he launched a mission to uncover the truth about the best ways to take care of their new beloved pet, Dakota <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":36353,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend.jpg",8021,5350,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend.jpg",150,100,false],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend.jpg",1536,1025,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/05\/the-truth-about-dogs-heres-the-real-science-behind-how-to-care-for-your-best-friend.jpg",2048,1366,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"When James Fair brought an Australian shepherd puppy home, he launched a mission to uncover the truth about the best ways to take care of their new beloved pet, Dakota","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/36352"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Don\u2019t over-exercise your puppy<\/h2>
Kibble is best<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/04\/kibble-1.jpg\")
Don\u2019t let them in eat bones<\/h2>
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/04\/dog-bone-1.jpg\")
Use a harness, not a collar<\/h2>
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/04\/leads.jpg\")
Chocolate is deadly to dogs<\/h2>
Parasite control is essential<\/h2>
![\"ticks](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/04\/ticks.jpg\")
Find out more<\/h3>
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"