So, you’ve taken the plunge and brought a furry friend home. Congratulations! This, however, begs the question: What comes next? There are a ton of factors to take into consideration, ranging from the seemingly mundane (picking out the perfect name) to monumental lifestyle adjustments (dog-proofing your home). Lucky for you, we’ve summed up the most important steps to take note of the second the adoption papers are signed. Here’s what you’ve got to do:
1. Take the dog for a full medical check-up
Ensure that your veterinarian conducts a thorough blood test so as you’ll be able to detect heartworms as well as tick fever. A blood test is also able to narrow down if your dog’s kidney and liver is functioning properly. For those who are able to go the extra mile, we recommend opting for cardiac and abdomen ultrasounds, too. This allows owners to find out if there any growths or masses in the aforementioned areas, so you’ll be able to identify illnesses at an earlier — and thus, more treatable — stage.
2. Sterilize the dog
Unsterilized male dogs have a higher chance of acquiring prostate cancer, whereas female dogs might procure pyometra. Both conditions are quite lethal and may shorten a dog’s life-span significantly.
3. Get some dental work done for your dog
This is particularly applicable if you’ve adopted an older dog. Unbeknownst to most, bad teeth can kill, where it could potentially lead to kidney and liver issues in the long-run. It is also known to cause blood poisoning, where a dog will go into shock and die should teeth not be regularly treated and brushed.
4. Run further comprehensive tests
Think spinal X-rays. As mentioned earlier, this would be ideal for any owners who have decided to adopt an older dog who could be suffering from issues in the vein of spondylosis, which is a compressed spine.
While it might sound as if there are a lot of tests and medical-related checkups required, it’s safe to say that prevention is the best cure. At Hope Dog Rescue, such tests have been conducted in exchange for a mere $350 fee — which sets us apart considering how certain rescue groups or individual rescuers charge an exorbitant fee with no health-testing provided. All we ask for is that you love your new companion with all your heart; to treat them with all the kindness and love it deserves.
We hope this article has been insightful for first-time dog owners — and inspirational to any others looking to welcome a new family member into their home. For those looking to do so, head over to http://hopedogrescue.blogspot.com/p/adoption.html to check out a list of adoptable dogs.
Written By: Emily
