They took the dog from the street: what’s next?

We all often come across homeless animals, mostly dogs. If you decide to take home a found dog, you need to prepare. What to do so that the foundling does not bring problems for your family members and other pets?

How to spend the first day?

If you have carefully considered everything and decided to keep the dog with you, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures.

• First of all, determine the dog in quarantine. She must be kept separate from other pets until she is seen by a veterinarian and vaccinated. Limit the access of small children and pets to the new tenant. Quarantine can be a separate room or another room. Water and food bowls, as well as dog bedding and diapers, must be kept in the same room as the dog.

• The animal must be washed. Most dogs do not refuse water treatments, but you must be careful. A stray dog ​​may not be accustomed to washing, so protect your hands and face and ask someone in the household to help you. If the animal is small, try washing it in a basin. You can put the dog in the bathtub or shower tray and water from the top of the shower head. Use a special shampoo for animals, including dual action: these shampoos both cleanse and fight skin parasites. After washing, the dog should be thoroughly dried with a soft towel and left to dry in a warm, draft-free place. You do not need to dry the animal with a hairdryer – it can get scared, and burns can develop from too hot air.

• Buy your dog toys, bowls, a leash, and a bed. Talk to your veterinarian about your new pet’s diet. The specialist will help you choose a balanced diet in accordance with the age of the dog and the characteristics of its health.

Visit to a veterinarian

After all the preparatory procedures, it is necessary to pay a visit to the veterinary clinic. The specialist will examine the animal and make the necessary tests. Based on the results of the tests, the veterinarian will decide on the vaccination of the dog, sterilization and chipping. 

After the initial examination of the animal, the veterinarian will most likely prescribe a complex treatment for internal and external parasites (fleas, ticks, helminths) with appropriate drugs designed for a certain weight of the pet. 

Vaccinate your pet first of all against rabies. Rabies is a deadly disease not only for dogs, but also for humans. There are currently no cures for this disease. In addition to the rabies vaccine, the dog will be vaccinated against leptospirosis, canine distemper, parvovirus enteritis, adenovirus and parainfluenza.

The veterinarian will also talk to you about the pros and cons of spaying and microchipping pets. It is best to spay the dog to avoid unwanted behavior during heat and possible puppies. Chipping will help you find your dog in case it runs away on a walk. Both procedures will not take much time, but they will save you from possible problems.

Animal socialization

In addition to the primary measures related to the health of the dog, it is necessary to think about the adaptation of the pet in new conditions for him. If you have adopted a pet dog, then it may already be trained to go to the toilet outside, walk on a leash and not bark for no reason.

If the dog is stray, then you will need time to socialize it. During the period of isolation, the pet must be accustomed to the diaper: at first, he will go to the toilet exactly there. After receiving the test results and vaccinations, begin obedience training. First you need to teach the dog to go to the toilet outside and walk on a leash. In the future, you can start teaching teams.

Do not hesitate to contact specialists – experienced cynologists will help you train your pet more effectively and socialize it.

The older the dog you have selected, the longer the socialization process may take. But a small puppy can quickly learn to follow simple commands and give a voice when he wants to go to the toilet. Give your dog as much attention as possible during his first days in your home. Be patient, and in the near future she will reward you with her successes.