Advice from the Doc
Dr. John Davis of Darlington’s Town & Country Veterinary Clinic
Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Dr. John Davis of Darlington’s Town & Country Veterinary Clinic is a notoriously forthright and plainspoken fellow, with a wealth of experience and plenty of “common sense” advice to share with pet owners. Here, in no particular order, are a few of Dr. Davis’ bits of canine care wisdom to keep your four-legged friend comfortable through spring and summer.
1. Take your dog to the vet regularly and keep their vaccinations and medications up to date. That annual visit can keep your best buddy healthy and head off medical problems before they become chronic.
2. When grooming a dog, be sure to leave at least 1/4 or 1/2 inch of hair to shield their skin and prevent blistering when they’re out gallivanting in the sunshine. Make sure your outdoor pets have a shady spot to rest and cool off.
3. Don’t bathe a dog too often, since frequent bathing strips their skin of natural oils and can leave them dry, itchy, and full of dander. Only bathe Fido when he’s noticeably dirty or smelly.
4. Feed your dog only the amount prescribed by the pet food manufacturer, since overfeeding and underfeeding can adversely affect their health. Guidelines based on pet weight and age are usually printed on the pet food bag.
5. If serving your dog canned food, or mixing wet food with dry, don’t leave the wet food out in summer heat for more than a couple of hours or the food can sour and cause stomach upset.
