Happy Birthday to Your One Year Old Dog! Next Steps for Happiness and Pet Wellness
Your puppy turning one is a big deal! They are on their way to becoming an adult, soon to be fully grown (at about fifteen months). Here are some things to look out for during this year of your special pet’s life:
Physical Development and Behavior
By the end of this year, your one-year-old dog will be fully physically developed. Through this stage, your dog will be very alert and in-tune with her surroundings. Their body will be mature and now is the time for spaying or neutering. This process helps prevent unplanned pregnancies, future struggles with unplanned pets, and burdening overcrowded shelters. Spaying and neutering can also reduce the risk of common cancers and reproductive diseases in your dog.
During this stage, establishing leadership is key to a successful relationship with your one-year-old dog. Like Cesar Millan says, “every pack should have its leader.” Be mindful of your own behavior—staying consistent with what you will and will not reward.
When training, be firm and consistent. Set expectations for how to behave and make sure everyone in your household is on board with them. Know that training your dog will take a lifetime of consistency. Sure, you can teach your dog something in a few sessions, but you can certainly influence behaviors either way.
Pet Wellness
You want to be in close contact with us at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital during and after your dog’s first year of life. We want to see your pet many times, but even if you haven’t seen us yet, it’s not too late! We can still determine health status, treat for parasites, give vaccinations that provide protection from disease, and assess the need for dental care.
At these visits, we offer information to pet owners about nutrition, pet behavior, grooming, and much more. We also discuss our recommendations for microchipping and spay or neuter surgery.
Wellness testing not only allows us to keep your pet’s healthy and happy, but also helps us prevent diseases with early detection. We test blood and urine to determine your dog’s health baseline. A comprehensive health profile consists of:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Complete chemistry and electrolytes
- Feline AIDS and leukemia test (indoor/outdoor felines only)
Once we have these initial results, we can compare them to future results to see if your dog is staying healthy.
Assess for Fit
Your dog is getting bigger! Depending on the breed, they might have significantly grown and no longer fit into their kennel. They might be fitting very snug into their collar and it could be time to size up. Their water and food bowls might need to increase with their food intake. If you need advice on what size supplies to get for your one-year-old dog, we are always happy to help.
For more information on how to ensure your one year old dog’s wellness, contact us at (210) 681-1391 or schedule an appointment online today.