Vet Amir Anwary revealed the commonly-made mistakes he made when raising his beloved dog – and urged other pet owners to avoid following in his footsteps
A vet spoke candidly about three mistakes he made with his own dog – and urged others to avoid them. Amir Anway outlined the following three mishaps on TikTok – and you can read about them below.
1. Neutering too soon
Amir said: “Number one is I castrated my male dog way too early. He now has hip dysplasia and elbow problems. He's already developing arthritis and he's only four-year-old. I was led to believe that castrating them when they reach six months old is normal.
“He was a large breed dog and it's not normal, guys. There are different age recommendations for different dog breeds and when you should be castrating and spaying them so please don't just listen to anyone that says castrate them when they reach six-months-old. That is not science anymore.”
Spaying your dog too early can have both health and developmental implications, as it may disrupt the normal growth and maturation processes. Meanwhile, neutering pets before their body can have similar negative impacts.
While both are generally beneficial for population control and preventing certain health conditions, going through with procedures before your dog has fully matured can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Potential issues include delayed growth plate closure, behavioural impacts, loss of protective effects of hormones and increased risk of certain health problems.
Always consult a vet and consider your options before booking in the surgery – and Amir recommends leaving it longer where possible.
2. Weight gain
Amir revealed he used “every single excuse in the book” to avoid walks when it was rainy outside. What's more, he couldn't resist feeding his furry companion plenty of treats.
He said: “I felt bad, I fed her too much food. I gave her treats because she really liked them and she got overweight and because she's a large breed dog, I can already see it affecting her joints and it's so hard to go back when they're already developing arthritis. I'm doing everything I can now, of course, but I never should have let it get to that point so don't let your dogs get overweight. It's not worth it.”
Preventing your dog from gaining excess weight is important for their overall health and well-being. Make sure to follow portion guidelines provided on your dog food package based on your dog’s ideal weight.
Keep treats to no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. You can also use healthy low-calorie options like carrot sticks, green beans, or apple slices.
Provide your dog with consistent physical activity (adjusted to their age, breed, and health). Regular walks are best – but some also enjoy swimming or playing fetch. If you're concerned about your pet's size, be sure to consult a vet for bespoke advice.
3. Punishment
Amir confessed to hitting his dog in the past – but only to avoid it from getting into trouble when chasing other animals. However, this is a big regret.
He implored other dog owners: “Guys, don't hit your dogs. It just makes them scared of you… admitting some of these is hard and embarrassing especially as a vet. But if it can help you prevent making these same mistakes then is okay.”
It's important to avoid using physical punishment with dogs, as it can harm their trust in you, increase fear or aggression, and damage the bond between you. Positive reinforcement training is a proven, effective technique for teaching good behaviour and correcting undesirable actions in dogs.
Instead of punishment, focus on redirection, understanding why the behaviour is occurring, and using appropriate consequences. It may also be worth calling in a professional trainer if you are unable to get your pet under control.
