5 Steps To Keep Your Dog Healthy
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Our dogs give us companionship, protection and unconditional love. Surely it’s not too much to ask that we do our best to keep them healthy.
There are five basic steps to keeping your dog well, and if you follow them, you’re doing as much as you can to avoid any health problems developing.
1. Look carefully at the food you feed your dog. Dog food varies in quality, and this is directly related to its price. Expensive foods have higher levels of meat and meat protein, while very cheap foods are predominantly cereal based. You don’t need to break the bank to feed your dog well. Choose a mid priced food that lists meat as one of the top two ingredients, and your dog will do well. Dental disease is a common cause of chronic ill health in our dogs. Feed him a raw meaty bone several times a week to keep his teeth clean.
2. Watch his weight. Obesity in dogs is associated with chronic ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and skin problems. Keep an eye on your dog’s weight so you can recognize if his waistline is getting a bit round, and cut back on his dinner accordingly. Take him for regular walks to burn up excess calories, it’s good for you both. Lastly, take it easy on between meal snacks.
3. Bath your dog infrequently. Each time you wash your dog, you remove some of the natural oils from his coat which may make his coat dry and itchy. If you do need to wash your dog, choose a mild soap free shampoo, and rinse him thoroughly. Keep in mind that the best way to keep your dog’s skin and coat soft and shiny is to feed him a good quality food and perhaps add omega 3 fatty acids to his meal once a week.
4. It goes without saying that following your vet’s guidelines for preventative health care will go a long way to protecting your dog from ill health. This includes vaccinations, regular treatment for intestinal worms, flea and tick control and, if you have heartworm in your area, medication to prevent heartworm infection.
5. Now that you have taken care of your dog’s physical health, let’s look at his mental health. Behavioral problems are one of the most common reasons that dogs are euthanized, so it’s important that you take steps to prevent boredom and any related bad behaviors, such as digging or barking. Take your dog to training classes from a very young age to keep his mind active. Take him for walks so he can explore the sights and sounds of your neighborhood. If you do have to leave him alone for any length of time, make sure he has interactive toys such as a stuffed kong or a ball that spills kibble as it rolls.
None of these steps are difficult or particularly expensive, and they can save you several dollars in vet bills. They’re a small price to pay to keep your dog in the very best of health.
This guest post is brought to you by dog Fence DIY’s staff veterinarian Dr. Susan Wright. Dog Fence DIY carries the Petsafe Stubborn Dog . This system has the strongest correction level of any dog fence system available and is also compatible with other major systems. For more dog fence information see here.
March 26th, 2010 at 12:56 am
Hi, help needed. i have frequent allergy and cannot understand why. I was put on antibiotic for 3 weeks. pimples reduced but I still scratch and i am putting on weight.. I am a 3 year old shih tzu.