We love our dogs and we want them to live as happy and healthy a life as possible. That means that we need to get serious about our pooch’s health. With that in mind, here are some tips to ensure that your dog is as well as can be for as long as can be:
Regular Veterinary Care
If you own a dog, you should ensure that he is regularly taken to the vet’s surgery. A lot of people think that once their pooch has had his puppy vaccinations, he doesn’t need to visit the vet again unless there is something wrong. However, having annual wellness checks can be a very good way of catching any issues before they have a major impact on your dog’s health. Not only that, but you can ensure that booster injections are given and up-to-date, and that any niggles are dealt with. Most vets offer monthly plans, so you can keep the cost of visits down and ensure that the basics are covered. But it is a very good idea to take out a pet insurance policy too.
Preventative Treatments
Prevention is always better than cure, which is why you should regularly apply preventative flea and tick treatments, such as Frontline or Advantage to your dog as directed. It is also why booster vaccinations should be given, and regular grooming be carried out. Your dog will be so much happier if he never has to worry about these issues because you’ve been on it from day one than he will be if you treat him only after he’s been infected. If you aren’t sure what preventative treatments are available – talk to your vet.
The Best Nutrition
Dogs love food, but not all food is good for your dog. Apart from avoiding the things that could be dangerous to your dogs, like chocolate and raisins, it’s important that you feed your dog a healthy balanced diet from a reputable company. Visionary Pet is a brand of low carb, grain free dog food that you might want to consider.
It’s also important that you avoid the urge to give your dogs lots of treats from your plate. Dog obesity is a real and growing problem. That’s not to say you can never treat your pet. Keep treats small and healthy and ensure that he’s worked for them!
Lots of Walkies
Dogs need exercise – probably more exercise than you think. Not only do regular walks help to keep them (and you) trim, but they also help to stave off doggie boredom, and ensure that your dog is happy, Regular long walks can also help with behavioural problems. How long should you walk your dog? That depends on his breed and age, but this link may prove helpful. If you can get in at least 30 minutes, that should be a good start, though.
Play
Regular play is so important for dogs. They are social animals who like to feel a part of things. Not only that, but they are easily bored, and can actually get depressed. So, by stimulating them with a game of tug or a dog puzzle game you can really help to keep them well. Learn more about dog depression in this article by BetterHelp.
Take good care of your dog, they’re so worth it!
