All pet owners want to discover the best ways to keep their dogs healthy and happy for as long as possible. Here’s some encouraging news for you dog owners out there. When you know what’s healthy for your dog and what’s bad for him, you can easily avoid putting him in danger. Because of this, I have compiled a list of the top six contributors to your dog’s health and longevity. Your four-legged pet can have a long, healthy, and fulfilled life if you follow the advice below.
Food
The advantages of a commercially prepared diet vs a raw or home-cooked diet is a hotly contested topic. In short, if you do your homework, you can find both.
Don’t just look up a recipe online and start eating raw at home. An animal nutritionist and your vet should work together to provide a balanced diet for your dog. Consider picking up a premade raw “home made dog diet” from your neighbourhood pet store if you’re short on time. These words must appear on the package: “This food has been shown to be nutritionally full or adequate for all life stages.” In other words, if the label says “For supplementary or intermittent feeding,” you should look elsewhere.
It’s quite acceptable to follow a commercial diet if that’s what you like. Quality canned foods from reputed brands are our preference. Choose from veterinary-grade brands like Science Diet and Purina Veterinary. The use of alternative brands is OK. For the same reason, we give our preference to products that boast “human grade ingredients” on the label. You can get the store brand equivalents of these items at Wal*Mart if you’re on a tight budget. It has been “tested and confirmed to be adequate” according to the strictest standards set by the AAFCO.
Considering the importance of water to general and urinary health, it makes sense to choose for canned foods rather than dry ones.
Water
Pure water from the tap is a must for good health. Your dog should drink the same kind of water that you drink. The tap water is safe to drink if it is of sufficient quality in your area. If it doesn’t work, then maybe just some purified water in a pitcher may do the trick. Take certain that your dog is always well-hydrated by giving it access to a steady supply of fresh water. Preventing health problems in dogs is shockingly easy with this method. In order to reduce the likelihood of problems like canine urinary infections, it is a good idea to take your dog for an extra walk once in a while to make sure the bladder is empty.
Exercise
Your dog’s physical and emotional health will suffer if he or she is not exercised regularly. On the other hand, maintaining an exercise routine can help reduce stress, enhance circulation, build muscles, and even strengthen the immune system. As a result, it is crucial that pets get enough exercise to avoid health problems. Exercising your dog by playing ball, running, walking, ascending stairs, and swimming are all great options. Low impact workouts are recommended, and high intensity exercises should be avoided, if your dog is overweight.
Grooming
The necessity of keeping your dog clean in preventing health issues is something you should be aware of. Fleas can transmit parasites, thus a dirty dog is an ideal host for them. Because bacteria may so easily access the bladder via the urethra, urethritis also makes it susceptible to urinary tract infections (tube that carries urine from the body). Cleaning your pet in water at least twice a week should keep these issues at bay. The veterinarian can advise you on the best shampoo and soap to use for regular pet bathing.
Vaccines
Dog vaccinations are a simple way to protect your pet from dangerous diseases like rabies, kennel cough, and distemper. Make sure your dog’s vaccinations and preventatives are up to date by taking him to the vet frequently. This is a great measure to take for the health of your pet. However, you should be aware that your dog’s immune system can be unduly stressed by receiving too many vaccinations. Therefore, moderation in vaccines is required.
Vitamins and minerals
For optimal health, your dog requires periodic detoxication. For this purpose, it must consume specific therapeutic herbs, which are often chewed on by most wild animals. Since your dog cannot forage for these plants on its own, you must provide them to him in the form of a supplement. So, pick a natural health supplement that includes herbs like milk thistle, mistletoe, echinacea purpurea, huang qi, and cat’s claw. Your dog’s inherent vigour will be unlocked when its poisons are flushed out of its system and its liver and other organs are fortified. Providing your dog with a little quantity of these nutrients is the greatest method to ensure their health and well-being.
Finally, I’ve come to the end of this article. I really hope you enjoyed reading it and learned something from it. The health of your dog depends on the six elements discussed above. The aforementioned advice will help you keep your dog healthy and happy for its entire life.
