5 tips for keeping your dog healthy and out of the vets
A healthy dog is a happy
dog able to live life to the full, walking, running and playing without a care
in the world. As a dog owner you take full responsibility for your dogs health
providing everything they need in order to maintain excellent health and enjoy
their years with you.
Here are 5 tips for keeping
your dog healthy and out of the vets;
1. Diet
There are many excellent
brands providing all manner of dog food, from dry measured diets, to rich
balanced wet food and accompanying treats. You dogs diet is an incredibly
important part of his health and getting it right is the key to keeping him
healthy and happy. You should consider the following when purchasing food for
your dog;
His breed
Most breeds have specific
diet requirements based on the nutrients they need. Although every dog requires
a balanced diet, some breeds need specific variations to keep them in optimum
health.
His size
You should provide measured
food amounts for your dog in order for him to stay within a correct weight
range. Larger breeds require much more food than smaller breeds and it’s easy
to overfeed if you don’t read the manufacturer’s instructions.
His age
Different ages require
different types of food; elderly dogs will more than likely have a softer food
that contains nutrients that supports age issues like arthritis and liver
strain. Puppies tend to eat vitamin rich food that is specifically designed for
growing dogs.
His level of exercise
If you own a working dog
you’ll need to provide adequate food to support that level of exercise. A dog
that uses a lot of energy will require more food to give them energy.
You should always try and
avoid giving a dog human food as they can easily put weight on and a happy dog
is not an overweight dog, no matter how cute they look begging for a morsel of
your dinner. Try and give them beneficial treats like dental sticks and low fat
dog biscuits and don’t give them too many as again this will cause weight gain.
2. Exercise
All dogs need some level
of exercise to keep them stimulated and happy, each breed will have
specific recommendations to keep them fit with some requiring a few hours exercise
a day and others just half an hour.
3. Grooming
Each breed has specific
grooming instructions which is something you should research before rescuing or
purchasing a dog. Some require specialist grooming and others hardly any at
all. Neglecting a dogs grooming can lead to complications that will make your
dog very unhappy like matting and infected skin folds.
4. Play and stimulation
Keeping your dog
entertained is easy and enjoyable and shouldn’t be much of a chore, especially
if they have learnt to love games like fetch. Consider providing your dog with
interactive toys to use while you are out to make sure they don’t get bored and
remember to dedicate playtime with them every day - this can be incorporated
into walks.
5. Human interaction
Mans best friend was given
this name for a reason. Your dog is loyal to you and your family and you owe it
to him to provide all the love in the world. A lonely dog is a friend to no one
so remember to treat him like one of the family and he’ll reward you for it
with affection, personality and loyalty.
Remember that despite your
best efforts your dog will always be susceptible to infections, diseases and
accidents. The best way to protect your dog long term is to make sure he is
insured with pet
insurance, that way you’ll have
peace of mind that if he does need any expensive treatment he can receive it
without you having to suffer any financial hardship.
