Every dog lover has one wish in common when it comes to their pets: that they live a long, healthy life. Now that doesn’t mean that you need to bring your dog to the vet every week. There are many ways to keep your dog healthy and happy, and some of them are remarkably simple.
Besides regular visits to the vet, here are 10 ways to keep your dog healthy.
1. Don’t spay or neuter your dog too early
Spaying or neutering your dog is important for preventing un-planned pregnancies, and has some other purported health benefits. We recommend talking to your veterinarian for more information about this. However, a study done in UC Davis, which looked at health records of 759 golden retrievers, found a surprising doubling of hip dysplasia among male dogs neutered before one year of age. While there’s debate about both the benefits and harm of spaying / neutering, you gain nothing by doing that procedure too early.
2. Make sure all of your dog’s vaccinations are up to date
• Vaccinations have, in the past few years, been a controversial subject in the human world. This should not affect your decision to get your dog vaccinated, however. While very young puppies benefit from antibodies delivered through their mother’s milk, by about three months of age they will require vaccinations to make sure they do not contract diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Some of these vaccinations need to be re-administered as your dog ages, as well, so consult with your veterinarian to make sure your pet is up to date during yearly visits. This dog health tip should come as no surprise, yet many dog owners still fail to make sure that their furry companions are properly immunized. That said, while core vaccines are essential (PetMD.com) (canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV), rabies), if you are worried about over-vaccination you may want to hold off on non-core vaccines or at least adequetly space them out. Talk to your vet more about whether non-core vaccines make sense for your dog.
Non-core vaccinations for dogs include but are not limited to:
• canine influenza virus (CIV)
• Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV)
• Crotalus Atrox Toxoid (CAT, or rattlesnake vaccine)
• Leptospira spp. (causative agent of Leptospirosis or “Lepto”)
• Bordetella bronchiseptica (one causative agent of “kennel cough”)
• Borrelia burgdorferi (causative agent of Lyme disease)
3. Prevent against heart worms
Heart worms is a common and life threatening condition caused by mosquito bites. It is extremely difficult to treat once it affects your dog. Contrary to popular belief, the foot long worms don’t affect uniquely the heart – they also spread to the lungs and blood vessels and can cause severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs. The best way to prevent heart worms is to give your dog a tablet that prevents the condition every month.
4. Plan regular visits to your veterinarian
Just like humans need regular visits to their doctors to make sure nothing undetectable to the untrained eye is going on, your dog needs regular vet appointments. This might seem like an obvious dog health tip, but don’t wait until you can see that your dog is physically ill or seems anxious – a lot of ailments can be detected early by your vet and treated in a timely fashion, reducing the amount of pain and stress that your dog experiences.
5. Make sure your dog has plenty of daily exercise
What’s good for us in the exercising department is also a great dog health care tip for our canine companions. Exercise doesn’t only help keep your dog physically and mentally fit, it also serves to strengthen his or her heart. A healthy dose of exercise through walks and regular play will help ensure your dog’s energy is spent in a healthy way, instead of by destroying your shoes and furniture. It’s also a good way for you to bond with your dog and create a healthy relationship.
6. Watch out for fleas
In fact, it’s even better to prevent fleas from targeting your dog in the first place by using monthly flea control products. Fleas aren’t only uncomfortable for your dog because of itching and skin irritation; they can also cause anemia if left unchecked, cause your dog to suffer from allergies and even give your dog tapeworm. As dog health tips go, this is one of the easiest.
7. Brush your dog’s teeth
Dental hygiene is just as important for your dog as it is for you. Your veterinarian may suggest a good tooth cleaning once in a while, but it is your responsibility to keep your dog’s teeth cleaned on a daily basis to prevent decay, cavities and tooth loss. Bad teeth may give your dog a bad breath, but more importantly, they can be very painful, cause ulcers and other life threatening conditions. Don’t ignore this dog health care tip if you value your dog’s health and well-being.
8. Monitor your dog’s weight
An overweight dog is an unhealthy dog. Sometimes, certain conditions can contribute to those extra pounds, but most overweight dogs gain weight because they’re eating too much, eating the wrong things, and not getting enough exercise. This really should be the most basic of dog health tips, but it is surprising how many dog owners don’t pay enough attention to change their dog’s diet as needed.
9. Know foods your dog should not eat
There is a long list of foods that humans commonly eat that are poisonous for your dog. This is a little known dog health tip, and the list contains some foods most people would think completely safe for their dogs, including : onions, avocado, macadamia nuts, chocolate, coffee and alcohol.
10. Weekly check-ups
Take a few minutes each week to do a well-being check on your dog. Inspect his or her coat and skin for irritation, flakes or fleas, check his or her ears, nose and eyes for discharge or redness and be aware of any change in eating or drinking habits and demeanor. If anything concerns you, call your vet and set up an appointment. This dog health care tip doesn’t cost anything and is the best way to stay ahead of diseases and infections.
