9 Tips for Maintaining Your Dog’s Health
Dogs come to us pretty much maintenance free. They require less work than our cars, or our lawnmowers or our houses. But they need some basic maintenance to keep them at their best. No one likes to think about their best buddy getting sick. Unfortunately it happens. Fortunately by giving them just a portion of the care we give the other things in our lives we can go a long way towards assuring their continued good health.
Dogs can’t make an appointment with the vet. They don’t have a health insurance policy (unless you bought it for them). They need your help. Left to their own devices, dogs would stay pretty healthy. It’s too bad they have to live with us. They eat what we eat. They face the same dangers we face. We owe it to them to protect them from as many of our stupidities as we can.
There are a thousand little things you can do, but the one that matters the most is a regular vet visit. At least once a year a vet needs to do a thorough check of your dog’s health. As the dog ages, the visits should increase to twice a year.
Here are a few of the most important things you can do to increase your dog’s lifespan.
Having your dog spayed or neutered tops the list. Besides the obvious benefits of preventing unwanted pregnancies, both male and female dogs enjoy health benefits from the procedures.
The next most important factor, just like with humans, is good nutrition. Keep your dog at the correct weight and make sure he is getting quality food that contains all the nutrients he needs. Keep in mind that a dog’s dietary requirements change as they age.
Fleas are often viewed as a nuisance, but they are a serious health threat. Not only do fleas carry diseases, but they can also sap the strength of even the healthiest dog. These days there are medications that a vet can give your dog to nearly eradicate the flea problem.
You dog’s mental well being is also important. Dogs can actually will themselves to death just because of loneliness. Make sure at the very least you give them plenty of attention. Dogs actually need regular exposure to other dogs. Proper socialization will also prevent many behavior related issues that can translate into accidents and fights.
Never underestimate the importance of basic obedience training. Many dogs die unnecessarily each year because they get out of control and are hit by cars. Training your dog to obey you and to remain calm prevents accidents such as these.
Though grooming seems like a vanity issue, for dogs it is a matter of basic hygiene. Grooming allows you to both prevent and find problems that will affect your dog’s health. Regular bath, teeth brushing, ear cleaning, clean dog bed and toenail cleaning are the minimums.
Fat dogs die early just like fat people. Dogs need regular exercise to maintain their best weight as well as their muscle tone. All it takes is a little playtime a few days a week.
Love. Just like humans, love has been proven to increase their life. Of all of these things, this has to be the easiest. Practice it regularly and with passion.
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