Ways to Protect the Long-Term Health of Your Dog

Every dog owner wants his or her dog to be around for many, many years to come. But that’s something that you can’t assume will happen or take for granted because it all comes down to the health of your dog. It’s in your best interests to ensure you’re ready to keep your dog healthy for a long time yet.

There are lots of ways to protect the long-term health of your dog, and we’re going to discuss some of those ideas. Offering them that vital protection could turn out to be the most important thing you ever do for your dog, and it won’t have to negatively impact them in the slightest. So keep reading if you want to find out more about the things you can to do keep you healthy and protected.

Find the Most Nutritious Food

First of all, you need to make sure that your dog has the food that is most nutritious for them. This will depend on many things, including the size, breed and age of your dog at this point in time. By filling them with nutritious food, you will help to stave off problems that might otherwise occur. There are lots of options on the market, so do your research and select the best.

Don’t Overlook Grooming

Many people mistakenly think that grooming is just about keeping dogs neat, tidy and generally presentable. But there’s actually a lot more do it than that. Your dog’s eyes can be kept safe if the hair around this is trimmed back, for example. That’s just one way in which the grooming process can help your dog to stay happy and healthy going forward. So don’t overlook the importance of this.

Vaccinate Your Dog

Vaccinations are always really important for dogs, so this is something that you definitely need to talk to your vet about if you haven’t done so already. When they’re healthy and fully vaccinated, your dogs become their old selves again. They won’t have to deal with any of the serious health problems that can really drag them down and cause them health problems in the future. Your vet will be able to organize these vaccinations at a time that suits you.

Find Out About Their Genes

This might sound like a bit of a strange one, but your dog’s genes can be ideal for finding out more about your dog and the health problems it’s more likely to experience in the years ahead. You should find the best dog dna test and see what the results tell you. There are tests that you can do at home and send off. You can then share your findings with the vet you use.

See Your Vet Once a Year for a Checkup

Checkups are more important than many pet owners realize. They should never be viewed as added extras that you don’t really want to be taken seriously. After all, these checkups could help to find any problems that are present but not obvious. So go out of your way to take your dog for a checkup with the vet at least once per year. There’s no excuse for not doing this.

Stay on Top of Their Weight

Over time, it’s not uncommon for dogs to get overweight as they don’t exercise so much but still spend time eating foods that they probably shouldn’t be. It’s up to you to stay on top of their weight and make changes to the diet if you think it’s causing your dog to pile on that excess weight. Keep weighing them and take them on more walks so they burn weight quicker.

Don’t Ignore Dental Care

Dental care is important for dogs too. You can find things to chew that will basically do what you need them to in terms of caring for their dental health. It’s the easiest way to stay on top of this important matter. Too many dog owners completely ignore the matter of dental care but you can’t afford to do that. It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, so you really have no excuses at all.

Pick the best treats for your dog’s oral health. Dental dog treats are about fresh breath, clean teeth, and healthy gums. What’s more, they make your dog happy. You have lots of options to choose from when it comes to improving your dog’s dental health.

All dog owners wants to look after the long-term health of their dog. It’s what being a loving dog owner is all about. So be sure to make the most of all the ideas mentioned here if you want to keep your dog as healthy as he or she can be for as long as possible. Each tip will serve you well.

Image Credits: yinhuifei, Manfred Richter