Dog Care - Keeping Your Dog Healthy

Your dog is a part of your family. You love him and want to see that he’s well cared for and healthy. You’re concerned for your dog’s health in the same way that you’re concerned for your child’s health. Your dog’s health is important but it needn’t be a difficult task.

A healthy dog also keeps down the cost of veterinarian bills! It’s an easy thing to overlook but it really is essential that you choose the right dog food for your dog.

If you have experience looking after the health of children then you will be able to keep your dog fit and healthy easily.  It encompasses all of the things you would expect; paying attention to warning signs, knowing what to do when your dog is sick, preventative care, and finding a veterinarian that both you and your dog can trust. By following all of these steps you will help ensure that your dog leads a long, healthy and happy life.

How to keep your dog healthy

The main key to keeping your dog healthy is, unsurprisingly, having a healthy lifestyle right from the start. It may sound obvious but it can be a challenge! First and foremost is

Making sure you feed your dog nutritious dog food. Do not feed your dog scraps, especially junk food! Try and find dog food that has been endorsed by veterinarian groups. Click Review Dog Food for more details, articles and advice on dog food. While good dog food may be more expensive than generic or even some brand name dog foods, in the long run it will help with your dog’s health.  

Apart from feeding your dog good dog food he will also need a lot of exercise. Hey what dog doesn’t like to go out and run!! Of course the amount of exercise your dog will need depends on his breed and size and his energy levels. You dog will not stay fit and healthy being stuck inside the house or apartment all day. Even if you fit a dog door,(click Review Dog Doors for more details), your dog will need walks, time outside to run about, and play fetch. Try and incorporate your dog’s health and exercise patterns into your own. This will benefit your dog’s health, and your own health. 

Finally, find a good veterinarian for your dog and have your dog’s health checked regularly. Your veterinarian will be able to give you suggestions and ideas on keeping your dog healthy as well as spotting any health problems your dog may have. 

Some considerations when choosing a veterinarian

Now it’s time to pick a veterinarian. On opening the Yellow Pages you find… pages and pages of veterinarians to pick from. It’s almost overwhelming, so where do you start? First off you will want to find a veterinarian that has a ‘small animal’ practice. These practices usually include cats, dogs and other common pets and these veterinarians will know the most about dog health. Most of these veterinarians can be likened to a doctor who is a general practitioner. These veterinarians can identify and deal with a wide range of issues related to your dog’s health. They are ideal as your main veterinarian and will become the primary care giver for your dog’s health. They will also refer your dog to specialists if required. 

When you have a short list of possible veterinarians talk to your friends and colleagues who also have pets and ask for their recommendations. Most importantly, talk to any prospective veterinarians. You will want to discuss prices and availability for emergency care. When you chose any veterinarian to help you look after your dog’s health make sure that you are happy with them and trust them to look after your dog. 

Calling your veterinarian 

After a lot of consideration, you’ve chosen a veterinarian to keep track of your dog’s health, and you have got your dog on a regime of regular exercise and good healthy food. But no matter how careful you are about your dog’s health, it’s inevitable that your dog will get sick. This can happen from contact with other dogs, or accidents while you are out on your walks. During your dog’s life something will happen that requires the attention of a veterinarian. Being a dog though he can’t tell you when he’s feeling sick or unwell, so it’s not always obvious. 

Keep an eye out for tell tale signs that your dog is sick. Is your dog more lethargic than normal? Does your dog seem tired or depressed? Does he have a dry nose? Does he limp or favour one side when you are out for a walk? Does your dog’s faeces look off color or runny? These are some warning signs that your dog may sick although the final decision to take him to the vet is yours. Keep a close relationship with your dog so that you can tell if he’s not up to snuff and needs to visit the vet. Follow this advice and your dog will live a long, happy and healthy life. Now all we need to do is apply this advice to ourselves too :-)