Your family includes your cherished four-legged friend. You bring them along on trips, feature them in family portraits for the holidays, and look forward to cuddling with them before night.
Everybody wants their pets to live as long as they can, and fortunately there are ways to improve their health so they may live a long, healthy life. The wellness routines we should all emphasize for our dogs are discussed by veterinarians.
DAILY EXERCISE IS A MUST
Exercise is essential to your dog’s general health, just like it is for humans, according to Dr. Adam Chung, lead veterinarian at Parker & Ace.
Also, as your dog matures, it’s possible that arthritis will develop in their joints, making any extra weight a bigger problem. Dr. Chung adds that less body fat aids in ris reduction.
SET UP A ROUTINE FOR GROOMING
Even though not all dogs need frequent salon visits, it’s crucial to have these sessions on a regular basis if your dog has a longer coat, advises veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Frione Monaghan, DVM.
Got a dog with short hair? In addition to a complete bath and nail trimming, grooming may also be used to relieve your stress and maintain your pet’s glossy coat.
NEUTER AND SPAY YOUR DOG
Dr. Grant Little, DVM, a vet at Arlington Pet Hospital, cautions that having a dog whose sexual status hasn’t been changed raises a number of serious health issues.
A potentially fatal infection known as pyometra can be more common in female dogs. When it does, it is a surgical emergency and gets more frequent with age. Moreover, prostate cancer and testicular tumors can affect male canines.
KEEP A HEALTHY DIET
To maintain your health over the course of your life, your primary care physician will advise you to consume a balanced and healthy diet. The same is true for your dog as well. Dr. Jonalyn Gagliardi, DVM, a doctor at Boston Veterinary Clinic, advises feeding your dog premium commercial dog food that is suitable for their age, size, and activity level.
Ask your veterinarian what they suggest for your dog.
RESIST GIVING TABLE FOOD
It’s hard to ignore those puppy dog eyes staring up at you from beneath the dinner table, but it’s better if your dog stays with his own kibble rather than sneaking pieces off yours.
Why is that? Dr. Audrey Weaver, DVM, cautions that because human food frequently includes more fat than the majority of commercial dog meals, a puppy’s chance of developing pancreatitis is increased.
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PLAN ROUTINE CHECKUPS
Once your puppy has had all of the necessary shots, you won’t need to go to the vet as frequently.
Mature canines should visit the vet once a year, and senior canines should do so every six to twelve months, with more frequent visits possible if they have chronic illnesses.
Also, you must enroll in pet insurance. Having support from a dependable source helps ease the financial load when you’re already under stress emotionally, even though frequent preventive treatment is crucial. Emergencies do happen.
PRACTICE HEARTWORM, FLEA, AND TICK PREVENTION
Keep in mind that these drugs are appropriate year-round, not only during the summer. Contrary to popular assumption, fleas and ticks do not spread disease, explains Dr. Weaver.
INTERACT WITH YOUR DOG’S MINDS
Although pups play more than older dogs do, socializing and mental stimulation are still important throughout a dog’s life since they help with neurologic development, according to Dr. Chung.
As individuals get older, maintaining mental activity is crucial to their general health. Lack of environmental enrichment can cause stress, anxiety, and undesirable behaviors such incontinence in urination and defecation, aggression
DO NOT FORGET TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH
Dental illness is one of the most prevalent medical disorders veterinarians face in their canine patients, and by the age of three, more than 80% of dogs already have dental disease, according to Dr. Michelle Lugones, a veterinarian with the Best Friends Animal Society.
Brushing your dog’s teeth every day is an easy way to promote oral health and put off the need for a dental procedure.
KEEP HOUSEHOLD DANGERS AND TOXINS OUT OF REACH
Last but not least, make sure your home is secure for your dog at all times. Research common hazardous plants, household toxins, and garden pesticides, advises veterinarian Dr. Lisa Chimes, and make sure your home is either devoid of them or inaccessible to your dog.
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Source:HerMoney
