There are several reasons to keep your dog healthy; because you want him to be happy, because you want to be a responsible dog owner, and because vet bills can get really expensive. Obviously, it’s important to take your canine friend in for a checkup at least once a year, but if you make the effort to keep your dog happy and healthy you can go longer between visits. Most dogs don’t enjoy visiting the vet, so it’s a win for both of you.
Regular walks
If your dog doesn’t use up their energy by going on walks or runs, they might start to take it out on the furniture, carpets, or the rest of the house. In general, dogs need around one or two hours of exercise per day, but this can vary depending on the size and breed of your dog. While you can make do with buying them toys and playing with them, or letting them roam in the backyard, they’ll be happier if you take them to a park or to the woods for a few hours. As an added bonus, your own fitness and health will improve each time you take your dog out for a long walk. Exercise is also good for your fur baby’s weight; all dogs should have an hourglass figure. Any excess weight can be easily shed with exercise and a nutritious diet.
Diet
Diet directly affects your fur baby’s skin and coat, weight, energy, and gastrointestinal function. If you see any problems with any of the aforementioned, you might be able to put off a visit to the vet by changing your dog’s diet. Make sure you do this slowly, because a sudden change in diet can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Some foods you should make sure to include in your pooch’s diet include mackerel, eggs, chicken, turkey, broccoli, and sweet potato. You should also use food to hide pills if your dog is on medication; some dog pill pockets are perfect for sneaking in that medication. Raw food diets are incredibly nutritious and suited for most, if not all dogs, but if you do decide to go for commercial pet food, stick to those that are transparent about their ingredients and try to avoid preservatives when you can.
Clean
Persistent itchiness is only one small reason why pet owners should be vigilant against fleas and ticks. Fleas can infect your beloved pup with tapeworms, lyme disease, or even Bartonella (usually known as Cat Scratch Fever), which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. Some of these diseases can even be passed on to you and anyone else living with you. The best thing to do is try to avoid these altogether by getting the best flea treatment for dogs you can find. Once a vet has declared them tick-free, you should give them a flea bath with a good soap. Your dog will also appreciate it if you brushed out his fur after you give him a bath.
