4 Tips to Improve Your Dog’s Health

There’s nothing purer than the love between a dog and its owner. Dogs have evolved next to humans for tens of thousands of years, and have become our most trusted companions. It’s no wonder why pet owners are constantly on the lookout for new tips and tricks they can use to extend the lives of their pets.

Whether it’s making some simple dietary changes, giving your dog more exercise, or making drastic lifestyle changes, there are numerous ways that you can start improving your puppy health – today, right now. That’s why we’ve created this blog; to provide you with the knowledge that will help you extend your dog’s life (and give them a more happy, healthy life while you’re at it).

In the next few sections, we cover over five different ways to enhance your pet’s health. Dietary changes, exercise tips, etc. are all featured below. Whether your dog is just a puppy, or is an aging senior, using the tips below will put them on the right track to living healthier, longer lives.

Focusing on Your Dog’s Diet

Your pet’s diet should be one of your top priorities. There’s no other factor that can have as strong an impact on its health than what it’s fed each day and night. For most of them, this is relatively simple; high-quality protein, carbs, healthy fats, and vitamins/minerals. Those are the main nutrients that any dog requires in order to live a healthy life.

However, the keyword in that sentence is “high-quality.” Dog foods are notorious for cutting corners whenever possible (to turn a profit). That means using the cheapest quality ingredients they can find. This isn’t true of all dog food brands, however, it’s something that needs to be looked for.

Always inspect the ingredients list of food that you’re interested in purchasing. If you see any additives, fillers, or soy-based ingredients, you should consider going with a different brand/product. According to PetCareRx.com, dogs are just like humans, in order to be truly healthy (and to feel/look their best), they need a high-quality diet that features naturally-sourced ingredients.

Put an Emphasis on Getting Enough Exercise

There’s simply no way around it, dogs need exercise. They were meant to move, to run, to play. They weren’t meant to sit around on the couch all day (just like we weren’t either). However, not all breeds have the same physical activity requirements.

For example, smaller breeds might not need the same level of exercise as something like a german shepherd . Likewise, puppies also have different exercise requirements than fully-grown dogs, and seniors have another set of requirements.

Generally speaking, puppies require a different type of exercise than older ones. Because they have such short attention spans (and their energy often comes in short little bursts), the best type of way to exercise a puppy is through short, intense periods of physical activity (until they get tired).

Adult dogs, on the other hand, can usually play/exercise for much longer than puppies. The specific level of exercise that your dog will need depends entirely on its breed, age, medical history, and current exercise level. If your “best friend” suffers from some type of physical illness (or has symptoms that can cause pain), you might need to consider alternative exercise options (so the injury doesn’t become worse).

Take Your Dog to the Vet Regularly

You’d be surprised at how many pet owners don’t take their beloved little furballs to the vet. How many times do you take your dog? Once per year? Less? The fact is, is that you need to be scheduling vet appointments at least once every few months.

The reason for this is that it allows you to stay fully informed about the status of your dog’s health. And, it also allows the vet to catch any potential health problems before they can develop into something more serious.

Heartworm is an example of this. If it’s caught early, it can be effectively treated. However, if it goes unnoticed for too long, the prognosis is very bad (and treatment only involves making your dog as comfortable as possible). There are countless other examples of potential illnesses that can turn from benign to bad in the blink of an eye, which is why regular vet checkups are so important for your dog’s overall health.

Keep Your Dog Protected From Parasites

We all know that fleas and ticks are bad news for the health of both pets and their owners. However, did you know that these tiny bloodsuckers can actually spread deadly diseases? Many of these diseases such as the Lyme disease can even be passed on to humans. Similarly, intestinal parasites, as well as heartworms, can pose a serious threat to your dog’s health. The only way to keep your pet and your family actually safe is by employing preventive measures.

Spot-on treatments, as well as oral pills, work remarkably well in terms of preventing these parasites and thus preventing the diseases they usually usher in. Be especially careful, if your dog mingles a lot with other ones and animals. Parasites like fleas and ticks can easily get transferred from other dogs. If your home has a backyard with lots of bushy shrubs and grass area, then it’s also a good idea to apply diatomaceous earth to kill off the resident flea population before it can invade your home. When used in combination with spot-on preventives, it creates an impregnable barrier that protects your family from fleas and ticks.

A lot of pet parents think that regular deworming pills protect dogs against heartworms. Remember, if the pet deworming pill doesn’t specifically mention heartworms, then there is a good chance it doesn’t do anything to stop it. Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes. Therefore, administer heartworm prevention med along with taking steps to kill mosquitos in and around your home.