Keeping Your Dog Healthy This Year

If you have just becoming a dog parent, congratulations. Having a dog in the family can be amazing and it feels like you have filled up that little space in your life with a bundle of joy and fur. Dogs are amazing animals and they can make us into better people, but what can we do to make it up to them? If you are looking for a way to make your dog happier and healthier this year, here are some tips to follow.

Keep them active

Dogs need a certain amount of exercise each day to burn off their food and keep their muscles strong, just like we do. If you are wondering how much exercise your dog needs, you can check it out here https://www.dogingtonpost.com/how-often-should-one-walk-their-dog/ and then make sure that you stick to this time each day. Every dog is different and they will need different times depending on their size and breed, however, you need to give them a good run and a play each and every day to keep them healthy and lean.

Healthy snacks

Dogs need lots of healthy snacks to make sure that they don’t become overweight while you are gaining them. Instead of going with the regular dog biscuits, try cooking or preparing some healthier snacks which are low in fat instead. Healthy snacks for your dog for training can include Apple, carrot, tomato and pumpkin. If you can keep your dog healthy naturally this means less chance of them needing the vet.

Check for pests

When out and about your dog is always at risk of picking up fleas from other animals as well as ticks. Pests like this are irritating and horrible for your dog, and therefore you need to regularly check up on their bodies to make sure that they are healthy and happy. After a long walk in the countryside, check all over the skin for ticks. If you find one, you need to remove it very carefully because you don’t want the legs and head to stay inside your dog. Take a pair of tweezers and gently pull and twist the tick to take it off your dog. With fleas, make sure to give your dog a bath and brush, and give them a flea treatment right away.

Regular health checks

Just like you should go to the doctors once or twice a year for a checkup,you should take your dog to the vets twice a year for a checkup. This makes sure that you are able to spot any issues with their weight, their teeth and anything else which could be wrong with them. Regular checkups are incredibly important because a vet will be able to spot things that you wouldn’t necessarily notice yourself. It makes sure that your dog doesn’t have any underlying health issues that you aren’t aware of.

Don’t overfeed them

It is so tempting to give into those gorgeous puppy eyes when they are starting right back at you, but you need to resist the urge to feed your dog lots of snacks and treats, especially when it is human food such as bread and other processed goods. Dogs need natural foods, so meat and vegetables are great for them, whereas pizza and pasta aren’t so good. Be careful how much you let them eat and ensure that they are able to stay healthy and lean.

Give them love

Dogs need love and affection just as much as we do, so make sure that you always show your dog all of the love that they deserve. Give them cuddles when you get in from work, play with them when they bring you a toy, and let them know that they are a good boy or girl when they do something good. We are everything to them, so we need to make sure that all they ever experience is love and affection.

Teach them skills

Teaching your dog tricks isn’t just for your own ease when taking them on a walk or to impress your family; it can actually help keep them safe. The whole idea of teaching your dog recall skills is that when you are out on a walk you can call them back and they will come to you. This can be incredibly important when you are outside because you might come near to a road or another dog who might be aggressive. Being able to recall your dog can save their lives, so get training!

Keep them cool

In the summertime, you will already know that our furry friends are a little bit more vulnerable than us, and we need to keep them cool during the hot days because they might struggle to breathe. Think about making sure that you only take your dog for a walk in the early morning or evening on a hot day because Peak time is dangerous. Check the heat of the tarmac with your hand before you let your dog outside, and if it is too hot for your hand then you can’t let your dog stand on it. Never ever leave your dog in a car!

Grooming

Grooming your dog can ensure that their fur stays knot free and mat-free, and you can also make sure that they have no skin issues, rashes or that their nails don’t become ingrown. Make sure you groom your dog by brushing once a week if you can just to detangle it. And you can give them a bath twice a year (or more if they jump into a muddy puddle).

This is a collaborative post. 

Pin It