happy and healthy today, and for years to come.
You love your dog to death and want to keep him (or her) healthy and happy for years to come. The good news is this isn’t difficult —it involves regular medical care, good eating habits and plenty of fresh air and exercise. Coincidentally, these are the very same things that keep you and I healthy. Of course, since your four-footed friend can’t do any of this for himself, he needs you to take the lead.
Here’s what you can do to keep your dog (young or old) happy and healthy:
1. Find the best veterinarian you can — someone you feel comfortable talking to and can afford to see. The practice location, financial policies and hours should be convenient, and the philosophy of the vet should agree with your own personal one.
2. Keep your dog’s vaccinations up to date by making (and keeping) appointments for regular checkups at least once per year; every six months for an older dog.
3. Feed your dog the best food you can afford — better quality food can help your dog stay healthy, have a shinier, more glossy coat, better smelling breath, more energy and surprisingly also results in smaller, less odorous stools.
4. Resist the temptation to overfeed — obesity in dogs, like in people, is on the rise and can bring on diseases like diabetes and other conditions that are difficult to manage and treat.
5. Consider adding dietary supplements to your dog’s diet —glucosamine or chondroitin for example are used to protect against arthritis.
6. Attend to your dog’s dental health as well — this will keep his teeth looking good and his breath bearable.
7. Be sure you always control fleas and ticks, as they can be the source of illness for both your dog and your family.
8. Keep your dog well groomed — regular brushing will help keep his coat healthy and shiny, and regular baths from an early age will help keep your dog clean and smelling great.
9. Never let your dog roam on his own, unattended — he can be hit by a car, injured by another dog or wild animal, or contract troublesome diseases when out and about unsupervised.
10. Exercise your dog — a good run, game of Frisbee or fetch help keep his heart, lungs and muscles in tiptop shape.
11. Spay or neuter — statistics show your dog will live a longer life with no chance of getting uterine cancer, testicular cancer or other life threatening conditions.
12. Be sensible about sheltering your dog — those pets that are kept outside all the time tend to bark more, dig or engage in other unwelcome behaviors.
Of course most important to your dog’s health — physical and mental— is the amount of love and attention your canine friend gets from you. Dogs are perceptive enough to sense when they are loved (and when they are not). Like people, dogs can get depressed if left on their own too long. Instead keep your four-footed friend close, spend some part of each day with him or her, do all you can to keep your dog healthy and you’ll be rewarded with a loving, happy and healthy companion for years to come.
