We all love our fur babies but how do we keep them happy and healthy? Make sure to follow these everyday tips so your dog will have a long, healthy and happy life.
1. Provide a balanced diet
Always keep in mind the importance of a balanced nutrition for your dog. Each dog has its own dietary needs. Always make sure to cater your dog's specific situation and provide a good balance of protein to keep them healthy and strengthen their immunity.
Also, go to your veterinarian and discuss with them if your dog is getting the right nutrition. Take into consideration some good supplements that would be beneficial for your dog's well-being.
2. Groom regularly
Whether your dog is the short-haired or the long-haired type, it is important to groom them regularly. Ideally, you should groom your dog every 3-6 weeks. Trimming your dog's hair will allow them to see well and prevent eye irritation, which mostly happens if the fur grows too long. Grooming also helps in preventing ear infections, which is very common in floppy-eared dogs.
3. Supply fresh, clean water
Water is the cheapest and most important nutrient that you can give to your pet. It is the basis of life for humans, and so is for dogs. Make sure to give them an access to a high-quality source of water. Change their water regularly (ideally twice daily) and always carry fresh water for them whenever you take them outside.
4. Add superfoods in their diet
Try to include superfoods in their diet. These specific foods are great in keeping them fit and healthy. These can also be the reason to keep the dogs immune system in a good situation.Among the best super foods are broccoli, egg yolks that can help your dog to get a Vitamin D, also goat or sheep yogurt, mackerel, kale, spinach, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.It is also good as the antioxidants, and these natural ingredients can add as nutrients inside your pets body, and can also lessen the dogs exposure to different kinds of flu.
5. Avoid feeding dangerous foods
There are foods that are extremely dangerous for pet consumption. Some of the foods that you should avoid feeding your dog are chocolates, macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins, garlic and onion, alcohol, caffeine, avocado and Xylitol (an artificial sweetener often found in store bought goodies).
As dog owners, you should also know foods that can cause your pet to have an itchy skin, so avoid feeding them chicken, wheat beef, oats and even corns.
6. Exercise your dog regularly
Daily exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle for dogs and humans. It helps prevent obesity and other health problems. The best and easiest way of exercise is walking and running with your dog. You could also swim or join Frisbee classes with them.
If your dog is out of shape or just starting to exercise, then you need to develop an exercise regime. Start slow and gradually build it up as your dog gets used to the exercise. You could start with a 5 to 10-minute jog around the park and eventually, increase to 20 to 30 minutes as your dog gets used to it. Alternatively, you could also take your dog for a swim.
Not only does exercise promote a healthy lifestyle for your dog, it also gives you and your dog a good bonding experience and it can also improve the situation of their immune system.
7. Lose the fat
If your think that your dog is on the chubby side, then better take a trip to your vet to make sure that there is no medical reason behind it. It's not particularly good to keep your dog overweight as your dog may develop some health problems in the long run and it causes to weakened immune system.
Plan a more balanced and healthy diet for your dog and start engaging him into a good exercise regime because if your dog is healthy you can see it in their immune response, they're not prone to any kind of disease. As a pet owner, you might also want to consider the portions of the food that you feed him.
8. Oral health
Good dental hygiene helps avoid problems such as tartar, gum disease, infection, tooth loss and bad breath. Make brushing their teeth a regular habit.
Invest in a good doggy toothpaste and toothbrush. It is best to brush their teeth everyday to keep them in the best condition.
9. Take your dog to the vet at least once a year
Annual check-ups can help in identifying new health problems or if you see any kind of symptom you should visit the doctor before they become serious. Aside from that, you can also get an update on your dog's overall health condition and it will also ensure you that your dog's vaccinations are up-to-date. It is extremely important that they get all the proper vaccinations to keep them from acquiring a number of serious illnesses.
10. Play and have fun with your dog
Dogs were never meant to spend their lives alone. Like humans, they need companionship. They need to feel welcome and useful and they need to play.
As a furry friend you should also spend some time with your dog daily because it can also be an immune support basically to your dog's immune system. Play, bond and talk to your dog. Your dog will feel so much loved. You could also take your dog to places and include him in your activities or you could teach your dog some tricks.
Your dog will feel happy and secure if you meet his emotional need for companionship and play. You will get lesser discipline problems and training your dog will become easier.