Monday, March 12, 2018

How to Keep Your Dog Safe & Healthy


If you’re like most pet owners, you want the best for your dog. That includes keeping him or her safe and healthy all year round. Not only do you need to provide adequate nutrition and exercise for your dog, but you also want to schedule regular checkups. Below you’ll find some tips on the most important aspects of keeping your pet healthy.

Spay or Neuter

If you adopted your dog from a shelter, you already know that there is an overpopulation of dogs in your area. It may seem unnatural, but spaying and neutering is the only option for preventing additional puppies that need homes. When you get your dog fixed, you also prevent them from roaming the neighborhood unnecessarily. Dogs in heat will go to great lengths to find mates, and this instinct could jeopardize your pet’s safety, especially if you live on a busy street.

Tag and Microchip

Your dog should have a collar and a tag that identifies you as the owner. You don’t have to put your address on the dog’s collar, but it’s a good idea to list your phone number on there. If your dog gets lost, it will be easy to return him or her to your home. If your dog has a tendency to escape or roam or refuses to wear the collar – you may want to consider getting them micro chipped. Micro-chipping is a minor procedure that includes inserting an identifier on your pet. Animal services can scan this microchip to find you if someone turns the dog into them.

Immunize

Regular appointments with your vet are important for your pet’s health. Most dogs should have an annual checkup to ensure they’re healthy, prevent problems, and diagnose diseases early (if that’s the case). An annual checkup can give you and your veterinarian a lot of information about your dog, such as their weight. This will help you track their health over the years.

At the vet’s office, you may also choose to vaccinate your pet. In most areas, annual rabies shots are required. There are additional options for immunizing your pet, and you may want to discuss these with your vet. An older pet or a dog with existing health issues may not be the best candidate for immunizations. Similarly, animals who are primarily indoors may not be at risk for certain diseases. Last but not least, you may have personal reservations about vaccines. In the end, it’s up to you to decide which immunizations make the most sense for your pet, and your veterinarian can help you make the decision that’s right for you and your dog.

Nutrition

For humans and pets, proper nutrition is the key to a long, healthy life. That’s why it’s important for you to do your research and select the right food for your dog. Your vet is an important partner here as well and can help you make this decision for your pet. In most cases, dogs do best with a diet that’s low in carbohydrates, because that’s their natural food. You can even prepare your own food for your dog if you prefer to minimize preservatives and know the ingredients. Of course, you don’t have to go this far to provide good nutrition for your dog.

In addition to picking the right brand and type of dog food, you need to feed your dog the appropriate amount of food. Generally, a puppy won’t eat as much as an adult. However, both younger and older dogs tend to eat as much food as you let them have. A combination of this tendency to scarf down any food they can get and limited exercise can make it so easy for a dog to gain too much weight. Unfortunately, an overweight dog will be prone to health problems, which is why it’s best to regulate their food intake from the beginning or consider a diet if it becomes an issue.

Exercise, Training & Love

Every dog needs exercise. Some dogs need to run fast or for long distances every day, others just need a walk around the block. It depends on the size, age, and temperament of your dog. Dogs are also very smart, which is why it’s a good idea to put some time into obedience training. Dogs can learn new tricks at any age. Last but not least, your dogs needs to spend time with you. Whether you play with them, take them for a walk, or cuddle up next to your dog on the couch – pets want to spend lots of time with their humans.

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