Looking after your dog’s health and proactively managing it is important. When you take care of your dog from head to claw, you can guarantee you will have as much time with them as possible. Regular exercise is important for your dog as it keeps them mentally and physically stimulated. Being proactive about your dog’s health and well-being is crucial, so what steps should you be taking right now?
Focus on Food and Diet
What food are you giving your dog and how often are you feeding them? To show your dog you love and care for them, it can be tempting to overfeed them. Overfeeding your pet is not good for a dog’s heart or joints. Weighing out and even measuring the food you give your dog will help them maintain a healthy weight. Also, think about the best diet for your dog. For example, are you going to look at a raw diet or are you looking at a mixed wet and dry diet?
Maintain Regular Checkups
Like humans, dogs need regular checkups to prevent problems from escalating and to spot anything that could be a problem moving forward. If you are not getting your dog regularly checked (at least annually), then you may be putting their health at risk, both now and in the future. When it comes to having regular checkups, you need to use a local practice such as Salt water animal hospital because this way, you can guarantee the care and quality for your dog for all occasions. Whether routine treatments or in emergency situations, you need to know that you have a vet that cares for your dog.
Limit Treats
Just like humans, dogs love a treat here and there. However, too many treats can be bad for them. Too many treats can add to unnecessary weight gain and they can cause excess areas of fat build-up. If you want to give your dog treats, look at the frequency you want to give them, and look at making your own. A lot of commercially produced treats contain ingredients and additives that are not good for your dog; cutting them out completely would be advisable. Making your own dog treats can save you money and it can give you greater control over your dog’s diet too.
Avoid Human Food
There are occasions when you have leftover food from a meal and it may be tempting to give this food to your dog (to avoid it going to waste). However, lots of foods that are suitable for human consumption are not always best for your dogs, such as certain nuts, chocolate and grapes. A lot of foods can be both poisonous and dangerous to your dog, and they can end up leaving with more than an upset stomach. It’s best not to encourage your dog to beg at the dinner table and never give them scraps or tidbits. This will also help them avoid accidents.
