The Health of Your Dog
We know you love your dog, and caring for your pup's health is a major responsibility, although this doesn't have to be hard. All you need to do is concentrate on providing them with lots of love and following the 6 steps listed below that can help prevent your pooch from developing any serious health problems.
1 - Meet Your Dog's Nutritional Requirements
The well-being of your dog depends greatly on the quality of the food they consume. To help maintain your pup's health, ask your vet which foods are right for your pooch based on their lifestyle, age, and breed. Your vet can provide you with tips for finding the food that best suits your dog's nutritional requirements. Whether you want to feed your dog food that helps them achieve optimal health or that can help treat existing conditions through diet, your vet is here to help.
2 - Help Your Dog Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity has been linked to a number of serious conditions in dogs including diabetes and joint pain, so keeping your dog at a healthy weight is essential for optimal health. Once you have chosen a nutritious brand of food for your pooch, your vet will be able to calculate the optimal number of calories your dog should consume each day. Once you know how many calories are appropriate for your dog, you will be able to easily work out exactly how much you should be feeding your dog each meal.
3 - Provide Your Pooch With Lots of Daily Excercise
Each breed of dog has their own exercise requirements. While a quick walk around the block can help some dogs stay healthy, high-energy breeds might require an hour or more of vigorous exercise once or twice a day. Making sure your dog gets enough physical activity a day doesn't just help keep their body in good condition, it could also help to prevent mental boredom that can cause anxiety or destructive behaviors. Remember to ask your vet or breeder how much exercise your dog requires. Backyard activities, walks, and social time at dog parks are all excellent ways to ensure your pup gets the exercise they need every day.
4 - Bring Your Dog for Regular Routine Wellness Exams
Diagnosing and treating conditions in the very earliest stages helps to ensure the very best treatment outcomes. Annual veterinary exams, when your dog seems healthy, are all about prevention, monitoring your pet's overall health, and checking for early signs of developing issues. Your vet will discuss your dog's diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors with you, ask if you have any concerns about your pet's health or behavior, then perform a comprehensive physical examination. Once the exam is complete your veterinarian will discuss any findings with you. If anything concerning has been detected your vet will make recommendations regarding diet, diagnostic testing, or treatment.
5 - Keep Their Vaccinations Up-To-Date
Our vets at Stoney Creek Veterinary Hospital believe that vaccinations are key to helping your dog have a healthy, long, and happy life. Up-to-date vaccinations help keep your pooch safe from a variety of very contagious, possibly life-threatening diseases. Lots of states require all pets by law to be vaccinated against rabies, but there are a handful of other serious conditions that vaccines can help protect your dog from including distemper, panleukopenia, and parvo.
6 - Give Your Pup Parasite Prevention Treatments
Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes can all carry organisms that lead to a range of diseases that seriously threaten the health and longevity of your dog. A bite from one of these parasites could cause your dog to become gravely ill if not protected. Speak to your vet about the most effective ways to protect your pooch against a full range of tick-borne diseases, heartworms, and other parasitic conditions common in your area.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.