Adopting a pet helps humans find unparalleled companionship and works like a tremendous stress buster. When you come home after a long and tiring day, their innocent look and tail wagging are enough to make you smile. While they help in making our lives happy and fulfilling, we should also look for the appropriate ways to keep a dog happy and healthy for a long time.
Table of Contents
Introduction
When you take good care of your pet, you are ultimately taking good care of yourself. If you own a dog or even a cat and are looking for tips to keep your dog healthy and happy, this article is just for you. Keep reading for effective tips about how to keep a dog healthy and prolong their life.
Manage Their Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are not only one of the major causes of health issues in humans but they are also one of the leading causes of health problems in pets. Stress is the cause of 80% of chronic illnesses in humans and has similar effects on pet dogs and cats too. It is exhausting and deteriorates their immune strength.
When too much anxiety or stress happens in a pet, auto-immune diseases are born, the gastrointestinal system becomes upset, and they are no longer able to absorb a proper amount of nutrients from their meals. Take effective steps to keep the stress at bay. Avoid yelling, doing parties, or playing loud music in their vicinity. Spend time with them and make them smile; they will make you smile.
Feeding a Proper Diet for Nutrition
A balanced diet and adequate nutrition are essential for every living being, be it a human, dog, or cat. Imbalanced diets can cause obesity and may lead to many other health issues. Extra body weight puts extra stress on their bones and organs. It puts them on the verge of diabetes, thyroid disease, pancreatitis, and other disorders.
If you want to prolong the life of your pet, practice portion control. Buy food items from reliable brands for feeding your dog. Vet the ingredients and ensure they are not harmful for their lives due to allergies, tooth decay, and other ailments due to poor quality food. Don’t overfeed and always choose high quality, grain-free food for the better health of your pets.
Exercise and Going Outdoor
Exercise, sunshine, and fresh air are crucial for a healthy heart and sane mind. These are beneficial for your health too. Along with a proper diet, ensure that your pet is getting sufficient exposure to nature. Let them smell the flower, hear the birds tweeting, and explore grass and soil through their paws. It is necessary to nurture your dog’s mind, body, and soul.
Go for frequent walks, encourage them to exercise and be physically active as much as they can. Walks are a very mentally stimulating activity for pets, especially dogs. Being physically fit keeps their hearts pumping longer and aids in a long life. Keep your dog’s age and endurance level in consideration while going outdoors for physical activity. Also, bring water to avoid dehydration in cases of exhaustion.
Note: There might be affiliate links mentioned here. We may receive a commission if you purchase a product through an affiliate link. There is no additional charge for you. Please do your own research before making any online purchases.
Practice Extensive Oral Care
Dental disease often occurs gradually but may affect the health of your dogs significantly. You may not even have a hint about it and it may be deteriorating your dog’s health and life right now. Periodontal disease and cavities may lead to digestive and other health issues. Next time, while cleaning and bathing your dog, don’t forget to take a look inside their mouth.
Such dental issues can cause organ failure and heart disease. Just as you brush your teeth and follow strict mouth-based hygiene, ensure doing the same for your pets on a regular basis. You can use a children’s toothbrush, wet rag, or sock over your finger. Prefer to feed dry food over canned food. Also, schedule an annual appointment with a vet for a dental checkup.
Grooming and Hygiene for Health
Grooming is extremely important for the health and longevity of your pet. Keep their nails trimmed, brush their teeth regularly, and clean their ears to reduce the risk of infection. Keep their coat free of mats and parasites to save their skin from infections. Check and treat any potentially harmful lump or bump before it significantly affects their health.
When it comes to the intensity and frequency of grooming, different breeds require different levels of grooming. Use top-quality grooming products for your pets to keep any risks of irritation and allergies at bay. Along with offering grooming care at home, schedule professional grooming every month or every other month. Visit a local pet salon to keep your pet’s skin and coat well-managed.
Conclusion
Learn how to keep a dog happy and healthy and implement them in your daily life to ensure the best health and longevity of your pet dog. Try to resolve the causes of stress and anxiety to keep them happy. Their happiness and calmness will transcend back to you.
Always give proper and nutritional food but don’t overfeed. Spend enough time outdoors with them and encourage them to go for walks and physical activity. Keep an eye on their dental health and practice extensive grooming care to save them from infections and irritations.
There is a lot to do when it comes to the health and longevity of your furry companions. Along with implementing the above-mentioned tips to keep your dog healthy and happy, keep seeking the best ways to prolong their long life. Make their life happy to make your life happier.
