For our pets, just as for us, good health is one of the most essential keys to happiness. Through thoughtful and careful actions by owners, dogs can thrive while leading a healthier, happier and longer life.
A non-exhaustive list of all the things you need to take note of, for maintaining your dog’s good health is mentioned below.
1 Diet
What should you feed your dog?
Being adapted to an omnivorous diet, dogs can meet their nutritional needs by eating an appropriate amount of a well- balanced diet which is a combination of plant and animal foods
How much should you feed your dog?
The calorie intake is dependent on how much your dog’s ideal lean weight should be. Your veterinarian can help determine the ideal calorie intake based on weight, age and lifestyle.
2 Exercise
Exercise plays a key role in mental stimulation, improving health and maintaining important social contact with others. The type of exercise you choose for your pet depends on the level of mobility, their age and weight. Exercises such as hide and seek, walking, jogging, ball/toy throwing can be easily incorporated in daily life.
3 Immunization
Vaccines help prevent many illnesses that affect pets. Not only are there different vaccines for different diseases, there are different types and combinations of vaccines.
Core vaccines are those which your dog should have as a puppy. This includes rabies, distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus while non-core vaccines are required based on environment and lifestyle.
4. Clean water
Most animal experts agree that humans and animals should be given the same quality of water; bottled or filtered. Pets can be severely harmed by the contaminants of unfiltered water. Tap water also has high contents of minerals which can cause havoc in the digestive tracts of your dogs.
5. Routine
Dogs are creatures of habit. In order to have a positive outlook in their life and to be able to deal with any changes that come their way, they must have an established routine so that they know what to expect. Dogs that do not enjoy a sufficient routine or feel insecure about the consistency in their lives are more likely to feel stressed, anxious or depressed.
6. Attention
If your dog is regularly left alone for more than four hours a day, aim to spend an extra hour with him to help compensate. You could also ask a friend or relative to visit your home to give your dog some company.
7. Place to sleep
An adult home dog sleeps for nearly 12 hours in a day. So, where he sleeps becomes important to his emotional and physical health. Since dogs thrive on a certain routine, assigning a designated place for your dogs’ sleep is important. The spot chosen could be on your bed, in a basket, or on the floor, as long as the place is clean and keeps him warm.
8. Place to hide
Hiding is a common response for canines. Usually, dogs hide because they need a place to make them feel safe, secure and comfortable. They feel secure if there is a designated place that the dog knows he/she can hide.
Key things your dog needs to remain healthy and happy?