American Kennel Club
Becoming a dog owner is a life-long commitment. Your dog is a part of your family, and as a responsible dog owner, you want to make sure you and your pooch live a long, healthy, happy life together. Animal behaviorist Mary Burch offers the following tips on how to keep your pup healthy and happy.
-Choose a veterinarian for routine care. First and foremost, you need to select a veterinarian with whom you feel comfortable. Your dog's veterinarian will work with you to establish the best care plan for your pup, including a vaccine schedule, medical treatment when needed, and preventive care. Preventive care will improve your dog's quality of life by protecting him from worms, ticks, and fleas.
-Provide good nutrition. What you feed your dog affects his health over the course of his life. The right kind of food will help your dog maintain a healthy weight and a good coat. Feed your pup a high quality food with the proper amounts of protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you are unsure of which food to select, your dog's breeder or veterinarian can recommend a brand. In addition to food, your dog should always have access to clean water. If your dog stays outdoors for part of the day, be sure there is clean water outside.
-Daily exercise. Exercise is extremely important for your dog's health. Daily exercise is good for your pup's heart, lungs, circulatory system, and muscles, in addition to helping him maintain a healthy weight. Obesity causes many health problems in dogs and being overweight can shorten your dog's life.
-Lookin' good - groom your dog. Aside from making your pup look great, grooming plays an important role in your dog's health too. Routine grooming tasks such as brushing, bathing, and caring for the paws, nails, eyes, and ears, will keep your dog free of external parasites and skin infections. While bathing only needs to be done as needed, ideally, brushing should be done every day. Brushing helps keep your pooch's coat in mint condition by cleaning the coat and stimulating the skin oils that create a gorgeous, healthy shine. Not only is brushing an integral part of raising a healthy pup, it is also a wonderful way for you and your dog to bond.