Our dogs are our most faithful companions and best friends, and you can repay their love and loyalty by making sure they’re as happy and healthy as possible. Although you will be taking them to visit the vet at least once a year, here’s how you can keep them healthy between visits.
Water
People and plants aren’t the only ones that need plenty of water to stay healthy. Your furry friend needs regular access to fresh water, so make sure you change their bowl twice a day and always take some with you when you take them for long walks. If you notice any signs of dehydration – dry mouth, panting, and loss of skin elasticity – they try adding some Pedialyte into his water bowl to quickly replace electrolytes. Drinking water will replace most electrolytes, but drinking this solution, formulated for babies, quickly replaces minerals like potassium and sodium.
Flea medication
Persistent itchiness is only one small reason why pet owners should be vigilant against fleas and ticks. Fleas can infect your beloved pup with tapeworms, lyme disease, or even Bartonella (usually known as Cat Scratch Fever), which causes vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. Some of these diseases can even be passed on to you and anyone else living with you. The best thing to do is try to avoid these altogether by getting the best flea treatment for dogs you can find. However, you should also take your dog to the vet if you suspect there might be something seriously wrong with your canine friend.
Exercise
Dogs have a lot more energy than their favorite humans, and they need to get rid of the excess or they might start acting up. If your dog doesn’t use up their energy by going on walks or runs, they might start to take it out on the furniture, carpets, or the rest of the house. In general, dogs need around one or two hours of exercise per day, but this can vary depending on the size and breed of your dog. While you can make do with buying them toys and letting them roam in the backyard, they’ll be happier if you take them to a park for a few hours. As an added bonus, your own fitness and health will improve each time you take your dog out for a long walk. Exercise is also good for your fur baby’s weight; all dogs should have an hourglass figure. Any excess weight can be easily shed with exercise and a nutritious diet.
Diet
Some foods you should make sure to include in your pooch’s diet include mackerel, eggs, chicken, turkey, broccoli, and sweet potato. Diet directly affects your fur baby’s skin and coat, weight, energy, and gastrointestinal function. If you see any problems with any of the aforementioned, you might be able to put off a visit to the vet by changing your dog’s diet. Make sure you do this slowly, because a sudden change in diet can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Natural Remedies
You might find your dog seems like he is uncomfortable or in pain at some point, it could be something minor like a cut or scratch that doesn’t require a vets trip at all or you could be waiting to get a trip to the vets for a proper check up. Either way you could consider using a natural remedy to help them feel a little better. As humans we are leaning more towards natural holistic methods to manage pain relief, so why not also follow suit with our animals. This article from Modern Dog Magazine might come in useful – https://moderndogmagazine.com/what-can-i-give-my-dog-for-pain. It highlights a number of holistic options you could try to help our furry friends
Do you have any other tips for looking after your puppy or dog to help keep them at the best of health between visits to the vets? Please share them in the comments
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