The health of your dog is always important. October is National Pet Wellness Month, a special month sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Fort Dodge Animal Health. This October, we recognize the importance of dog health and make sure they’re receiving the care and nutrition they deserve. We know it’s difficult to keep track of all your dog health needs. That’s why we at Canine Caviar created a helpful list to help you make sure your dog’s health is in top condition. We’ll share 5 important tips to maximize dog health and also what’s the best kind of dog food for your dog.
1. Annual Exams Greatly Improve Dog Health
One of the most important things that you can do for your dog’s health is making sure he/she gets an annual exam. You might think that an annual exam seems like a waste of time and more importantly money but this isn’t true. Dogs live 10 to 13 years so a year is actually a long time for your dog’s health. Making sure your dog receives an annual exam can end up being a huge lifesaver. The biggest benefit to an annual exam is that veterinarians can identify problems in your dog’s health before they become an issue. When an issue is identified, it can be more easily fixed while it’s still in the early stages. Veterinarians can also give useful insights about your dog and suggest small changes to improve dog health. They might suggest a change in diet or increasing the amount of exercise he/she gets.
The other big benefit of annual exams is the fact that you can save a lot of money! When you neglect to give your dog annual examinations, health problems gone unnoticed, can become volatile. Surgeries and operations can be very costly so being able to prevent such crises from occurring can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.You can see why it’s important to make sure that your best friend is getting an annual checkup. If you have an older dog, it’s good if they get two exams a year. It’s a sure way to keep your dog nice and healthy but it’s not the only way.
2. Spaying & Neutering Keeps All Dogs Healthy
You might find that your veterinarian might bring up spaying or neutering your dog. While you might be a little uncomfortable at the thought, there are many great benefits to neutering or spaying. Spaying and neutering helps prevent the development of tumors in a dog’s mammary glands, testicles, breasts, and prostate. This will lead to your dog living a healthier life and females will actually live significantly longer. This is because spaying helps the prevention of cancerous tumors which are 50 percent likely to be malignant. You can expect for your male companions to become better well behaved since neutering can decrease aggression levels and other unwanted actions such as marking territory and mounting other dogs. So the next time your veterinarian offers up to spay and neuter your dog, don’t be afraid to take up the offer.
3. Dog Dental Health
Have you checked you dog’s oral health lately? It’s definitely hard to do since dog’s don’t like having their mouths examined but it is important that you do your best to keep your buddy’s teeth and gums in check. Look for these signs that can indicate poor oral health in you canine companion like:
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Bright shiny teeth are a sure sign of great dog health Redness around the gums
- Drooling
- Difficulty chewing and consuming food
- Rancid breath
- Loose teeth
If you notice any of these signs in your dog, it’s a good idea to set up an appointment for a professional cleaning. Dog health can benefit greatly from a professional cleaning. A cleaning can help remove any visible plaque and tartar as well as hidden plaque under the gums. Plaque and tartar under the gums of your dog can lead to gum diseases so removing it is a big service to your companion. A professional cleaning is also the perfect opportunity to find and fix any broken teeth so they wont receive any bacterial diseases. Your veterinarian will have a great opportunity to properly assess your dog’s oral health and give advice if there’s any issues. A dental visit will greatly improve your dog’s health and make sure he/she is healthy with a beautiful smile to go along.
4. A Balanced Diet is the Best Dog Food Diet
An important question you should always be asking is whether the current dog food your giving your best friend is balanced. What does balanced mean? A balanced diet is one that is designed to maximize the nutrition of your dog and address specific needs he/she may need. Different dogs have different needs so it’s always a good idea to assess your dog’s health so you know what kind of balanced diet to get.
Some of the best dog foods you can get if you’re looking for a balanced diet are Holistic dog food and Grain Free dog food brands. These type of dog food are often created and designed to address a specific need such as dogs with sensitive stomachs or dogs with sets of allergies. Aside from addressing your dog’s health needs, there are many more general benefits to a balanced dog food diet. Benefits include:
- Improved eyesight from antioxidant-rich ingredients
- Healthier heart thanks to proteins from lean meat ingredients
- Energy boost from a healthier balanced diet holistic dog foods provide
- Shiner healthier coats due to natural ingredients such as fish oil
If you don’t know where to start looking for balanced dog foods and are looking one to try out, Canine Caviar’s Free Spirit and Open Sky dry food entrees are great choices for your dog. The great thing about these two products are that they’re Alkaline diets; great for dogs of all breed and life stages. They both help your dog live out a healthier and more active lifestyle through their limited ingredient formulas. Balanced diets like Canine Caviar’s is a simple but effective step to ensure your dog’s health continues to be great.
5. Keeping your Dog’s Weight Under Control
The last important tip to keeping dog health awesome is making sure your dog has a healthy weight. You might have notice your dog has been falling on the chubby side without you noticing. Why did he/she gain weight also how do I prevent it? Weight gain tends to be linked to your dog’s age and breed. Some dogs are just more inclined to gain weight due to their genes and old age. Your dog can also gain weight from overeating and lack of exercise. Now you’re starting to think it wasn’t such a good idea to give your dog leftover thanksgiving scraps last holiday season.
If your know dog is a little on the chubby side. it’s time to get him/her in shape but where do you start? The best thing you can do is visit your local veterinarian and talk about it with them. Your veterinarian will prescribe specific exercise regiment and will most likely suggest a new diet; one that doesn’t include holiday scraps. There are specially designed dog entrees that help your dog lose weight so these options may be a great place to start. Canine Caviar’s Special Needs dry food entree is made for dogs who are overweight and need some help shedding those pounds. Special Needs is also helpful for dogs with sensitive digestive tracks, allergies, and older dogs.
Excellent Dog Health Equals a Happy Dog
We hope these 5 important tips give you some good ideas on how you can keep your dog as healthy and happy as possible. It may feel like an overwhelming load of tasks to do but your best friend will thank you with their love and shining faces. Please share this post to all your dog loving friends so they can make sure their dog’s health is intact and we can make plenty of dogs as happy as possible.
References
Brannan, A. (2017, February 14). Holistic Dog Food: Dogs Need A Balanced Diet Too.
Clinebell, V. (2018, October 05). October Is Pet Wellness Month: 10 Tips For Doggie Wellness.
Dog and Cat Dental Cleaning: Why It’s Important. (2014, February 21).
Dog Diseases – Weight Management – Obesity | Hill’s Pet. (n.d.).
H. (n.d.). Groups Offer Tips for National Pet Wellness Month.
Rehm, M. (2004, September 15). October is National Pet Wellness Month.
Spay/Neuter Your Pet. (n.d.).
Why Your Pet Deserves an Annual Checkup. (n.d.).