While there are no hard-and-fast rules for keeping your dog healthy, there are some commonsense guidelines you should follow. Here are the things we recommend:
- Get an annual physical. Dogs age faster than we do. A serious illness can develop and early detection is key to treating it effectively. A thorough exam includes blood work, dental checkup and vaccination review to ensure your dog it up-to-date with shots.
- Protect your dog against ticks, fleas and heartworms. We’ve shared the dangers of ticks and fleas and heartworms in previous blog posts but it’s worth repeating. Check with your vet on how best to keep your pet protected. An ounce of prevention is well worth it.
- Pay attention to the details. Learn how to watch your dog closely to understand how he or she communicates feelings both mental and physical. Note the position of ears and tail, breathing, licking and scratching. All of these can be signs of distress that must be addressed.
- Food should not consist of treats. If your dog isn’t eating their food, do not feed them treats. Skip a meal and then try again. A healthy dog will not refuse food so it they continue to to not eat, a check with your Vet is needed.
- Exercise: Start early with daily and regular exercise both mental (training) and physical. Regular exercise burns excess energy, keeps your dog fit and healthy and keeps your dog sharp mentally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At The Dog Stop we are dedicated to ensuring that you and your pet have a long and healthy relationship. We offer training for every age and stage for your dog. Visit our Training page for details: The Dog Stop Training.