How to Ensure Your Dog Stays Healthy Throughout His Life

     Your canine's long-term health is in your hands. The care you provide plays a key role in lengthening his lifespan, and ensuring he remains a healthy companion. Given this, it is surprising that many owners neglect to take simple steps toward maintaining their dogs' health.

In this article, we'll provide a blueprint for caring for your canine's physical well-being. It takes very little time to address the essentials on a regular basis. Moreover, doing so will help ensure your pet stays healthy and happy throughout his entire life.

Feed Him High-Quality Food

Proper health begins with proper nutrition. Your pet needs the right set of nutrients in order to maintain his weight, metabolism, and coat. Specifically, he needs fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. These are the building blocks for a nutritious diet.

The stores are filled with myriad brands of commercial dog foods. Don't assume they are all alike. Some brands are filled with ingredients that are much higher in quality than cheaper alternatives. Examine the label of the brand you intend to purchase. Make sure the ingredients meet the nutritional standards set by the Association Of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This organization maintains a separate set of standards for puppies and adult canines.

Provide Him With Plenty Of Exercise

As important as the right type of food is to your pet's long-term health, daily exercise is just as critical. It helps keep excess weight off his body, and tones his muscles. Exercise also improves the flexibility of his joints. It enhances circulation, which means oxygen-rich blood is better able to reach his organs and tissues.

Regular exercise also gives your canine the opportunity to burn pent-up energy. Lacking an outlet for physical activity, he might engage in destructive behavior at home.

Most owners give their dogs too little exercise. Even those who take their pets on daily walks spend too little time doing so. Your canine needs at least an hour of activity each day. If you're currently taking him for one walk a day, consider taking him for two.

Make Routine Veterinary Appointments

A lot of owners regard veterinarians as trained professionals who treat existing problems in animals. But veterinary care is actually preventative health care. That is, one of the most important roles a veterinarian plays is ensuring your dog avoids health issues in the first place. This is the reason routine checkups are essential.

The vet can perform a physical exam that includes an inspection of your canine's eyes, ears, mouth, and digestive tract. He or she will also order blood tests to confirm there are no signs of health problems. The veterinarian will check for parasites, including heartworms, ticks, and pests infesting your pet's intestines.

While your dog is an adult, plan to make annual veterinary appointments. When he reaches his senior years, plan to visit the vet twice each year.

Check His Teeth And Gums

Consider your canine's oral health a priority. Plaque can form on his teeth in the same manner it forms on a person's teeth. If the plaque is not removed, it will eventually turn into tartar. With time, tartar irritates the gum line, and causes the tissue to become inflamed. This is gingivitis, which can gradually progress to periodontal disease.

Get into the habit of brushing your dog's teeth at least a few times each week - and preferably, every day. This will help prevent the accumulation of tartar, ensuring your canine's oral health.

Keep Up His Appearance

Brushing your dog's coat, clipping his nails, checking his ears, and giving him regular baths takes time and patience. But these grooming activities are essential not only for his physical maintenance and upkeep, but also his physical health. Brushing your pet's coat removes debris that could otherwise enter his eyes and ears; keeping his nails trimmed prevents them from breaking; examining his ears can reveal the onset of bacteria or other problems; and periodic baths help keep his coat clean while giving you a chance to inspect his skin.

Your canine relies upon you to protect his health throughout his life. The guidelines above will help you do so, all but guaranteeing a happy companion for years to come.