As a dog owner, I love chatting with fellow dog owners. When I do, one of the questions they often ask me is 'what are the ways to keep my dog healthy'. They all love their dogs very much and want to know how they can keep it healthy and happy. Since a lot of dog owners today have the same doubt, I decided to write this article to share with you some tips about keeping dogs healthy. In this article, you will find three simple tips that can help your dog live a long, happy life.
Diet
\"Science Diet\"
When someone asks me the question 'what are the ways to keep my dog healthy', the first thing I say is 'make sure your dog eats a well balanced diet'. A healthy diet is the first and foremost thing your dog needs to stay healthy and active. Let us take a look at some important dietary modifications that can improve your dog's health.
There are several choices an owner has in choosing a high quality pet food. No matter what your choice, it is essential that the foods you choose are properly balanced based on the latest understanding of canine nutrition.
1. Raw Diet: The thinking behind providing a home made or raw diet is that this best copies how a dog would eat in nature. While a home made diet is idea if you are careful, they take a lot of work and do more harm than good if not properly balanced. The best way to feed your dog a raw diet is to buy one that is already prepared in a high quality pet store. Make sure the label specifically says "This food has been proven to be nutritionally complete or adequate for all life stages
Avoid commercial pet food that contains artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Avoid any food that contains fillers or gluten. Give your dog organic food that is free of additives and preservatives. Feed your dog a quality, AAFCO certified pet food that contains real meat instead of meat."
2. Commercial Diet: Our preference is for a canned diet, that is AAFCO certified and that contains "human grade ingrfedients." This means that the food meets all the nutritional guidelines of the industry and uses high quality ingredients. Canned diets contain more moisture than dry, helping a dog maintain urinary health. If you can't find a diet that meets these criteria, then either buy the veterinary canned foods such s Science Diet, Prescription Diet, Purina Veterinary, Royal Canin Veterinaray or similar food. If you can only afford food sold in the supermarket or Wal*Mart, as long as the food is labeled AAFCO certified. Make sure the certification says "tested and found to be adequate" vs. a lower standard which is still AAFCO certified, but says "formulated to meet AAFCO standards."
Also be sure to provide your dog with clean water throughout the day. Drinking encourages urination (as does an extra walk), which is natures way of cleaning the urinary tract.
Exercise
A dogs body was meant for movement, not sitting around all day. Exercise improves your dog's blood circulation, strengthens its limbs, improves metabolism, prevents stress, increases its energy levels, and strengthens its immune system. So, 'regular physical exercise' is yet another answer to the question 'what are the ways to keep my dog healthy'.
Walking, running, climbing stairs, swimming, and ball fetching are some of the simple exercises you can make your dog do. If you want, you can also get special dog toys, agility equipment, and dog treadmills to make your dog's exercise sessions a lot more interesting. We particularly like Kong Toys that hide a piece of food and challenge the dog on how to get it out. It provides exercise and mental stimulation.
Health supplements
Pet health experts are continually sharing important dog health advice about dogs. He said that dogs need certain essential nutrients that they don't always get from their diet. So, it is essential to give a high quality herbal supplement to make sure your dog gets all the nutrients and antioxidants essential for its health. Look for a supplement that contains medicinal herbs like milk thistle, mistletoe, huang qi, ashwagandha, and cat's claw. These herbs boost your dog's immune system, regulate blood pressure levels, strengthen its vital organs, eliminate the toxins, and improve its circulation.
To keep your dog healthy, all you need to do is feed it a healthy diet, make sure it gets adequate exercise, and give a small dose of health supplements every day. Now that you know the answer to the question 'what are the ways to keep my dog healthy', implement these tips and ensure your dog lives a long, healthy life.
The Best Ways to Keep My Dog Healthy - Three Important Tips That Every Dog Owner Must Know
Jeff Grill is an editor of the Pet Health Guide, an online resource full of ways to keep my dog healthy.
The author also suggests this site for natural treatment options that can help to keep dogs healthy.