Vets Work With Animals and People

5 Tips For Keeping Your Dog Healthy

Dogs are wonderful creatures that provide their owners with unconditional love and affection. If you own a dog, you likely consider them a member of your family and would do anything to keep them healthy and happy. Luckily, there are several things you can do to maintain your dog's health and extend their life.

Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet

What you feed your dog can have a big impact on their overall health. It's perfectly alright to feed your furry family member a pure high-quality kibble diet. You can also add cooked chicken, fish, vegetables, and rice to their diet. Make sure that you don't overfeed your dog, as that can lead to obesity and health problems. If you're not sure how much to feed your dog, ask your veterinarian.

Spay or Neuter Your Dog

Spaying and neutering are routine surgeries that provide numerous health benefits for dogs. In addition to controlling the pet population, fixing your dog can prevent certain cancers, reduce aggressive behavior, and extend your furry family member's life.

Exercise Your Dog

Just like humans, dogs need regular physical activity to stay healthy. Taking your dog on walks, playing fetch, and swimming can help them maintain a healthy weight. Making sure your pooch gets regular exercise will also help them release pent up energy.

Take Care of Your Dog's Teeth

Unfortunately, many pet owners don't make their dogs' dental health a top priority. Dogs can develop tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues just like people can. That's why you should get into the habit of brushing your dog's teeth a few times a week. While it may be challenging at first, your dog will eventually become comfortable with it.

Visit the Veterinarian

It's important to take your dog to see a veterinarian for a wellness checkup every year. A veterinarian will give your dog a physical assessment and check for early signs of diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. The earlier a health condition is detected, the easier it is to treat. They may also recommend giving your dog preventative medications for heartworm, tick-borne illnesses, and other health conditions.  

If it has been a while since your dog's last wellness exam, you should schedule an appointment with a veterinarian today. Taking your dog in for a checkup can keep your dog healthy and give you peace of mind.

For more information, contact a veterinarian clinic like Pittsburgh Spay & Vaccination Clinic.


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