You love your dog and want the best for them, but taking care of your pet's health doesn't need to be complicated. Along with plenty of love and attention, these 6 tips from our McAllen vets can help your dog live a long and healthy life.
Your Dog's Health & Wellbeing
You love your dog, but caring for the health of your canine companion can be overwhelming, but love, attention and some helpful tips can help to prevent health issues from developing in your pet in the first place.
1) Meet Your Dog's Nutritional Needs
Your dog's well-being is dependent on the quality of the food they are fed. To help keep your dog healthy, speak to your vet about the best foods for your dog based on age, breed, and lifestyle. Your vet will be happy to offer tips for finding just the right food to meet your pup's nutritional needs. Whether you want to feed your pooch the best food to achieve optimal health, or to treat existing conditions through diet, your knowledgeable veterinarian can help.
2) Help Your Dog Keep A Healthy Weight
Excess weight is linked to a number of serious conditions in dogs including diabetes and joint pain, so keeping your dog at a healthy weight is essential for optimal health. Once you have chosen a nutritious food for your dog, your vet will be able to calculate the optimal number of calories your dog should consume each day. Once you know the number of calories that your pet needs, you will be able to easily work out exactly how much you should be feeding your dog each meal.
3) Make Sure Your Dog Gets Plenty of Exercise
Different breeds have different exercise needs and abilities. Some dogs can stay healthy with a quick walk around the block, but other, more high-energy breeds may need an hour or more of vigorous exercise once or twice a day. Adequate physical activity not only helps to keep your dog's body in good condition, but it can also help to prevent mental boredom which can lead to destructive behaviors or anxiety. Discuss the appropriate amount and types of exercise for your dog with your vet or breeder. Walks, backyard games, and social time at dog parks are all great ways to ensure your pooch gets plenty of exercise.
4) Take Your Dog for Annual Wellness Exams
Diagnosing and treating conditions in the very earliest stages helps to ensure the very best treatment outcomes. Even when your dog seems perfectly healthy, annual veterinary exams provide preventive care including monitoring your pet's overall health and checking for early signs of developing issues. Your vet will discuss your dog's diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors with you, ask if you have any concerns about your pet's health or behavior, then perform a comprehensive physical examination. Once the exam is complete your veterinarian will discuss any findings with you. If anything concerning has been detected your vet will make recommendations regarding diet, diagnostic testing, or treatment.
5) Keep Vaccinations Up-To-Date
Our McAllen vets believe that vaccinations are vital to maintaining your dog's health and longevity. Regularly scheduled vaccines help to protect your dog from many highly contagious, potentially life-threatening diseases. Most states require by law that all pets be vaccinated against rabies, but there are a number of other serious conditions that vaccines protect dogs against including parvo, distemper, and panleukopenia.
6) Provide Parasite Prevention
Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes can all carry organisms that lead to a range of diseases that seriously threaten the health and longevity of your dog. A bite from one of these parasites could cause your dog to become gravely ill if not protected. Speak to your vet about the most effective ways to protect your dog against a range of tick-borne diseases, heartworms, and other common parasitic conditions.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.