For millions of people, the family dog is just as much a member of the family as the humans. So you want your dog to enjoy a healthy and happy life in your home. Your pooch is completely dependent on you not only for food, water and a place to sleep but for his emotional health as well. So here are some tips on how to keep this beloved member of your family living life to its fullest every day.
Lots and Lots of Fresh Water
We sometimes take for granted how much each of us needs fluids all the time. Your dog is no different. He needs to be able to get access to as much water as he needs any time he needs it. Unlike feeding the dog, giving him water is not something to do three or four times a day. Make sure he has a water supply in the house, or in the garage or his crate if that is where he stays when you are away. Also, make sure there is a water supply outdoors when he goes out. There are some great water dispensers on the market where you can provide a jug of five gallons of water that dribbles into a dish as your dog needs it. An investment in good water dispensing tools for your dog will get a lot of use and keep your dog happy all the time.
Quality Food
You don’t have to give your dog steak or gourmet cooking to keep him healthy. Raw, home cooked or high quality kibles, it is your choice and vary with your dog breed. The most important part is High Quality with no or little grain.
Some dogs will only eat as much as they need and then stop. Others will eat without restraint. To keep your dog trim and healthy, pay attention to how much he is eating at meals time but also at take snacks and treats in consideration.
There are some things a dog should never eat like chocolate, grapes, raisins, alcohol, coffee (in cookies or cakes), sugar. Educate yourself in how to give your dog quality food and good treats. When you know how to feed your dog well, the reward is a healthy and energetic family companion.
Regular Care at the Vet
At our house, the trip to the vet is a love/hate relationship. When we put our Australian shepherd Fred in the car, he is excited primarily because he thinks we are going to the park. When he recognizes the streets going to the vet (and yes, he knows!), his mood changes radically. While the time at the vet is one Fred generally hates, we know it is important to keep him healthy and happy.
If you don’t have a veterinarian that knows your dog well, get one. Your family dog should see his doctor once or twice a year at least to make sure he has his shots and to look at his general health, especially as a dog ages. It is also great to have a vet you can turn to in an emergency if the dog becomes ill or injured. We know that as much as Fred hates his vet trips, they are crucial to long term health of our family pet.
Fighting Parasites
Those vet trips will be able to help spot if your dog has worms or any other internal parasites that need to be treated. If you see any change in behavior in how your dog eats, eliminates or in his energy level, it could indicate that he is fighting a parasite.
Of course, the bugs we have to fight most often for our dogs are fleas and ticks. Regular inspection will tell you if your dog has this kind of problem. If he does, you can give him a bath with special shampoos to kill off the infestation. But there are also special collars and medicines that dogs can take that will repel fleas and ticks from the inside out.
Fighting skin parasites on your dog not only keeps him healthy and happy, it keeps the nasty bugs out of your house. It is in the best interest of the humans as well to keep the pooch flea and tick free. After all, those parasites are just as happy to jump from your dog to you or to the children. So this fight is for the good of the family as well as for the health of your dog.
A Dog’s Gotta Move!
Next to food and water, exercise may be the most important need any dog can get. The great thing about taking your dog on walks is he gets a chance to be outside for his elimination needs, to get plenty of exercise, to be with you and to be social with other animals and people too. All of those things are healthy for your pooch. The need to give your dog a chance to run and get some exercise is as important in dogs as it is in people.
It helps him process his foods and it benefits his heart, lungs and attitude all at the same time. It can be difficult to find time to give your dog an exercise period if you work and you have limited time to walk him. But in light of the huge benefit exercise is for your dog, its worth the investment.
The Heart of Health – Play and Love
Going outside with your dog and giving him 100% of your attention is central to what your dog needs emotionally and socially. The reason dogs are such great pets is they bond to their families deeply and they thrive on being with you and getting attention from you. Your approval can make your dog happy for hours and one moment of disapproval can throw him into a funk. It might seem like this is overly humanizing dogs. But the love of their master is a deeply ingrained need in canines. Dogs are highly intelligent, intuitive and social animals. Your pooch thrives on those moments of affection, play and love you can give to him.
All of us want our dogs to be healthy and happy. Plenty of food and water is important. A trip to the vet when needed is necessary, although he might hate it. But along with all these good things that you give to your beloved housedog, be just as generous with the love and play with him. If you do that, he will be a loyal and very happy dog for all the days of his life.
