The greatest love that a master can give to his dog is good health. Any responsible dog-owner will definitely need guidelines to keep his pet in check, especially now that greater varieties and more dangerous illnesses have been known to affect a dog’s health. In this article are several steps that do not only promote good nutrition for a good dog, but also help make sure that it has a well-rounded and healthy life.
STEP 1: Good Nutrition
Puppies should be given high-protein diets along with good milk coming from their mother. If breastmilk is not available for your pups, warm fresh milk sold in the market may serve as good alternatives. As they grow up, your pet should gradually move to more balanced diets, composed of meat and vegetables. Also try to look at the back of purchased pet food products for quality ingredients such as Echinacea which helps increase immunity and promotes good blood pressure; astralagus which helps maintain healthy blood sugar and helps prevent cancer; cat’s claw which also supports the immune function; and milk thistle, which aid in cleansing the body of toxins and is an excellent liver tonic. Canned food should be seldom or avoided since even trusted brands may be made of cheap grains, meat byproducts (instead of real meat), and may contain fillers, dyes or preservatives.
STEP 2: Yard and Shelter Control
Dogs usually get infected because of harmful elements in their environment and nothing can be more immediate in their environment than the home and the yard. Owners and housekeepers should always make it a part of their routine to make the house, yard and doghouse free from litter, stagnant water, animal waste and the like. Also keep in mind that your dogs should be put away from rooms or dog shelters that are currently being sprayed with disinfectants or insect repellants. Disinfected dog shelters should be left for about three to six hours before being used again. Dogs have lower resistance to chemicals than humans, so avoidance of these areas should be made certain.
STEP 3: Vaccination
Unlike what is commonly observed with many dog-owners today, vaccination should only be made once or once every seven years, and NOT yearly. Puppies that are immunized for parvovirus, distemper virus and adenovirus already have life-long immunity against such diseases, unless a hybrid or new type of virus arises and is able to break through the vaccine’s effects. Administering the vaccination by the owner is highly discouraged. Instead, veterinary consultation should always be made in immunizing pet dogs and puppies.
STEP 4: Activity
Aside from a dog’s intake and vaccination, exercise and adequate physical activity complete a well-rounded and healthy lifestyle for your pets. Taking them out for walks is most common, but during unfavorable weather conditions, most owners are at a loss what to do. Skill training and stair climbing are perhaps the most practical physical activities that you can do with your dog indoors, while others would prefer playing games with toys that are sold in the market.
STEP 5: GROOMING
Dogs which look good also feel good. That is why proper grooming should be frequent for your pets. Adequate fur and nail-trimming, ear and teeth cleaning, as well as bathing do not only help your dog avoid infection, hair problems and skin problems, but also help them become more comfortable, less prone to ticks, fleas and mites, and even help them cope during extreme heat from the weather. Soaps and shampoos to be used need to be hypo-allergenic to avoid irritation. Also keep in mind to keep your pet dogs away from other animals which are infected with disease or ridden with pests. Dog illnesses such as parvo, and parasites such as fleas easily spread, so diligence should be observed in protecting your dogs from such.
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