Sarah-Jane White As an animal owner, it doesn’t need to be said that the health and wellbeing of your furry friend is a priority. A healthy dog is a happy dog so doing what you can to improve their health will help them to live longer and fulfilled lives. Here are some ways you can keep your dog healthy:
Daily Health Checks
Dogs are vulnerable to a variety of illnesses so it’s important to take them to the vet to get regular checks. Ear infections, kennel cough, and ringworm are amongst some of the most common illnesses contracted by dogs and can cause your pooch discomfort if left untreated. Familiarising yourself with the signs will help spot illnesses early on and get them to the vet in good time.
Cushing syndrome is another common ailment in dogs but is less heard of and life-threatening if left untreated. This disease affects the adrenal glands, causing them to overproduce vital hormones that are essential to regulate body functions. Understanding the symptoms of Canine Cushing can help your furry friend get the care they need before the disease progresses.
Grooming
Outside of aesthetics, grooming has many healthy benefits for your dog that aren’t immediately obvious. Giving their coat a good brush helps ventilate it and removes any old or damaged hair to allow stronger regrowth. It also helps keep down the levels of grease in the coat, which can block pores and cause irritating skin problems if allowed to build up.
Matting can occur when your pet isn’t regularly groomed, which can be increasingly painful if left to get worse. A professional groomer can help you stay on top of your dog’s skin and coat needs if you’re not sure what products or level of grooming care is needed. You should also clean their teeth and ears regularly.
Monitor Behaviour
You know your four-legged friend better than anyone, so you should be able to recognise any behaviour that is out of character. Excessive panting, hiding, cowering, or aggression are common behaviour changes that often signify that your pet could be distressed, bored, ill, or injured.
Sometimes dogs are simply curious and troublesome, so you need to exercise your judgement as to whether their behaviour is concerning.
Vaccinations
The best way to protect against illness and disease is to ensure your dog is fully up to date with all vaccinations. From eight weeks of age, your puppy should receive two sets of vaccinations to help them remain free of infectious diseases and pass on nasty diseases to other animals.
You can vaccinate your dog against illnesses such as infectious canine hepatitis, rabies, and canine parvovirus. Your vet can advise you on when you should vaccinate your dog.
