The Top Requirements For A Healthy And Happy Dog

 

No one wants to see their pet suffer, but unfortunately this is something that is often out of our hands. No matter how well you look after your pet you see, from time to time you are bound to find that they get unwell and unfortunately this often comes down to simple bad luck.

But that said, there are certainly things you can do to tip the scales in your favour and to improve the chances that your furry friend will experience good health and be able to fight off any potential illnesses and conditions. Here we will look at some of the most basic things you should be doing for your dog, and how they can help to keep them healthy…

Love

The most important thing of all for your pet is that they are well loved, and this is something you should be able to do for your animal with no problems - it's kind of the point. While you might not think that this has much to do with your pet's health though, the fact is that a happy pet is a healthy pet - and if your dog is happy then it will help them to eat better, to burn more energy and to keep their immune systems active.

Discipline

Sometimes though this does mean being cruel to be kind. While you might wish that you never had to tell your dog off, the reality is that they sometimes need it in order to be happy. Once your dog stops thinking that they are the alpha in your house you'll find that everyone gets on better and there are generally fewer problems.

Exercise

Dogs need a lot of exercise and aren't as happy as we are to spend our time sitting in front of the computer typing. If you don't exercise your dog then they won't be happy, but furthermore they won't burn their fat and will quickly become overweight placing a strain on their heart and on their knees. In fact you would probably find that you were happier too if you were to exercise more…

Good Food

It's also important to make sure that you feed your dog well, and again that means getting the balance correct between treating them and making sure they are happy versus overindulging them and creating problems that way. Most important here is to make sure your dog is eating a balanced diet that's right for them and this means including lots of vitamins, minerals and amino acids while avoiding things like sugar and salt. Don't be tempted to give your pet that chocolate candy - they may want it but they won't want the diabetes that it will likely cause.

Cleanliness

Most of us don't think much about hygiene when it comes to looking after pets: they are hardly hygienic themselves after all! The point is though, that dogs need to live in a clean environment just like we do, and this means making sure that their bed is cleaned regularly and their bowl is washed out. Otherwise you may find that they end up with recurring flea problems and other issues - and those can even spread to you as well!

The author of today’s post, Nancy Baker, is a freelance blogger who is currently associated with Pleasant Plains Animal Hospital, a team of professional and competent vets in Staten Island. She practices judo and martial arts during her leisure time. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nancy Baker.

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