All of us want our furry babies to live with us forever, after all, we love them so much and they are an inseparable part of our families. However, just as we humans have to leave the world someday, same is the case with our little pets. Though we cannot help them stay alive forever, we definitely can help increase their lifespan. All you have to do is follow the simple tips given below and you certainly will keep them healthy and help increase their life.
10 . Take good care of their teeth
Tooth decay is a common problem in dogs but it is more dangerous than you can imagine. Decaying teeth can not only cause dental problems, they may also lead to infections throughout your dog’s body, particularly in their kidneys and heart.
Though it is natural for most dogs not to have fresh breath and perfect clean teeth like humans, their gums and teeth should at least be reasonably clean. Make sure you have a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that is formulated specifically for your dogs. It will be best to opt for a double-headed toothbrush that helps brush at a 45-degree angle, as that will help clean below their gum line.
9 . Follow whatever your vet says
Even if your dog looks perfectly healthy you should make her visit the vet for a general check-up at least once a year, and twice a year once they enter old age. Wellness exams are designed to help maintain optimal health and they offer a proper record of the health history of your dog once they start aging. This also helps make it easy for your vet to identify any potential problems on time, and if a problem is detected in its beginning stages then it is easy to treat it successfully.
8 . Help maintain a healthy weight
Not only are humans obese, pets too are suffering from this problem. If too much fatty human foods are offered to the dogs they can easily become overweight, and this can also be the case if you do not offer your pet enough exercise.
7 . Her mind should be healthy too
Just like people, mental stimulation in dogs keeps them happy too. If a dog is bored he can easily become anxious and depressed, and even fall ill. To extend your dog’s life you must keep him busy. Once your dog starts aging, some easy ways to keep his mind active will be socialization, training, one-on-one attention, and other interesting activities.
6 . Exercise is very important
Not only feeding your dog with the right food will help increase their life, you also need to make sure they are in shape. Exercise is very important to keep them in shape, and this will also help your pet live longer. Exercise can lower stress, balance emotions, and mood, and increase endorphins. Furthermore, it will keep your pet’s cardiovascular system in shape and keep her happy.
5 . Allow your dog some relaxing time
Everyone must get some time to relax, even your dog. Stress can negatively impact your dog if they are in a continuous state of anxiety. You need to create a kind of balance, where your dog does get enough exercise. But also gets some alone time to relax.
4 . Give affection
Just like we humans need to feel wanted and cared for, similarly dogs too need positive interaction in order to survive. You should never adopt a dog if you cannot offer them enough time, affection, and love. Even rescue dogs spring with life when they get love and attention, and thus it surely will work wonders for your furry kid. Make sure you spend enough quality time with them and this will keep them happy and prolong their life
3 . Keep your home clean and healthy
If your home is free of any harmful chemicals and toxins it will at least reduce the chances of your dog falling ill or developing any type of allergies. If your dog is always free of allergies and healthy, there are brighter chances of them living a longer life.
2 . Neuter or spay
Neutering or spaying your dog can increase their lifespan by 1-3 years. Neutered males do not get testicle cancer and there are also fewer chances of them suffering from prostate problems. Mammary cancer is not likely to affect spayed females and they are also not likely to get any fetal infections in their womb.
1 . Take care of their joints
Just like in humans, the joints of dogs too wear out with time. Arthritis and dysplasia are amongst the common issues that pets suffer from. This is why you should make sure your pet enjoys good joint health.
The first thing you need to do is to offer them a lean and healthy diet and feed them more of phosphorous-rich food. The next important thing you need to do is consult your vet to find some good dog joint supplements. If your dog’s joints are healthy, this alone can prolong their life by up to 2 years.