Keeping Your Dog Healthy
Your dog is more than just a pet, they’re a member of your family! Just like any family member, you want to make certain your furry friend is happy and healthy. Keeping your pets healthy is important since they can’t always speak for themselves when they’re not feeling well. If you’re worried about your dog’s health, here are a few things you can do to make certain they’re as healthy as possible.
Make Sure They’re Eating Right
Are you feeding your dog the correct amount of food? A study published by the American Chemical Society entitled “Metabonomic Investigations of Aging and Caloric Restriction in a Life-Long Dog Study” actually showed that dogs who ate about 25 percent less than what most vets and pet food manufacturers recommended lived on average two years longer than other dogs. This means that just like people, dogs who are a healthy weight live longer and have fewer health issues.
It’s also important to remember that dogs don’t have the same health needs as humans. Feeding your dog table scraps is often much worse than giving him too much dog food. Human food often contains much more sodium, sugars, and other things that are not good for your pets.
Finally, be sure the dog food you’re feeding your pet is actually good for them. Some of the cheaper dog foods don’t contain that much actual meat. Any dog foods that are high in corn or wheat gluten, food dyes, or BHA/BHT should be avoided.
Exercise Is Important, too
Of course, just like with humans, exercise is also a very important part of staying healthy. You need to make certain your dog gets the exercise they need on a regular basis. That means you have to go out walking more than once every few weeks. You need to walk your dog at least a few times a week plus give them space to run around. If your dog is kept in the house all day, you’ll need to offer them some way of exercising when you get home. If you don’t have a backyard, that means you need to take them walking or to the dog park regularly.
Exercise does more than just help your dog maintain a healthy weight. It also helps them feel less stressed and have fun. It also has some great benefits for you, too, since it gets you to exercise.
Look into Supplements
There are also some very beneficial supplements you can give to your dog to keep them healthy. Of course, as with food, you want to make certain that you’re feeding your dog the best supplements possible. For example, fish oil supplements aren’t exactly good for your pets. One of the best supplements available for dogs is marine phytoplankton. This supplement will help keep your dog’s coat shiny, boost their immune system, and help keep their heart, brain, eyes, and skin healthy. It’s high in omega-3 fatty acids, a vital supplement.
Then there’s sunflower lecithin. This type of fatty substance can be found naturally in sunflowers, and it helps with cholesterol and boost the circulatory and nervous systems. While some supplements include soy lecithin, sunflower lecithin actually has a number of benefits over soy. It contains no chemicals, is high in choline and other fatty acids, and won’t cause any type of allergic reaction.
These are just a few ways of keeping your dog happy and healthy. With a good diet, exercise, and the right supplements, your furry friend will avoid many of the common health issues dogs face as they age.