Your dog’s health is everything. From what they eat to the types of stimulation they need, it can feel like a huge undertaking – but don’t worry. Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll be set for life. Our ultimate dog care guide covers it all.
What Does Good Dog Health Really Mean?
We know it’s something that a dog should have, but what exactly does this entail? Let’s break it down.
Signs of a Healthy Dog
Knowing a healthy dog from one that needs a little extra TLC is a special kind of intuition. While us humans are usually able to express our health concerns, our pups don’t speak human. In fact, they’re genetically wired to not show their pain – or the extent of their pain – with us, making it a little tricky.
It’s okay, there are a few key signs of a healthy dog to look out for that are easiest to keep a track of in four main areas.
Physical
- Their eyes should be clear and bright. No discharge, redness or cloudiness.
- Their ears should be naturally pink inside. Not smell of anything like yeast or have any build up of some sort.
- Their coat should be shiny and their skin, smooth. No dryness, flakiness or bumps.
- Their nose should be moist and cool, not wet and hot.
- They should have a lean body, with a normal amount of healthy fat. You should be able to feel their ribcage through a light layer of fat.
Dental
- Their gums should be pink, not any other color.
- Their breath should be fresh, not super smelly.
Energy levels and general behavior
- They should have consistent energy – enough to do the things they love, like walk, play and say hey to you.
- They should have an appetite to eat, not want to stay away from food.
- They should be able to move well, not limping, have trouble getting up and sitting down or exercising.
What Comes Out
- Their poops should be firm, moist and easy to pick up. Not watery or too thick.
- Their pee should be a clear yellow colour. Not any other darker color.
How much input can we have in overall dog health?
In short, a lot. Although our dogs are genetically predisposed to carry certain traits and conditions, because they’re a specific breed, there’s so much that we can do as dog owners to help their overall dog health.
The smallest of things make a huge difference. According to the World Animal Foundation, dog owners who walk their dog twice a day are 70% happier, 46% more lively and re-vitalized, 41% more content and calm and 93% de-stressed. Now, those are some percentages we can get on board with.
Okay, so we know we can make a huge difference to a dog’s overall health, but what kinds of things can we bring into practice?
Manage their weight
This is the biggest thing you can control when it comes to keeping your dog healthy. When a dog is at a lean, healthy weight, they’re much more likely to lead a happy, healthy life.
Going to the vet and seeking preventative dog care
General check-ups at the vet are always a good idea. But, what’s an even better idea, is making sure you’re looking at preventative health care for your dog with your vet. What does this mean? Well, it means that you’re getting ahead of anything before it becomes a real concern.
This can involve things like having their bloodwork done regularly to check everything’s as it should be and checking the health of their teeth, gums, their gait and mapping out any lumps or bumps.
Stay social
Dogs are social creatures, just like us. When they have a strong connection with their humans, they’re usually a lot happier. Try to also play with them as much as possible through simple things like walking, playing fetch or brain games.
Maintain a great, balanced diet
Diet affects the number one thing we can control as dog owners; their weight. So, when it comes to making sure your dog’s diet is in a good place, try to include the below food groups:
- Animal protein – whole meats, including chicken, beef, lamb and fish.
- Healthy fats – Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Omega-6 Fatty Acids (usually found in fish and flaxseed).
- Complex carbohydrates – sweet potato, brown rice and oats.
- Vitamins and minerals – A, B, D and C.
There’s a few different formats that dog food can come in; high-quality kibble (fresh food), wet, fresh food, canned foods, gently cooked and raw food. The type you choose usually depends on your budget and your pup’s preference.
There are some things that are toxic for dogs, so try to avoid:
- Grapes and raisins.
- Onions and garlic.
- Xylitol (sugar, usually found in gum and some peanut butter).
- Chocolate and caffeine.
- Macadamia nuts.
How dog care impacts long-term health
Great dog care can really make a positive impact on your dog’s long-term health. More than you think, actually. According to the Purina Institute, dogs who were kept at an ideal weight lived an average of 1.8 years longer than their overweight counterparts. That’s pretty incredible. It also tends to mean that the earlier you can implement great dog care, the better they’ll be in their later years. Delaying chronic conditions, like arthritis, that usually develop when a dog becomes senior is a real possibility. When a dog is on the heavier side, their additional fat cells trigger a process that causes them inflammation. So, you’d be saving them from a lot of pain, too.
It may not seem like it in the moment, but putting good dental hygiene into your dog care routine is also really important. Any bacteria that tends to accumulate in their mouth, can travel through your dog’s blood stream, accessing important organs, including the heart valves, kidney and liver and potentially cause some issues later down the road. A preventative dog care routine, really ensures that your dog’s less exposed to any issues that could come about from this.
Let’s not forget about exercise. The more a dog can get the proper amount of exercise for their breed, the better their quality of life. It also keeps the cogs turning and their brain feeling good. What’s most important here is consistency. Your dogs should get enough exercise everyday, rather than getting it all out the way on a weekend – this actually makes them more prone to developing injuries.
Now that you know the key areas, here’s a handy checklist for the dog care foundations to follow:
- Keep them lean and at the appropriate weight – consult your vet if you’d like to know the specific status of your dog’s weight. They can perform an assessment.
- Brush their teeth everyday.
- Get them exercising everyday, consistently.
Overall dog quality of life indicators – happiness, movement, cognitive markers
Merriam Webster defines ‘quality of life’ as overall enjoyment of life. Which means, yes, your dog’s physical appearance is important, but what’s also important is everything else they experience in life. So, what’s involved in making sure they have a good quality of life and how do you measure it? Let’s get into it.
Factor 1: Happiness
For a dog, the main indicator for happiness is engagement with the world and their humans and if they can relax. A happy dog usually has a wiggly energy, maybe even showing a smile. If they’re engaging well with you when they want to play, that’s a great sign.
Factor 2: Movement
Walking, moving and exercise for dogs is super important. It’s not just simply about if they can walk, but how well. A lot of dogs experience issues with their mobility and joints as they age, so keeping movement a regular part of their routine is the sign of a good quality of life. They’re moving their body like they’re supposed to. After all, who isn’t excited for walkies?
Factor 3: Cognition
For some dogs, as they age, they can develop Canine Cognitive Dysfunction – or, what most people know as ‘doggy dementia’.
There’s a few things you can keep an eye on to track the status of their learning, processing and overall brain health.
- Disorientation: Are they getting a little confused with where to be or where things are?
- Interactions: How are they getting along with people and other pets?
- Sleep: How are they sleeping? Are they vocalizing themselves while they sleep?
- Poops indoors: Are they forgetting years of puppy poop and pee training?
- Activity levels: How active are they and how much consistent energy do they have?
So, what does a good day look like for a healthy dog? It should involve a lot of eating well, movement and good sleep.
Dog Care Basics That Improve Your Dog’s Health
A few simple habits can really transform your dog’s everyday health. And, once you’ve put this into practice, it’ll start to feel like a ritual that you and your pup want to do.
Daily Dog Care Habits For a Healthy Dog
Habits create lasting change. It’s true for humans and it’s true for dogs, too.
Habit 1: Quality Exercise
Good quality exercise involves the same sort of exercise you’re used to, just with more time spent on the stress-reducing elements, like sniffing and letting them take their time in their surroundings. It’s also a good idea to split up their walks into achievable bursts, like three 10 minute walks, instead of one 30 minute period.
Habit 2: Get Enough Quality Sleep
A healthy dog should get a lot of sleep – around 12-14 hours, on average. It’s important that this time is quality, letting their body and brain rest and reset. This kind of sleep is usually called REM, where you’ll experience intense brain activity, vivid dreaming, rapid eye movements, and temporary muscle paralysis.
Dogs actually get to REM sleep 70 minutes sooner than us humans and have shorter sleep cycles. When they’re in REM, they’ll usually twitch. Non-REM sleep for dogs is where their body repairs tissues and their immune system gets to work. This means that they need both types of sleep.
Habit 3: Have a Great Sleep Set-Up
A dog’s sleep set-up is super important in helping them get a good night’s rest. Things like having a comfortable orthopedic bed that molds to their body is a great addition, as well as just keeping the room as dark as can be and quiet. Ultimately, your dog should feel really safe. Safe enough to snooze without needing to feel worried or stressed.
Habit 3: Keeping a Good Diet
With dogs, a lot of their diet management is focused on their calories. They need the right amounts of food (animal protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and vitamins), but they also need a good amount of fresh water. All of this keeps them feeling and looking good. It’s always important to remember portion control here. You don’t want to over-feed or under-feed them. As we know already, keeping their weight nice and lean is one of the biggest factors that influences a dog’s health, so the more you’re on top of this, the better.
Habit 4: Daily Dental Care
Try to brush their teeth everyday, or on average, three times a week. It’ll save them from letting bad bacteria develop into anything serious. Healthy dogs have good dental hygiene.
Habit 5: Keep Track of Their Lumps and Bumps
Seen a new lump or bump? Keep a track of it and consult your vet. They’ll be able to diagnose if it’s anything serious or not, but it’s a good idea to have an idea of what they currently have and where. You could use the notes app on your phone to keep a diary or you could draw and write down their lumps and bumps.
Habit 6: Groom Them
Sure, it’s a vanity thing, but it actually has some health benefits. When you keep an eye on their skin and coat, it can really stimulate the skin oils to maintain its barrier and prevent any long hairs around their paws from catching or interfering with how they move and as a consequence, how their joints operate.
Weekly and monthly dog care checklist
Every great dog care guide should have an easy checklist. So, that’s exactly what we’re giving you. Here’s what you can look out for and get a hit of dopamine when you tick it off.
Weekly
Takes around 15–20 minutes
- Weight and rib check.
- Inspect their ears.
- Check their paws and pads.
- Check their whole body for lumps and bumps.
- Wash their bedsheets.
-
Sanitize their toys.
Monthly
Takes around 30–45 minutes
- Trim their nails.
- Give them their flea and tick medication.
- Give their hair around their private parts a trim.
- Check their teeth and gums.
- Check their movement, walk, gait.
- Check your dog's first aid kit is all in date.
Mistakes in dog care that can harm dog health
We get it, the world of dog care can be a lot. There’s so much to know and so much to keep a track of. Like with most things, it’s usually the things that are silent that can develop into something serious. But, it’s hard to know exactly what is a mistake and what isn’t. So, let’s talk about it.
Common mistake 1
What: Skipping routine bloodwork, because they look like a healthy dog.
The mistake: You never know what’s going on internally with a dog, because they aren’t genetically wired to tell us immediately. Things can fester if you don’t get their bloodwork done and checked.
What to do: Go for checkups every year if they’re a puppy or adult. If they’re more senior dogs, go twice a year.
Common mistake 2
What: Overfeeding your dog with human or dog food.
The mistake: The additional calories store as fat, leading to inflammation. A dog’s weight is the main factor that we, as dog owners, have control over.
What to do: Try to feed them low-calorie snacks, less often and weigh their food.
Common mistake 3
What: Not paying attention to their lack of energy and concluding that they’re just ‘getting old’, rather than looking at it as a real physical change.
The mistake: A dog slowing down and having a lack of energy to move, is usually a sign they’re experiencing some form of pain with their joints.
What to do: Don’t always assume a dog’s energy changes are because they’re ‘getting old’, if this is a physical change, consult your vet and check there’s nothing more going on there.
Common mistake 4
What: Under-exercising or over-exercising.
The mistake: Either extreme isn’t great for your dog. The most important factor here is consistency.
What to do: Maintain a steady routine of shorter busts everyday for a healthy dog.
Common mistake 5
What: Assuming that your backyard is enough mental and physical stimulation for your dog.
The mistake: Dogs need space to feel like they can roam free and a backyard can feel trapping.
What to do: They thrive when you take them out for a walk in the outside world, so take them out and let them sniff around for as long as they want to.
Common mistake 6
What: Leaving a dog at home alone for over 10 hours straight.
The mistake: Dogs need to be around their pack (their owners) to feel like they’re safe enough to do things like get a restorative, REM sleep. Without this, they can develop separation anxiety and feel super stressed.
What to do: Always try to check in, especially if you have to go out for work. Spending 20 minutes helps them feel that connection they crave and keeps them feeling good.
What Makes Dogs Happy?
All we want is for our dogs to feel happy. There’s no question about it. But, what can we do that’s in our power and for their best interest? There’s a few things you can make sure that they’ve got using this dog care guide.
Human interaction with their people
What’s wild is that dogs look to humans for protection more than their own kind. As the study by the journal, Science, states, Dogs and owners who exchanged long gazes had an increase in oxytocin – otherwise known as the ‘love hormone’. They love it, we love it. They also love when we give them physical affection, including belly rubs and ear scratches.
Exercise
Yes, moving their bodies burns calories, which is essential to maintain a healthy weight, but it’s also great for their brains. They can experience a rush of endorphins, a bit like ‘runners high’.
Consistent routines
Dogs love it when there’s predictability. Knowing that they’re going to get a walk and fed everyday, makes them feel less anxious and more safe. A regular routine also helps regulate their circadian rhythm, so they can get a good night’s sleep and become the healthy dog we want.
Secure environment
It’s important that a dog feels really safe in their home, just like for humans. It steadies their nervous system, so the rest of their systems, like immunity and repair, are able to function as usual. Having a spot that’s really there is also a key part of having a safe home.
Mental stimulation
A dog’s brain is very high in energy. They need a lot of stimulation. Sniffing things and solving puzzles are great ways to keep their brains engaged and happy.
Playing with other dogs
Every dog is different, but on the whole, some dogs really get a lot of enjoyment from interacting with other dogs, especially if they’re the same breed. They’re literally on the same wavelength, shall we say. Sometimes, play wrestling is also just a form of fun for them. Not always, but sometimes.
Nutritional and Feeding for Optimal Dog Health
What a dog eats and how much they eat, is just as important as the physical and mental health factors you’ve read all about so far. Mainly, because a dog’s diet and how much they eat is one of the most influential factors we have over our dogs' health. We’re delving deep in this dog care guide to bring you the essential things to look out for.
What a healthy dog diet should include
There’s four main parts to a good diet for a healthy dog:
- High quality animal protein; Chicken, beef, lamb, fish. These are the foundational parts for muscle, skin and fur.
- Healthy fats and fatty acids; Omega-3s and Omega-6s. These are important for energy levels, brain development and joint inflammation.
- Carbohydrates; Sweet potato, brown rice and oats. Keeps energy levels steady.
- Vitamins and minerals; Vitamin B, C and E are all important ones. These help with bone growth and help prevent blood clots.
Choosing the best dog food for long-term health
In general, what you want to look out for, is a diet that reduces inflammation and supports all of your dog’s everyday processes.
Tip one: Look at the first 5 ingredients on dog food packets. These are the things that dog food contains the highest amounts of.
Tip two: Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the pack or in the dog food brand’s communications.
Ingredients to avoid in dog food
- Xylitol (birch sugar) – you’ll find this in gum, usually.
- Artificial colors – these can cause hyperactivity and allergies in some dogs.
- Synthetic antioxidants, like BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin.
- Anything labelled ‘animal fat’ – especially if what this is and where it’s from isn’t clear.
Feeding amounts, schedules and portion control for a healthy dog
Feeding your dog is a fine art. But, once you’ve got the basics down, it's a breeze.
How much you should feed your dog
Usually, it’s fine to follow the feeding guidelines on dog food packets and pouches, but these are estimates. If there’s anything specific you’d like to know, consult your vet and get their take.
Feeding schedules
This really depends on your dog’s age and size, but on average, puppies should have 3 to 4 meals a day. Adult dogs who are between the ages of 1 and 7 should usually have 2 meals a day and larger adult breeds should have 2 to 3 meals a day.
Portion control for a healthy dog
The specific portion of food that you feed your dog is important, because it contributes to their overall weight. You want your dog to ideally be lean, not over or under weight.
Exercise and Activity for a Healthy Dog
Just like for us humans, exercise is a really important factor for a dog’s health. But, there isn’t one rule for all dogs. Let’s get into the details in this dog care guide…
How much exercise does a dog need?
This really depends on your dog’s age, breed and activity levels, but as a general rule of thumb, try to use the below as guidance.
Puppies (up to 18 months)
With young pups, the general advice you’ll see is to make sure they have 5 minutes of formal exercise, which doubles as they age, twice a day. For example, at 2 months old, they’ll exercise for 10 minutes, twice a day. At four months, they’ll exercise for 20 minutes, twice a day and so on.
Adults (1–7 years)
This then gets a little more complex. The amount adult dogs exercise depends on their size and natural energy levels. Small and toy breeds need 30-60 minutes a day, which is best broken down into smaller time periods, like 10 minutes each.
Dogs who are bred to have more energy than the usual adult dog, like Retrievers and Spaniels, should get 1 to 1.5 hours of exercise a day, broken down into smaller periods, like 20 minutes each.
There are dogs with tons of energy, like Huskies and Border Collies, that need over 2 hours of exercise, ideally broken down into smaller periods.
Senior Dogs (7–10+ years)
It’s harder and takes more for older dogs to exercise. So, on average, try to aim for 30 to 45 minutes of exercise a day, ideally broken down into smaller periods.
How exercise supports dog health and weight control
Exercise, just like diet, is so important for dogs. When a dog is exercising, it means that they’re using their fat stores, not letting them sit stagnant. If a dog doesn’t burn the calories they’ve consumed, if they’ve over eaten, it’ll store as fat and convert into adipose tissue (which is another name for fat), which then causes inflammation.
It’s a small thing, but it saves your dog from a lot of pain. Plus, it keeps them at a healthy weight. When they’re a lean, healthy weight, you’re avoiding any issues that could come from being obese – which comes with its own challenges for dogs.
Moving is also great for a dog’s joint health. Dog joints have a hard time. Constantly putting pressure on them to keep them going. When they move, it helps provide blood flow to the synovial fluid and cartilage in their joints, keeping them nice and lubricated (not stiff). Blood gets moving around their bodies like it should and their blood pressure is maintained.
Mental Stimulation and Emotional Dog Care
A dog’s mental health is such a contributing factor to their overall health. When they’re exercising, it can release dopamine and serotonin, which are known as ‘feel good’ hormones. This dog care guide gets into why it’s so significant…
Why mental health is a part of overall dog health
Modern day science for humans and animals has evolved massively over the course of the last decade. Now, mental health and physical health are socially and scientifically seen as equal. It’s a real symbiotic relationship, in that one can deeply affect the other. But, why is it important?
High cortisol affects their immune system
When a dog is stressed or anxious, their cortisol levels spike. When their cortisol levels are high, it starts to suppress their immune system. This means that they’ll start to become more susceptible to infections and allergies.
Exercising their brains can help prevent Canine Cognitive Dysfunction
The more a dog is engaging their brain, the better. They’re less likely to develop Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, which is a type of neurodegenerative disease that can affect the way a dog processes information and their memory.
Stress and anxiety can cause gut issues
Just like when we get stressed as humans, dogs can experience similar side-effects. This could manifest itself in something like chronic diarrhea.
Enrichment activities that keep dogs healthy
An enrichment activity is where we provide dogs with a stimulus that feeds off of their natural instinct. In other words, doing things that play up to their senses, like letting them sniff for longer on walks, playing brain games, using puzzle feeders and lick mats to make them think and making them work for their food by scattering it in the grass outside, is all good for them.
Reducing anxiety, stress and boredom in dogs
Dogs get anxious at a rate that’s not too dissimilar to humans. In fact, in a significant study conducted by the University of Helsinki, 73% of dogs suffer from anxious behaviors. There are a few anxious behaviors to look out for; slowing down, leaning away and lip-licking, crouched body, paw lifting, approaching you with a lowered body and shaking. Anxiety and stress are more obvious triggers of unhappiness in dogs, but what’s less obvious is boredom. In a dog’s mind, boredom can actually cause stress. There’s a few things you can try to help reduce their anxiety, stress and boredom:
- Let them sniff away – it lowers their cortisol levels.
- Try to find ways of letting them lick and chew for longer, like with lick matts and longer lasting chews.
- Make their home environment as safe and cozy as possible. Try to put on brown noise and make their bed area as comfortable and ‘theirs’ as possible.
- If your dog’s getting bored, try to make their daily activities more fun. For example, during feeding times, put their food in a puzzle toy to make it more interesting for them.
- Let your pup recover for 3 days after a big, high-stress event. That’s how long it takes for their cortisol to return to a baseline level.
Preventative Dog Care and Veterinary Health
The main approach vets tend to have is preventative dog care. This just means that they’re trying to catch issues before they arise or get worse. It can be a little confusing if you’re a first time pup parent, though, so we’re breaking down how often you need to see the vet.
How often should dogs see the vet?
This really depends on your dog; their age, size, breed and overall health.
Puppies up until the age of 1
Should see the vet every 3–4 weeks until they’re 16 weeks old.
Adult dogs from the ages of 1–7
Should see the vet once a year.
Senior dogs from the ages of 7–10
Should see the vet twice a year.
Vaccinations, parasite prevention and dental care
These are the three key areas of preventative care, which is the type of care you’ll usually go to your vet for.
Vaccinations
Helps: Immunity.
The key vaccines: Rabies and DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza).
Parasite prevention
Helps: The heart and gut.
The key parasites to shield against: Heartworms, flees, ticks and intestinal parasites.
Dental care
Helps: Overall organ health.
The key areas a good dental routine helps: heart valves, kidney and liver.
Early signs your dog’s health needs vet attention
Dogs are genetically wired to not express their pain vocally until they really have no other choice. So, it’s even more important to keep on top of their health as much as you can. These are few things you can keep an eye on to check if they need to see a vet soon:
- Changes in urine.
- Changes in their thirst.
- Unusually lethargic.
- Loss of appetite.
- Cloudy or red eyes.
- ‘Doggy breath’ that has stuck around for a while.
- Changes in gum color.
- Hesitation when movement is involved.
- The ‘bunny hop’.
- Obsessively licking their joints.
- A new, persistent cough.
- Occasional vomiting.
- Dragging their bottoms on the floor.
Products and Supplements That Support Dog Health
So far in this dog care guide, we’ve talked about simple switches and changes, but there are other products and supplements out there that can enhance the effectiveness of these changes.
Are dog supplements safe and effective?
Overall, most dog supplements are safe and effective. It does, of course, depend on the quality and contents of the supplement. Try to look for supplements that contain highly-researched ingredients, including Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Glucosamine and Probiotics.
The majority of dog supplements are absolutely fine in terms of safety and effectiveness, but it’s always a good idea to do a quick scan and search on the brand and the supplement you’re looking into. Look at the back of supplement labels and see if they’re accredited by important bodies, like the National Animal Security Council (NASC) and are made in secure, safe facilities.
Joint, skin, digestive and immune support for a healthy dog
All of these are key areas, where dog products and supplements can make a difference to their everyday lives. Let's get into what they should contain.
Joint support for a healthy dog
Look for products and supplements that contain Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Omega-3s or Omega-6s.
Skin support for a healthy dog
Look for products and supplements that contain Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Vitamin E.
Digestive support for a healthy dog
Look for products and supplements that contain probiotics, prebiotics and fiber, like Pumpkin.
Immune support for a healthy dog
Look for products and supplements that contain antioxidants, probiotics and vitamins, like B, C and E.
Everyday dog products that improve health
There’s a lot of things to bear in mind when you’re looking after your dog’s health, so let’s start with the basics.
- Dental: A good toothbrush.
- Dental: A good toothpaste, preferably with enzymes – like Virbac CET.
- Dental: Finger wipes to remove any leftover residue.
- Digestion: Slow-feeder bowls that make your dog take its time when eating.
- Digestion: Stainless steel or ceramic bowls, these materials don’t harbor bacteria like other cheaper options.
- Skeleton support: A Y-shaped harness that really lets your dog move freely.
- Skeleton support: A nail grinder to make sure there’s no damage to their nails when they’re walking around, which can cause a shift in weight and pressure, leading to arthritis.
- Skeleton support: A memory foam, orthopedic bed is great for dogs that struggle with their joints.
- Mental health: Lick mats and snuffle mats are great to relieve your dog’s stress levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I improve my dog’s health naturally?
There are a ton of ways you can improve your dog’s health naturally. If you feed them kibble, even swapping 10% of this to fresh food, is a great way to boost the quality of their nutrition (food swaps include blueberries and chopped kale).
Try to make your home, but especially your floors, dog-friendly. Dogs absorb a lot of chemicals that are on the floor, it’s where they spend the majority of their time. Switching to pet-safe cleaning liquids and giving them filtered water, are a few simple changes you can implement.
Another easy thing you can implement is letting your dog sniff as much as they can when they’re out and about on their walk.
What are the most important dog care basics?
The basics are anything but basic when it comes to your dog’s health.
- Vet check-ups. The amount depends on how old your dog is, their size, weight and current health.
- Good dental hygiene. Implement regular brushing.
- Make sure they’ve got flea and tick cover for the year.
- Check their weight by feeling their sides. They should be lean and you should feel a slight layer of fat, then their ribs.
- Try to make sure you’re giving your dog the right portion. Not too much, not too little. Use a weighing scale for accuracy.
- Add fresh food into their kibble as a nutrition boost. Just 10% makes a difference. Sprinkle over some blueberries or some chopped kale.
- Let them sniff as much as they can. It stimulates their brains, keeps them calm and is a source of fun for them.
- Get a good dog food and water bowl, usually stainless or ceramic.
- Keep a consistent routine; waking, sleeping, walks, feeding, play. The more consistent it is, the safer and happier they feel.
- Make their space a sanctuary for them, where they feel safe.
- Microchip them. This helps maintain their safety from a more physical standpoint.
- Get them an ID tag – lets others contact you if they get a little lost.
How do I know if my dog is healthy?
There’s a few things you can check to see if your dog is healthy that we’re getting into in this dog care guide.
First off, do a quick physical scan of their body. Their eyes should be clear and bright, their ears should be clean and pink, their coat and skin should be soft and shiny and their noise should be moist and cool. Check their ribs for signs of a healthy weight. It should feel like a light layer of fat, then you should feel their ribs. A lean weight like this is a great sign.
Then, check their teeth and gums. Lift their lips up and their gums should be a healthy pink color. If you press their gums for 2 seconds with a light pressure, the color should change to white, but bounce back quickly to pink. Then, check their dog's breath. It’s okay for them to have a subtle dog breath, but if it’s a stronger smell than usual, it’s best to consult your vet.
Then, for some general checks; their overall energy levels should be levelled out. They should be happy to greet you, hungry and get enough sleep.
Finally, check their poop and urine. Their poop should be firm, moist and easy to pick up. Their urine should be a clear, pale yellow.
Can good dog care prevent health problems?
Yes, definitely. In this dog care guide, we’ve shown that good dog care, while it can’t completely prevent a health issue, definitely sets your dog up for success. Good dog care will often delay the onset of health conditions way before they’re meant to set in. This often means that their overall health is in a really good place for their age, weight and size.
For example, by maintaining a dog's weight as lean, this then prevents them from developing a lot of conditions, including obesity. This would then lead to built-up pressure on their joints, causing joint pain, like arthritis. Although dogs that are a certain breed are pre-disposed to joint pain like this, it's often more senior dogs that tend to develop joint pain, like arthritis. This can impact a dog's health significantly.
To Sum Up
From understanding what good dog health actually means, to weekly and monthly checks you can make to ensure your dog is in a good place and what exactly to feed them and keep them mentally stimulated, we’ve covered all the basics of what is considered ‘good’ dog health in this dog care guide. Now, you can go forth and put this into practice for your pup.