How You Can Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy

As a responsible dog owner, it is important to keep your dog as happy and healthy as possible. Taking responsibility for this is important; after all, your dog depends on you every day to look after them to the best of your ability. To be sure this always happens, what routine should you put into place, and what should you think about when it comes to the health and happiness of your dog?

Take Regular Daily Exercise

Your dog can get very bored simply by staying in the house all day, and this is why exercise is important. If your dog is not getting enough daily exercise (at least one walk or run a day), you may find that their behavior changes. They may start becoming destructive if they are not doing anything all day, or if they are trying to use up stored energy. Even if your dog is well past the puppy or adolescent stage, it is important that you make the effort to take them out for a walk every day. A change of scenery and new places to explore and sniff is always going to be positive for them.

Go for Health Check-Ups at the Vets

Dogs can sometimes hide their problems and ailments quite well, and this is why it is important to get regular health check-ups at the vets or at an animal hospital. Health check-ups conducted by professionals such as those at saltwateranimalhospital.com can help you get your dog in fantastic shape, and help them stay healthy by giving them the boosters and vaccinations they made need on an annual basis. Health check-ups allow vets and vet nurses to check over your dog and spot warning signs or issues before they have the chance to escalate.

Provide a Healthy and Balanced Diet

The food that your dog eats keeps them healthy. If you are feeding your dog cheap commercial food, you may well find they suffer from health problems. They may also be lethargic, and they may suffer from dry and dull coats, too. Dogs are allowed treats (that are specifically created for them) but it is important to remember that everything must be given in moderation. If your dog is not getting as much exercise as you would like, then maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is more important than ever. Weighing out your dog’s food and sticking to a regular eating schedule will be important.

Regular Bathing and Grooming

Dogs’ fur and coats are often self-cleaning; however, there are those occasions when you will need to give your dog’s coat or fur a good wash and groom. Within this grooming time, you will get the chance to detangle any knots from their fur, and you will be able to look for any bumps or lumps that may have recently appeared. When you undertake a regular grooming and bathing schedule (at least once every other month or so) you must also remember to focus on dental care and oral care. Your dog’s teeth need cleaning regularly in order to fight off a build-up of plaque.