Do you want to maintain the good health of your dog? But where to start ? Here are 6 valuable tips that will help you take care of your four-legged pet.
Tip 1: Veterinary care
Before getting a pet, look at your budget. Do you have enough money to cover veterinary and feeding costs? According to the magazine “Que Choisir” for the month of June 2022, the average annual budget is around 451 euros, including 189 euros for the veterinary budget.
To cover veterinary costs, a multitude of health insurances exist. You can therefore take out specific insurance for your companion. This will prevent you from paying astronomical sums for a surgical procedure, and for expensive care that lasts over time.
The puppy's medical consultations are numerous during the first months of his life. In fact, your veterinarian will vaccinate your young animal several times, but will also check that its growth is progressing properly. He will also be able to advise you if necessary. You will need to insert a microchip into your young companion (if this has not been done before). Sterilization can be considered subsequently, if desired.
Once an adult, remember to visit at least once a year to carry out routine examinations. Moreover, monitoring is even more important if your little one becomes elderly or suffers from an illness. Blood tests will be prescribed to assess the proper functioning of his organs.
Tip 2: Nutrition
Just like in humans, the secret (which is not one) to good health is: a healthy diet that guarantees the nutritional intake necessary for the body. Diet is vital for your dog's skin, coat, maintaining optimal weight, energy and gastrointestinal function. Consequently, a poor diet causes a disruption in the functioning of the body.
So choose a suitable food for your dog. It must be of good quality. Once you have chosen the diet, observe your pet's health over the next four to eight weeks.
Here are some indications that may help you:
- Its coat : it must not be greasy, but shiny with no “dandruff”
- Your vitality : a decrease in energy could indicate a nutritional problem
- His weight : if your dog does not find the food to his taste, this can lead to weight loss
Be careful, a change in diet can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. It is therefore important to change gradually unless otherwise indicated by your veterinarian.
Furthermore, food supplements can be important in prevention to help maintain good health and prevent nutritional deficiencies. They can provide additional assurance that the body is receiving all the essential nutrients it needs to function optimally.
Tip 3: Routine exercises
Physical exercise is essential to have a balanced and healthy little one. When a pooch doesn't exercise enough and becomes bored, he can develop behavioral problems such as destructiveness and anxiety. Often these behaviors are the result of excess energy. It is therefore vital to provide sufficient physical and mental expenses for your four-legged companion.
A minimum of one to two hours of activity per day is generally necessary for him. For the intensity of the exercises, it is important to take into account several criteria such as race, size and age. It should be noted that these sporting habits can also benefit you and improve your health.
>> Does canicross mean something to you?
Tip 4: Dental care
It's very easy to forget to take care of your dog's teeth, until you start smelling bad breath. Despite urban legends, bad breath in doggies is not normal. Indeed, it is a sign of oral problems, just like in humans, right?
In addition, serious health problems can be caused by tartar accumulation. Over time, tartar forms under the gums. It starts with the molars and premolars, and eventually moves to the fangs.
The consequences are :
- Oral infections
- Abscesses
- Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis)
- Bleeding gums
Oral micro-organisms can circulate in the blood and infect different organs, such as the kidneys and heart. In senior dogs, this can lead to kidney and heart failure.
To maintain your dog's oral hygiene, you should have:
When it comes to brushing, it is easier to accustom your dog from a young age to having his teeth brushed than to wait until he is an adult. But, it is not impossible with patience.
You can brush your dog's teeth at least two to three times a week.
When the tartar is too established, descaling at the veterinarian is then necessary.
It should be noted that small dogs are more prone to dental problems.
>> Truffle Délice has wonderful chewing foods that limit the appearance of tartar.
>> Why is chewing important? The 7 good reasons
Tip 5: Warning signs
Not having the same language as ours, it is important to pay attention to the signs that our dogs give us. Your pet may exhibit a variety of behaviors that indicate a health problem. Additionally, many doggies will instinctively try to hide signs of illness. Which makes detecting symptoms more difficult.
Here are some warning signs of illness:
- Digestive disorders: such as constipation and diarrhea lasting more than 48 hours, should alert you. Do not hesitate to consult your veterinarian. In case of diarrhea, remember to give your companion fresh water to avoid dehydration.
- Repeated sneezing, coughing and vomiting : this may indicate the presence of allergies or illnesses.
- Weight variation: can hide a pathology, whether it is weight loss or gain. For example, diabetes in dogs begins with weight gain and once the disease sets in, the animal loses weight.
- Refusal to eat for more than 24 hours : should alert you. A consultation with the veterinarian is recommended. However, an increase in appetite can also be an indicator of health problems. In fact, when diabetes begins, the dog will eat more than usual.
- Thirst and abnormal amounts of urine : are strong warning signs of illness. Diabetes also causes great thirst and copious amounts of urine.
- Respiratory disorders : These are characterized by abnormal breathing, runny noses and eyes, and panting. It is important to consult a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
- State of fatigue: if you notice that your dog no longer has the same energy or vitality as usual, monitor his condition. If the latter persists, consult a veterinarian.
>> Click here to read about diabetes in dogs .
Tip 6: Regular grooming
Grooming isn't just for show dogs. All doggies necessarily need a certain level of maintenance.
- Daily brushing : established a daily brushing session for long-haired dogs
- A haircut : Dogs like poodles, whose hair grows continuously may need a daily haircut
- A claw trim: essential so that your doggie does not have difficulty moving
Once you have determined your companion's grooming needs, decide whether you will do it yourself or hire a professional.
Sources:
The main symptoms of illness in dogs .
Dental care for dogs .
Que Choisir Practice No. 132 - June 2022 - UFC Que Choisir .