The Facts You Should Know About Dogs to Keep them Healthy and Happy

Dogs are good friends, workout mates and even furry-tailed mischiefs who appear to know how to make you feel better. But belly rubs and treats do not make them healthy, spunky and happy. It involves being aware of the facts concerning their health, their diet and their daily needs which in most cases are not given much thought. Such information may help you to avoid serious issues, increase the life of your dog, and make it happy. There are some significant facts on dogs that each owner must be aware of.

Heartworm Prevention Saves a Life

 Heartworm disease is something worth giving a second thought when it comes to securing your dog. Mosquito bites are the easiest way of transmitting these parasites, and they can lead to catastrophic health conditions in case of their contraction. What most of the owners do not know is the extent to which the risk can be prevalent. Even the indoor dogs are not full safeguards as the mosquitoes can be attracted inside the houses.

The problematic aspect of heartworms is that the symptoms do not always manifest themselves in time before the disease develops further. At this point, treatment is expensive and complex and in other instances, treatment might not fully recover the health of your dog. That is why it is all about prevention. Vet checkups and preventative medication are necessary on a regular basis and it is much easier and cheaper than fixing a full-blown infection. It is not only a matter of following the advice of the vet to keep your dog safe of heartworms. It is about appreciating the fact that prevention can make a literal difference in your dog, it can save their life, and can save them against a painful and dangerous kind of illness.

Learning to Digest Dogs So You Can Take Better Care of Them

The food that your dog consumes is enormous in dictating the general health of the dog. The number of the owners who are asking the question, how long does it take a dog to digest food? It would also be determined by the size of the dog, the food and their health condition.

It would depend on the size of the dog, the kind of food and how well they are in health. An average of between 8 and 10 hours is required to get food through the system of a dog although, certain foods travel faster and some dogs are slower in digestion.

Why does this matter? Since digestion influences all forms of feeding habits to bathroom schedules to the manner in which you track your health conditions. When you feed your dog on kibbled food, you will realize that it will digest slowly compared to wet food or raw food. The food is usually processed faster by puppies, whereas the old dogs may need more time. Knowing the pattern of digestion will allow you to have an idea when your dog may have to go outside, as well as to warn you of issues. When the digestion becomes either slower or faster than usual, this may indicate sickness.

Dental Health is More Than Fresh Breath

One can always imagine the idea of brushing your dog teeth as an optional exercise, but dental health is directly connected to the general health. Poor oral hygiene may trigger an infection, periodontal diseases, and even systemic issues which impact the heart and kidneys. Dogs know best how to conceal pain, and therefore a pet owner may not notice that something is wrong until it is too late.

The bad news is that it matters a lot that you get regular care. Brushing and dental chews every day and cleaning the animal at the clinic once a year can significantly minimize the chances of severe complications. Consider it as preventative maintenance such as the car oil changes. Giving your dog a small amount of attention every now and then will ensure that you keep your pet happy and save you costly health issues in the future. And fresher breath is also an agreeable perquisite.

Exercise is Medicine for Dogs

All people are aware that dogs should be taken out to walk, and not everyone understands that the exercise is extremely essential to their health. Exercise assists the majority of dogs to maintain a healthy weight, builds muscle, maintains healthy joints and decreases behavioral challenges due to boredom or energy surplus. An exercised dog is a long way in stopping destructive behaviors because of its exhaustion.

The type of the exercise and the amount of it is based on the breed, age and the health of the dog. A Border Collie will also demand more effort compared to a Bulldog, where old dogs might enjoy lazy walks compared to hard running. Mental exercise also counts. Your dog can be challenged with the help of puzzle toys, training activities, interactive games, which is equally important as maintaining their body fit.

Frequent Vet Care Extends Lifespans

Lastly, at-home care cannot substitute professional veterinary care, even the best one. Annual checkups identify problems early either in terms of heart murmurs, thyroid problems and tooth decay. Immunizations, blood tests and parasite screenings are all additional protection against your dog getting infected.

Frequent visits also assist you in posing questions and customizing the plan of care of your dog. You may also use your vet to prescribe certain joint supplements to a large-breed dog or advise you to change your food, depending on weight gain. Regular check-ups create a history of the health of your dog with time, which is easy to detect the differences that require attention. It is not imposing pills and spending unnecessarily. It is about providing your dog with the best opportunity to live a long happy life by getting ahead of the most likely issues.