How To Keep Your Hound Healthy



Want your dog to live a long and happy life? There are lots of preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of illness and injury. Here are just several ways to protect your dog’s health.

Get your dog vaccinated

Various vaccines exist for dogs that can help immunize them against lethal diseases such as Lyme disease and rabies. Most dogs receive these vaccines as a puppy (a rabies jab is mandatory for all puppies once they reach 12 weeks). Make sure that your pet has had these vaccinations so that you’re not putting your pet at risk.

Go on regular walks 

Going on a walk can provide various health benefits for your dog. Walks can firstly prevent weight gain – which in turn can prevent heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Taking your dog on a walk can also help to keep your dog’s nails naturally trimmed. On top of this, walks offer the chance to meet new dogs and socialize, which is good for your dog’s mental health. The amount of a walking that a dog needs depends largely on their breed. For example, Huskies and German shepherds need huge amounts of exercise, whilst chihuahuas and beagles need only a short walk. 

Playing in the garden can also help to stimulate your dog and provide the physical activity it needs. Just make sure you’ve trained your dog to come back when you call them, especially if you’ve got a garden that doesn’t have any fencing around the boundaries.

In those situations, you can erect fences to stop your canine companion from running away if they spot a small furry animal at a distance, like a cat, for example. Another alternative is to consider invisible dog fences that gently prompt them if they go too far away from you.

Recall training is helpful when you play with your dog in your garden or elsewhere if you spot them about to eat something that could be harmful to their health.

Watch your dog’s diet

It’s important that your dog isn’t over-eating as this could lead to a myriad of health problems. As with exercises, the amount of food a dog should be eating depends on their size and breed. Many dogs can develop bloat by eating their food too quickly – if your dog seems to wolf down their food you may want to buy a scoff bowl to prevent this. As for the types of food that you should be giving your dog, you should ideally be aiming for a well-balanced mixture of wet food, dry food, and healthy treats. There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there when it comes to which brands are healthiest – try not to worry too much about this. Make sure to take care with human foods, as some of these can be very fattening for dogs. There are also some human foods such as chocolate, grapes, and onions which are potentially toxic.

Keep a grooming routine

Keeping a good grooming routine can also have health benefits. Brushing your dog’s teeth can prevent gum disease and tooth decay, whilst brushing their fur can prevent them from getting lice and ticks. Bathing your dog could also help to fend off diseases, however, you don’t want to bathe your dog too often as this could strip away natural oils in your dog’s fur and lead to unhealthy skin conditions.

Lay down rugs on laminate wooden floors

Laminate wooden floors can be a danger to dogs. Most dogs will slide on these surfaces, which could cause the legs to unnaturally splay out and potentially cause joint problems later in life. Either replace these floors with carpet or lay down rugs so that there’s less room for your dog to slide.

Be wary of genetic problems

Some dog breeds can be more susceptible to health problems. For example, pugs can often suffer breathing problems and spinal problems as the result of being inbred over many years. These health problems can sometimes be avoided by taking care. You can find out information on your dog’s breed online. If your dog is a cross-breed or a mongrel you may be able to take a DNA test to reveal what types of breed make up the dog, helping you to work out the likeliness of your dog contracting various conditions. It’s worth doing your research into dog DNA test brands to find the most effective one so that results are trustworthy. Your vet may also be able to offer some information based on your dog’s breed.

Go for regular vet check-ups

Regular vet check-ups can help to catch hidden illnesses early. A simple check-up usually isn’t that expensive and could save you costly treatment in the long run. Your vet may alert you as to when your dog needs a check-up – ideally, you should be seeing a vet twice a year.

1 comment

  1. Thanks for the great article. I have been reading your blog for some time and I absolutely love what you have been doing!

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