We recently wrote about the importance of medical insurance for your dogs.
Prevention, as they say, is way better than cure, so this time out we’ll be sharing our thoughts on how to keep your dog healthy and in great shape.
1. Watch their Weight
Speaking of shapes, what shape is your dog…?
The majority of people we encounter, have a misconception of what a healthy dog shape is.
Dog’s should actually be a little skinny, and have a very visible tummy tuck. The ribs should not be visible, but you should be able to easily feel each individual rib if you run your hand over the side of the chest, without pressure.
What’s the big deal? Overweight dogs put extra strain on ligaments, joints and vital organs like the heart, making them more prone to injuries and problems later in life, e.g. arthritis.
The best way to control weight is to get as far away from commercial grain-filled foods as possible. Feed a healthy raw diet, or if you must feed kibble, choose a top quality brand which is focused on high protein content and little to no additives.
Not all expensive foods are good foods – do your homework!
Do not be afraid to reduce your dog’s food intake if they are overweight and make sure that your healthy diet is backed by regular exercise.
2. Grooming
Staying clean and tidy is definitely part of staying healthy. All dogs, even the short-coat breeds , should be brushed regularly (minimum once a week) to remove loose fur and dead skin. This is also a great way for you to keep your dog comfortable with being handled, which your groomer and vet will thank you for.
For those with long/shaggy coats prone to knots and matting, it’s critical that you stay on top of brushing and regularly use a professional groomer.
Dirty, matted fur becomes a breeding ground for parasites and germs and can hide sores and skin problems.
Make sure you are using the correct brushes and combs as well. If unsure speak to one of our trainers to guide you.
Not everyone believes in bathing their dogs and some short haired breeds may get away with it. We recommend a bath approximately every four – six weeks for the average dog. More frequent baths could strip essential oils out of the coat, which is also not good.
Do not use human shampoos or cheap ‘supermarket’ products that could damage your dog’s coat, or cause skin irritation. We recommend using organic, vet recommended products – such as Biogroom.
3. Nails, Ears and Teeth
Nails should always be kept short. Long nails can become ingrown, get hooked and torn, and reduce traction on slippery surfaces.
There’s a knack to trimming nails, so if you’re not sure how to do it, it’s probably better to leave it to your groomer, or vet.
Dogs who walk on hard surfaces often, don’t need much nail maintenance, but you should keep tabs on them anyway and don’t forget about the dew claws which don’t touch ground. They will need trimming more often.
Ears should be cleaned once a week. Wipe the inside of the ear with a ball of damp cotton wool removing the brownish wax build up. Dogs with floppy ears are particularly prone to yeast infections. (Moisture build up.)
This requires vet intervention if not treated. There isn’t always a discharge, so watch out for ears that feel hot, pawing of the ears, head shaking, or if the dog yelps when the ears are massaged.
Dental hygiene is often overlooked. Tartar build-up can lead to gum disease, loose and rotting teeth and acts as a general breeding ground that can compromise your dog’s health.
Dog’s that have gum disease will continually be swallowing bacteria, and thereby compromising their liver, leading to liver failure. You can get Pet Dent toothpaste and specially designed toothbrushes from your vet shop. Human brushes also work just fine in our experience – but don’t use human toothpaste!
Brushing 2-3 times a week should be sufficient, although in our experience raw fed dogs who get meaty bones and other healthy chew treats are doing a lot of self-cleaning and won’t need brushing that often. You should still be checking regularly to make sure their teeth are clean and healthy.
4. Parasites
Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are not your friends. They are literally after your dog’s blood.
Chemical products that keep ticks and fleas off your dog are a controversial topic of late and perhaps the subject of another discussion – so we’ll just say do your homework before you decide to feed/use a pesticide on your dog.
Our approach to making this decision: If you wouldn’t feel comfortable using it on your human child, then you shouldn’t feel comfortable using it on your dog either.
You need to keep bedding clean, and kill fleas in the environment where possible. The environment is the critical area to get free of eggs laid by fleas, which can survive up to 2 years. This is what will break the cycle.
Regular grooming and using a flea comb definitely helps and there are several choices of natural flea repellent you could use that are at least partially effective.
Dogs should always be checked for ticks and other bugs after nature outings – don’t forget to look in the armpits and under the tail!
5. Lumps, Sores and Scrapes
At Dogz at Home we teach an activity in our classes called ‘bodywork’ which involves using calming massage and rewards to get your dog comfortable with being handled all over their body. During the process handlers are taught to check teeth, eyes, ears, feet (pads and nails) as well as armpits and tail regions.
This is an amazing calming exercise that will strengthen your relationship with your dog and the vet and groomer will thank you for it – but it’ also incredibly useful when you’re trying to identify, or treat small issues like hotspots, splinters and scrapes.
Also if you’re familiar with your dog’s body, then when checking regularly, it’ll be easier to pick up lumps that may need checking by the vet.
Following these guidelines will give you a head start on having a healthy, happy dog, but that doesn’t mean they’re never going to get injured, or have a medical problem.
Remember, when in doubt, go to your vet.
(Google is not a Vet!)
