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We all love our dogs and want to do the best for them. You can give them all the love, attention and affection in the world but you also need to be aware of your pet’s health, so you can give them a longer, happier and healthier life.

From the day we bring our new puppy home, there are some key areas to look out for to help keep your dog healthy and enjoying life to the full:

Dog Health Problems Start From The Inside

· Diet: Providing the right food for their breed, size and age is vital. Making sure they get all the right nutrients – whilst not over or under feeding.

A large dog, such as a Great Dane, has different dietary needs to that of a Chihuahua, so some food brands even offer tailormade diets.

Dog Health Symptoms: Is Your Dog’s Weight A Cause For Concern?

· Exercise: You should be making sure they get enough exercise to keep them fit and active for as long as possible – dog walking can work to your benefit too!

· Vet visits: You should make sure they get regular health checks and injections with your local vet – as you would with your doctor – to prevent illness occurring and catch problems before they become threatening.

So how do you check if your dog is healthy?

This article discuss about the best cbd oil for dogs with arthritis and takes you through a ten-point health check that you can easily undertake at home. It works just as well on cats as it does dogs and I’ve called it the DIY MOT health check. You can monitor your pets’ health in-between regular visits to your vet, which will help alert you to any problem areas.

Eyes

Should be clear and sparkling without any discharge or redness, as this could be a sign of infection. The eyelids should also be checked for warts or cysts. Diet can also have an impact on eye health, if you have concerns, consider switching your dog’s food.

Teeth & gums

Gently lift your pet’s lips – the gums should be salmon pink, don’t worry some dogs can have naturally black pigmented gums, teeth should be clean and white with no yellow plaque or tartar and there should not be a bad smell!

Look out for loose teeth or bleeding gums, which should also be taken care of by your vet.

Paws

Check the pads for open cuts, splinters or seeds which can become embedded. Nails should be short and healthy looking without splitting. Some dogs will need to have nails regularly clipped at the vet.

Body checks

Check for any lumps or wounds by running your hands over your dog’s body and part the hair to check for signs of fleas or ticks. Your vet can recommend suitable treatments. Check a dog’s testicles and bitch’s mammary glands for any unusual swellings.

Weight

Be aware of what weight your dog should be and monitor it carefully – overfeeding can be as damaging as underfeeding. As a general rule run your hands down the sides of your dog’s belly and you should be able to feel the rib cage.

By feeling the rib cage you should be able to tell if they are under, over or just right! If your pet seems overweight check with your vet, they may recommend a light food, which has fewer calories or you might consider a different type of a dog bowl which steadies how fast your dog eats his food.

There are some which are floor bowls, which look similar to a puzzle, and dogs navigate the ‘spikes’ to eat. Or a raised dog bowl which can either sit in a dog bowl stand or be wall mounted alters how your dog eats, and can also slow them down.

Obesity can contribute to heart disease, joint disease, diabetes and many more health complications. As in humans exercise also plays an important part in weight control. Make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise. Walks are the easy answer. Large dogs don’t necessarily need more exercise; it really does depend on their breed and age.

Ears

The inside of your dog’s ears should be clean with no odour. If they do smell this could be a sign that they are infected. Ears should be cleaned regularly – ask your vet to recommend a cleaning product and just as importantly, the best way to clean them without damage.

Muzzle

The nose should be free of discharge – pets get colds too. Noses should be wet but not runny, a dry nose could also signal health problems.

Coat and skin

The coat should look glossy and feel tangle free, not dull. Look out for any balding or irritation which could be caused by allergies, mange etc and should be checked out by a vet for treatment. The skin should not feel greasy or look flaky (no dandruff).

If you have concerns that your dog’s dull coat or flaky skin may be caused by an allergy, speak with your vet. If you are concerned that it may be parasite related, seek out a good flea treatment for dogs to restore.

Energy

Dependent on its age, your dog should be alert and energetic without any signs of stiffness or breathlessness – any reluctance to exercise should be looked into. Feeding the right amount of food and nutrients to your pet helps make sure they maintain high energy levels even into old age.

Under the tail

Hold up the tail and see if there are any signs of soreness or discharge. Also check your dog’s stools, they should be firm and fairly small – this is a sign of healthy digestion.

Stools are a good way of determining your pet’s health, a sudden change can bring your attention to a health issue that might have gone unnoticed. It is also the way your animal gets rid of all the waste in his food that he doesn’t need. Lots of products are bulked up with water and cereals when one of the most important ingredients to carnivorous animals is protein – that means meat.

A good rule of thumb is: the more meat ingredients a food contains the higher the quality of the feed, look on the side of the bag where the ingredients are listed, manufacturers have to list the largest quantity first.

What are the benefits of dry over wet food?

Once you’ve determined your dog’s life stage and lifestyle needs, you need to decide whether to feed dry or wet (canned) food.

It’s important to remember that while dry food can be left in a bowl, wet food should not be left out all day if not consumed. Therefore, dry food can often be the most convenient choice for busy people.

Although a recent BBC report suggested that brushing is the best way to keep a dog’s teeth clean, dry foods also promote good oral hygiene for teeth and gums through abrasive action.

How do I switch my dog’s food?

If you are looking to change your dog’s diet we would recommend you introduce the new food gradually over a period of 4 days.

Make the change slowly, try mixing of the new food with of old food then gradually change the proportions over the next three days until he’s eating new food. There are also a few tricks you could use to help make the change over to a complete dry food– for example, start by adding a little water or by warming the food in the microwave.

Vet visits

Remember that although you can monitor your pet’s health at home using the above guidelines I would also strongly recommend you make regular check-ups appointments with your local vet even if your pet seems healthy. And if this article has alerted you to any health issues please do contact your vet for a more thorough examination.

Dog Health Symptom Checker

It is not unusual for one of my clients to be utterly stunned when they learn that their dog or cat’s weight has topped the scale either up or down. Why didn’t they notice the change? It’s because it often develops over time, day by day, right in front of their eyes.

A rise in excess fat may be due to the obvious. Way too many goodies eaten and not enough exercise. In case you believe that you are practicing good portion control, over nutrition may easily occur. A cup of food to one person is not ample to the next. So they give a little more. You only offer `a’ treat, while the next overly generous member of the family offers two or three. Extra calories add up very quickly. Did you know that a one pound weight gain for a Chihuahua is similar to a one hundred and twenty five pound woman gaining thirty one pounds?

There are also several fewer blatant explanations for an expansion in a pet’s waist-line. Hormonal disorders for example an underactive thyroid,( hypothyroidism) or an overactive adrenal gland causing hyperadrenocorticisim,(Cushing’s disease), can affect metabolic rate. Neutering also has metabolic repercussions. Research has shown that when a pet undergoes a castration or an ovariohysterectomy (spay), the rate at which they burn energy is diminished by nearly a third A neutered pet still incurs many more positive effects than the unfavorable so I remain a strong proponent of these surgical procedures.

Advancing age can certainly be the reason for your four-legged friend packing on the fat. As we grow older we will drop lean muscle mass. Muscle demands a large amount of energy levels to be able to perform properly. Lower muscle mass requires less requirement for calories. Don’t be misled into feeding your pet the same amount you did when it was younger and carried the same weight. Its energy needs have scaled downwards.

A rise in weight can pose serious health dangers for your pet. An overweight pet can have breathing difficulties, a compromised immune system, be at increased danger with regard to anesthesia, grapple with skin disorders, and experience with pain from overburdened joints or spinal disc disease. Studies have revealed that fat pets age faster and have a lowered quality of life.

Weight reduction can be just as serious. You may believe that your cat has discovered the fountain of youth. It is eating more food, racing around like a kitten and is slimming down. In fact, your kitty may be a victim of an overactive thyroid. If left untreated, high blood pressure, sudden blindness and cardiac problems may ensue.

Illnesses that include diabetes mellitus, digestive ailments, liver failure, cancer and also dental disease can cause your pet to suddenly lose weight and condition.

How can you tell if your pet is healthy? As your pet is standing, you ought to find an indentation after it’s ribcage. Place your hand on the side of its chest and with gentle pressure, you should be able to feel the ribs. If you are pinching an inch, it is obese. If the ribs are very overly notable, your pet may be under weight. What kind of food and how much is correct for your pet’s stage of life? Your veterinarian is best trained expert to help with making these types of determinations along with your assistance. However things can change. Make a twice yearly wellness assessment for your pet. This basic act may improve the odds that your dog or cat will grow older successfully.