faq

What Is Dog Arthritis?

There are many diseases that affect humans that do not affect dogs, and vice versa, but there are also a number of diseases that can affect both dogs and humans as well. Arthritis is one of these diseases, and it is no easier to manage the disease for dogs either, and in fact may be even more difficult to both diagnose and treat in dogs. And dog arthritis is actually quite common, even if it is not diagnosed as often as it should be.

Arthritis is a disease the affects the joints in the body, and there are many different types that can affect both humans and dogs. Each different type of arthritis is caused by something different, such as an infection in the joints, trauma to the joints caused by some sort of incident, or old age. In addition, some types of arthritis affect specific joints in the body, while others may start in one specific area and then spread to others. The point is there are many forms of arthritis, many things that can cause them, and many different symptoms to look out for.

Owners of dogs more susceptible to arthritis should pay close attention to the warning signs throughout their dog’s life, as arthritis can develop in certain breeds at any age. The warning signs are very similar to those in humans, but the difference is that it is much more difficult for dogs to communicate their discomfort than it is for humans. This makes it difficult for many dog owners to determine if arthritis is affecting their dog. Aside from a veterinarian discovering the presence of arthritis during a routine check-up or after having x-rays taken for a different reason, the only way to really tell if your dog has arthritis is to really know him well enough so that you can see changes if they occur. There are a few symptoms specifically that may alert you to the presence of some type of dog arthritis in your dog.

Dog Arthritis Warning Signs

The warning signs that point to arthritis in dogs are not always easy to notice, but with enough attention you will be able to see them. The most important thing is to know your dog well enough to notice even the slightest changes. If you do then there are a few warning signs that should not be that difficult to detect.

Stiffness

– Stiffness is one of the most common signs to look for in your dog if you think that he may have arthritis. You may be thinking that there is no way to tell if your dog has stiff joints but rest assured, you will be able to tell. Just by watching your dog you can see if he is experiencing stiffness when he gets up, particularly after long periods of sitting or lying down. Be sure to pay attention to your dog as he moves around and gets up in order to be able to detect any wincing like expressions and slow, deliberate movements that are characteristic of animals in pain.

Irritability

– Dogs tend to become irritable when they are in pain as well, and it is not that difficult to tell when a dog is irritable. You may notice your dog does not enjoy your attention as much, or even that he is snippy when you or others go to pet him, or you may notice he is developing an aversion towards children that he never had before, or one of many other things that are telltale signs of pain caused by dog arthritis. The main thing is to watch out for signs that your dog is different in some way in regards to personality.

Aggression

– Dogs in pain are commonly much more aggressive than when they are not in pain as well, particularly towards those that initiate a lot of physical interaction with them. This is because the physical interaction causes the pain to be worse, as a dog’s joints are involved in just about every movement they make. If a typically non-aggressive dog starts showing more signs of aggression it could be a signal that there is a problem.

Weight Gain

– Pain causes many dogs to become much less mobile than they would be if they were not experiencing pain, and the lack of exercise and physical activity can lead to weight gain. Some dogs gain more weight as they get older to begin with, so you do not want to panic as soon as you notice a few extra added pounds, but significant weight gain caused from inactiveness can signalize a problem. It helps to have at least a little bit of knowledge about how much weight gain is normal in specific breeds of dogs, so that you don’t overreact in response to something that is normal for the breed of dog that you own.

Swollen Joints

– In very bad cases of dog arthritis there may even be some visible signs of the disease, most often in the form of swollen joints. This will obviously be easier to detect in some dogs than others, as some dogs are more covered with fur than others. In these cases you may have to check regularly by pulling back fur and looking for swollen joints. In other dogs you may be able to see without having to do anything. If your dog does have swollen joints it is very likely that he is suffering from arthritis in some form or another.

Loss of Appetite

– Although dogs may experience periodic loss of appetite for any number of reasons, a loss of appetite is a common indicator of the presence of pain. It is important to remember that dogs are dogs, and dogs like to eat, so if your dog is not eating normally then it is definitely a sign that there is something wrong. If this occurs you should immediately check to determine if there are other signs of your dog being affected by arthritis, and even if you do not find other signs you will want to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian in order to determine for sure whether your dog may be being affected by arthritis or not.

Excessive Sleeping

– Many dogs will cope with pain caused by arthritis by simply sleeping more, as the pain is less intense during these times, if they can get to sleep with the pain to begin with. Of course sleeping can signalize other things as well, such as old age, depression, and pregnancy in female dogs, but it is also a common way for dogs to deal with pain. You should be particularly concerned if your dog shows other signs of dealing with pain as well. This particular sign should cause the least amount of concern, though, as excessive sleeping can sometimes simply be a passing phase that goes away rather quickly.

Reaction to Physical Interaction

– One more sign that your dog might be suffering from arthritis pain is a negative reaction to physical interaction. Almost all dogs love to play, and that play almost always consists of physical interaction. If you have a dog that has always liked physical interaction in the past, but seems to have a negative reaction to physical play now, it could be due to arthritic pain. Determining if this is the cause of a lack of interest in interaction of the physical type will help solve the problem and get your dog back to his normal playful self again.

There is no doubt that it is difficult to determine if a dog is suffering from pain, as they simply cannot communicate such things like a human being does. But if you have a loving relationship with your dog and pay enough attention to him, you will see the signals if they are there.

What is Dog Lupus?

Often we do not stop to think about the chances of our dogs developing some of the same diseases that humans deal with because we are too caught up in avoiding so many things ourselves these days. In fact, many dog owners do not even realize that dogs can be susceptible to certain diseases that are generally thought to effect humans exclusively. In many cases it is very difficult to even detect diseases in animals because they lack the basic communication capabilities that are used to express feelings of pain. For this reason, it is important to watch for the signs of certain diseases that tend to be prevalent in dogs, and one of the most important diseases to look out for is dog lupus.

Dog lupus, or canine lupus, as it is also referred to, is a disease that can cause extensive problems for the sufferer. It is an autoimmune disease that can affect the heart, the lungs, the skin, the joints, the kidneys, the blood, and the nervous system of a dog that suffers from it. In very literal terms an autoimmune disease can be described as a disease that makes the body turn on itself and attack itself from the inside out. There are a number of diseases that work this way, but not all of them can affect dogs as well as humans. Lupus is one that, unfortunately, many dogs do develop and suffer significantly from.

Lupus in dogs can develop in two separate but potentially equally debilitating forms. One form of lupus in dogs is easier to treat and manage than the other form though. There is no cure for discoid lupus erythematosus, but it is the more manageable of the forms of the disease that can affect dogs. Systematic lupus erythematosus is curable, but it is more difficult to control while the disease is present. In both cases early detection is important in order to protect your dog from having to deal with painful, lasting effects caused by the disease. But due to issues with communication, it is not always easy to tell if you dog is suffering from a disease, even if he is in pain. There are a few signs in particular to look for in dogs that may point to the presence of one of the forms of lupus that is known to affect dogs.

  • Scar Tissue from Scratching
  • Depigmentation of Skin
  • Flaky or Crusty Skin
  • Excessive Itching
  • Skin Sores
  • Red Skin
  • Infection
  • Pain

These are all visible symptoms of canine lupus, but not all dogs will show visible signs until the disease has already progressed significantly. Being that no dog owner wants to see their dog suffer from the pain that can be caused by lupus it is important to pay attention to the not so visible signs that there is something wrong too. There are a few of these types of symptoms specifically that are fairly easy to detect if you pay a little extra attention to your dog over a few days or so.

  • Depression
  • Excessive Thirst
  • Lethargy
  • More Frequent Urination
  • Loss of Hair
  • Changing Appetite

Although you will have to look out for these symptoms in order to recognize them for what they are, they will not be difficult to notice when you are looking. These symptoms can also signalize many other things, but it is important to be sure that there is nothing as serious as lupus affecting your beloved dog. If there is, and if you are aware of the presence of lupus, then there are a number of things that you can do or have done for your dog that will either cure him, or at the very least, manage the disease. A few types of treatments in particular will help to provide some relief.

Pain Relief

– It is important to deal with your dog’s pain right away, even while you are still trying to determine whether or not your dog is being affected by lupus. Dogs do not deal with pain well at all because there is little they can do to relieve their own pain. If they are suffering from pain you will likely notice wincing and possibly yelping when your dog moves in certain manners. Pain relief usually comes in the form of NSAIDS, but anti-inflammatory medications will also lead to pain relief as well, as inflammation is often the cause of the pain associated with lupus to begin with. You dog’s veterinarian will be able to give you more information on the specifics of the medications used to treat pain in dogs.

Skin Treatments

– Various skin treatments can be used on your dog to help relieve the skin aspect of the lupus. The sores and legions that can develop as a result of the disease can be very painful, and the open wounds can easily become infected. In addition, excessive scratching can make your dog’s skin raw and lead to the development of even more open wounds and infection. Ointments to treat these things are inexpensive and easy to apply, and many of them will not only provide instant relief but will also help to cure the skin issues your dog is dealing with as well.

Internal Healing

– Last but not least, you want to deal with the disease from the inside as well. There are a number of treatment options that can be provided by your veterinarian, but there are also some things that you can do yourself for your dog as well. The focus in this respect is to heal the internal effects of the disease, such as the sore joints that your dog may experience. And one thing that you can do to help this aspect of the disease is supply your dog with collagen supplementation. Collagen for dogs is a safe way to help your dog rebuild the collagen that he may lose as a result of having lupus, and it will help protect him from futures issues involving the bones and joints as well.

Lupus is not a disease that you want to see your dog have to deal with, but it does affect thousands of dogs every year. If you watch out for the warning signs, though, you will at least be able to provide some relief for your beloved best friend.

What is Dog Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that affects millions of people throughout the world, but it is also a disease that can affect dogs as well, although it tends to occur very rarely. When a dog does suffer from osteoporosis it can be very debilitating, though, so it is important to know the signs of its presence, as well as what you have to do in order to help relieve and heal your dog if it is possible. The disease produces similar effects in dogs that it does in human beings, and the main factor that contributes to all of the other problems that result from the disease is the loss of bone density that characterizes the disease. The bone loss that occurs in dogs that have developed osteoporosis can lead to all sorts of additional problems, the worst being a significant increase in the risk of your dog fracturing bones. In addition, dog osteoporosis can leave your dog suffering from chronic pain in various areas throughout his body, making it very difficult for him to get around. Although there are surgeries that can correct certain effects of osteoporosis, it is important to consider the fact that the disease will still be present, so ongoing measures must be taken in order to protect your dog from further affects that can be caused by the disease as well.

Defining the exact causes of dog osteoporosis is difficult, as the disease itself is very complicated. In most cases, though, there tends to be some sort of prior occurrence that leads to the development of osteoporosis in dogs. A certain form of osteoporosis in dogs can be caused by disuse of bones as well, either due to immobilization of the specific bone or some other similar type of problem. And of course, proper nutrition, or lack thereof, can also potentially play a major role in the development of dog osteoporosis too, as in addition to calcium there are other nutrients that are required on a regular basis in order to maintain bone health, both in humans as well as in dogs. Because defining the cause of the disease is so difficult, it is just as hard to try to attempt to avoid it. In other words, there really is not much you can do about osteoporosis until after you already find out that your dog has osteoporosis. And finding out that your dog has the disease is not all that simple either.

Since canine osteoporosis is usually not initially characterized by an onslaught of severe pain, your dog could have the disease for a significant amount of time before you even find out about it. In the early stages of the disease bone loss in your dog will be minimal, and the bone loss itself is not the aspect of the disease that is painful, but rather the later results of the loss of bone density. For this reason, many dog owners do not even realize that the bone loss is occurring until something happens to their dog, namely a fracture or a similar occurrence. It is important to have your dog seen by an experienced veterinarian if this occurs, as they will perform x-rays as the first step towards determining if you dog is suffering from osteoporosis. Other than your dog fracturing a bone, there are very few ways to discover that your dog has osteoporosis, although if your dog has to have x-rays taken for any other reason the disease could be discovered accidently. The important thing is to begin managing the disease right away after finding out that your dog has it. There are a number of steps that can be taken in order to provide your dog with relief from osteoporosis, and some treatments can even reverse the effects of the disease that are already present. A few treatments in particular are commonly used in dogs that suffer from this often debilitating disease.

Pain Relievers

– Dogs that suffer from long-term effects of osteoporosis may experience ongoing pain, which can at times be pretty severe. You will notice that your dog will not move around as much if he is suffering from the disease, and he will be much less playful than before being affected. Pain caused by such diseases can sometimes be unbearable and this is not something you want to see your dog go through. Pain relievers can help ease the pain and keep your dog up and running, which will also help manage the disease, as dogs suffering from osteoporosis should get regular exercise in order to prevent further deterioration of their health. Canine pain medications can be obtained from a local veterinarian or they can sometimes be ordered online as well. However you obtain them, one thing is for sure, and that is that you will surely notice a difference in your dog’s behavior when he is no longer in excruciating pain.

Bone Restoration

– The second way to treat your dog as a way to help manage his osteoporosis is by trying to restore some of the lost bone density. There are certain supplements that you can give to your dog that are designed to aid bone growth. Of course calcium is an important element in any living things diet, as this is the number one nutrient to promote bone growth. But there are also other nutrients that are very important in this respect as well, such as vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. When supplementing these nutrients for your dog, though, it is important to provide supplements designed specifically for dogs. It is also important to make sure that your dog is getting the right amount of the supplements for his size. Another option for helping to restore bone density in your dog is by giving him collagen supplements as well. Fish collagen for dogs helps to maintain the strength of joints, tendons, and bones. If you give your dog collagen the bones he does have will be stronger and his osteoporosis may not be quite as debilitating.

Determining the presence of diseases such as osteoporosis in dogs is not an easy task by any means, but once you know that there is something there it is not really any more difficult to treat them than it is to treat humans. And if you pay attention to a few warning signs you should be able to discover the presence of disease early on and start treating it quickly, because you don’t want to see your beloved dog go through the pain of osteoporosis any more than you would want to deal with it yourself.

Dog Collagen Deficiency?

There are many health problems that your dog can potentially suffer from as he grows older, both physically and otherwise, and the physical health problems that he experiences can certainly lead to other problems as well, such as depression. But there are many things that you can do for your dog throughout his lifetime that will increase his chances of staying healthy until much later in his life. To be sure, there are some diseases that affect dogs that no amount of care will prevent, as some diseases are hereditary and others may commonly affect a certain breed specifically. But there are plenty of health problems that you can prevent, and if not prevent at least diminish the affects from.

When it comes to old age in dogs, they suffer from many of the same problems that are associated with old age in human beings, and the way to avoid such problems is similar to how they are avoided in humans. Just as we need to maintain good health through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and periodic health screenings, we also have to maintain our dogs’ health through these methods as well. This may all sound very simple, but it is important to keep in mind that there are aspects of your dog’s health that you cannot see, and your dog cannot communicate to you how he feels or whether he is experiencing any abnormalities. One such aspect that is very important and that is certainly effected by old age is the collagen levels in your dog’s body.

Collagen is essentially a protein, a very important protein considering it makes up as much as 30 percent of the protein found in the body and as much as 75 percent of your dog’s skin. The collagen that is in your dog’s body is what is responsible for the level of elasticity in his joints, tendons, cartilage, skin, and ligaments. It is also the protein that determines the strength of your dog’s hair, bones, nails, and teeth. For most of your dog’s life he will produce enough collagen to maintain normal elasticity in all of these things and enough protein to maintain strength, but as he gets older the capacity to produce collagen diminishes, and the body suffers for it. After time your dog may begin to exhibit signs of even bigger problems that are caused by the lack in collagen that your dog will begin to suffer from as a result of the loss in ability to produce proper amounts. But although you cannot stop old age and the depletion of collagen in your dog, you can supplement the collagen he is losing. Much research has been done in recent years that has led to the determination that collagen supplementation can help improve a dogs skeletal and skin health, which is why collagen for dogs is being sold on the market these days, and growing in popularity quickly.

Dog Collagen Deficiency

– Dogs age much differently than humans when it comes to the time factor, so old age for your dog is much younger than old age for yourself. That being said, old age for your dog in terms of aging is more like middle age. You would be surprised at just how early your dog can start suffering from insufficient collagen levels in his body. The effects will be difficult to notice at first, but it will not be long before you start to visibly notice pain when your dog moves in certain ways, depending on which areas of his body are being affected. For dogs suffering significantly you may see an increase in injuries and a decrease in mobility, but they will likely come on gradually. The problem with not being able to notice a deficiency in collagen until you begin to see the effects is that it is not as easy to improve collagen levels with collagen supplementation. This is why it is important to provide collagen supplements early in your dog’s life.

Dog Collagen for Better Dog Health

– Collagen for dogs comes in the form of a salmon fish powder that can be added to their food. The powdered form supplement is designed to help your dog maintain healthy joints and tissues, and it is designed to maintain the health of his skin and prevent certain skin allergies. The powdered form of the supplement is developed in a way that makes the salmon collagen retain the important properties that make it effective. The collagen is essentially freeze-dried, which is why is loses water, but it is also what gives it the ability to rehydrate when water or other liquids are added to it. And in addition to maintaining health, collagen for dogs can also help to treat a number of other health problems, such as lupus, osteoporosis, arthritis, sponditis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel, polymyositis, and tendonitis. The key to utilizing collagen to treat these things, though, is to catch them early or address the problems before they start. You can do this by supplying regular collagen supplements for your dog from a young age. Just be sure that you are buying a good, quality collagen supplement. Dog collagens are safe to use and do not produce any side effects, so they are one of the best options for maintaining your dog’s health for a lifetime.

Just like you cannot protect yourself from every disease that can potentially affect you and everything that old age may bring you, you cannot protect your dog from everything either. But just as maintaining good health is important for humans, it is also equally important for dogs. Dogs that are healthier will have less of a chance of dealing with health problems later in life; it is really as simple as that. Collagen is one of the things that you can provide for your dog that will help maintain his health in multiple ways, which is what you surely want for your beloved pet.

Dog Diseases

There are many diseases that dogs can get that only affect dogs specifically, and it is impossible to know what your dog is going through if he suffers from one of these diseases. But there are also a number of diseases that both humans and dogs can suffer from, albeit in subtly different forms. If you own a dog that suffers from one of these diseases it is a little bit easier to relate with how they might be feeling. These types of diseases that consist of a form of the disease that can affect humans, as well as a form of the disease that can affect dogs, most often fall into the category of skeletal and muscular diseases.

Diseases of this type are often some of the most difficult to manage, especially in dogs because they do not so effectively communicate their discomfort. Some such diseases are hereditary, while others may typically affect a certain breed of dogs, and then there are some that may simply be caused by a lack of certain nutrients that a dog may need more of. It is very difficult to determine the risk factors involved with developing some of these diseases, as each dog is very different from the next, as you likely already know. What you can do as a dog owner, though, is take certain general precautions that will at least help ensure your dog’s overall health, which may be what helps him avoid any major health problems. There are four diseases in particular that are common among dogs and that may be minimized in the effects if your dog is kept as healthy as can be.

Osteoarthritis

– Most people have heard of arthritis before, and possibly even osteoarthritis as well. Osteoarthritis is not much different than the more common form of arthritis that can affect both dogs and humans. Both forms of arthritis affect the joints, but osteoarthritis affects them more significantly because it is a degenerative disease. If your dog has the more common form of arthritis he might be experiencing joint swelling, and as a result pain as well, but you may be able to manage these symptoms without them getting gradually worse. If he is suffering from osteoarthritis, on the other hand, he is not only suffering from these things but is also suffering from a degradation of bone and cartilage as well. It is this suffering that has the potential to have long-term, lasting effects for your dog because as a result of the disease he will experience significant bone and cartilage loss. Some of the symptoms that your dog may be suffering from osteoarthritis include stiffness in the joints, locking up of the joints, muscle atrophy, and of course pain. Some of these symptoms you may be able to visibly notice fairly easily, as you will see your dog moving around abnormally, but not all dogs will show visible signs of osteoarthritis right away. For this reason it is important to pay close attention to your dog’s movements and mannerisms, particularly when your dog reaches older age.

Hip Dysplasia

– Hip dysplasia affects dogs more commonly than any other diseases, and although it is a disease that can develop in humans as well, it is generally thought of as a canine disease. The main characteristic of the disease itself is not so much what causes the pain, and there is not pain initially with this disease. The pain develops after long term use of the joints affected by hip dysplasia, as hip dysplasia is characterized by a hip socket that has not formed normally. The reason that it may not be all that painful for your dog in the beginning has to do with the body’s ability to produce more cartilage after it has been broken down by the abnormal formation of the hip socket. But because the process of cartilage production is very slow-paced it eventually will be unable to produce as quickly as it degenerates. When this starts to happen the bone and cartilage in the hip joints will become inflamed and this will be the primary cause of pain for your dog. The easiest way to tell if your dog is suffering from hip dysplasia early on is to take notice of how he walks, and it is also important to consider the fact that larger dogs are typically affected by the disease more than smaller dogs. Even detecting the disease early on, though, there is little that can be done to provide permanent relief.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes Syndrome

– Legg-Calvé-Perthes Syndrome, also referred to as Perthes Disease, is another disease that affects the hips. This disease is also characterized by a deformity in the hip joint, as well as the socket in many cases. Perthes Disease is different from many other dog diseases in two very important ways that have to do with the age group and the size of dogs typically affected by the disease. More often than not this is a disease that affects younger dogs, as well as smaller breeds, unlike most skeletal diseases that tend to affect larger, older dogs. Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome is a difficult disease to diagnose because there are really no outer body deformities. The only real way to tell if your dog has the disease is to pay close attention to watch out for visible signs of pain when your dog moves around. In very rare cases both of your dog’s hips can be affected by the disease. In this case you would probably be much more inclined to notice, as when pain sets in it will be significantly worse than if only one hip were affected. Long-term effects of Perthes may include osteoarthritis later in life, so it is important to treat it as soon as possible.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

– Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a disease that affects the collagen in your dog’s body, which means that it can lead to multiple physical health problems. Collagen is a very important element in the bodies of both humans and dogs, as it plays a major role in the elasticity of everything from ligaments and joints, to muscles and skin. A lack in collagen results in an increase in elasticity, which can lead to a severe lack in mobility, either at the time of onset or later in your dog’s life. The bad news about this particular dog disease is that it can never be 100 percent fully cured, and for that reason there are only treatment options that provide some supportive relief. Even worse, not only can the disease cause severe pain for your beloved dog, but it can even be life-threatening, depending on the severity of the mutation associated with the disease. Early detection may be able to prevent Ehlers-Danlos syndrome from developing this severely, but unfortunately your dog will not be able to be cured completely if he is suffering from this particular disease. You will have the opportunity to make him more comfortable, though, if you at least know that he is suffering.

There are many diseases that dogs may suffer from that will affect their mobility, and a dog’s mobility is everything they have. What dog doesn’t love to run and frolic and play? The most effective way to try to keep your dog healthy enough to enjoy this kind of physical activity for years to come is making sure that he gets all of the nutrients he needs, such as calcium, vitamin D, and collagen. Even though you may make every attempt, though, your beloved best friend could end up suffering from no fault of your own. You may be able to provide for at least some relief of skeletal-related diseases by providing him with collagen supplements though, and even a little relief for your very best friend is better than.

Dog Health

Anybody who has ever had a dog for a pet knows how important it is to maintain their health, as there are plenty of health problems that can occur in dogs, just as there is with human beings. In other words, dogs are not immune to health problems simply because they are animals. Some diseases than can affect dogs are essentially the same as certain diseases that can affect humans, while others may affect dogs specifically. And just as human beings need regular exercise and sufficient nutrition in order to stay healthy, so do dogs and other animals. The important thing to remember is that dogs are living things just like any other animal or mammal, and living things will always be susceptible to diseases and health problems that affect their species. Even though not everything can always be avoided, though, there are ways to improve the chances of maintaining your dog’s health throughout much, and possibly even all, of his life. There are a few things in particular that will help maintain your dog’s health regardless of what breed he is or what diseases he is or is not more susceptible to. Although some of these things are things that should be done anyway, some dog owners simply do not realize the importance of them in regards to maintaining health specifically. Once you understand the added importance of taking certain steps and precautions it will be easier for you to maintain a health enhancing schedule for your dog.

Pay Attention to the Food You Provide for Your Dog

– The food that you provide for your dog is extremely important, as this is the one place where your dog will get most of his nutrients. There is no doubt that there is a difference from one dog food to the next, but often people mistakenly think that these differences do not go beyond flavor and appearance, but this is simply not true. The biggest difference between the many different brands of dog food that you can get is in the ingredients that the food is made with. And the ingredients that are used in the food that you give your dog is what determines what kind of nutrients he is or is not getting. To be sure, you do not have to buy the most expensive dog food available, just as you may not buy the most expensive food available for yourself. But you do want to pay attention to the ingredients and the nutrients in your dog’s food, as this is what is extremely important.

Schedule Periodic Veterinarian Visits for Your Dog

– It may seem like an unnecessary cost when you bring your dog to the veterinarian and find out that there is nothing wrong with him, but it will definitely be worth it if you do and you are able to catch a problem early. Periodic vet visits can help you determine the presence of certain diseases before they become debilitating and are more difficult to treat. X-rays can be taken in order to determine if certain bone diseases are present, heart problems can be detected by simply having your dog’s heart listened to, and the presence of skin diseases can be found by having a vet look beneath your dog’s fur. All of these issues can be treated fairly successfully if they are found early, which makes the money spent on periodic vet bills money well spent for sure.

Provide Your Dog With Important Supplements

– Supplements are another important factor to consider in regards to your dog’s health as well, just as they are important to human beings in regards to their health. Supplements will replace the nutrients that are not in your dog’s food, as well as certain nutrients that your specific breed of dog might need more of. Some of the common supplements given to dogs include calcium, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and collagen. Each of these performs a different function and each function is as important as the next when it comes to keeping your dog as healthy as possible. Of course, with any supplement you should make sure that your vet approves of the type and the amount in order to protect your dog as well. One thing is for sure, though, and that is that your dog will be healthier with the supplements he needs.

Help Your Dog Maintain Regular Exercise

– Exercise is just as important for dogs as it is for humans, if not even more because this is typically the only activity your dog gets. Maintaining regular exercise will help maintain heart health, bone health, muscle health, and weight health, just to name a few of the most important benefits of exercise that your dog will gain with a regular routine. It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you give your dog, the important thing is to simply keep him active regularly. Running, playing, and swimming are all great ways to get your dog to get the exercise he needs to stay healthy not just today, but for life.

Find Ways to Keep Your Dog Happy

– Last but not least, the importance of keeping your dog happy should not be underestimated either. Happiness is the key to long lasting health in any living thing, and dogs are no different. If you give your dog the love and attention that he needs he will live a significantly longer, healthier life. The whole point of getting a dog is to be able to enjoy the long-term love and companionship that only man’s best friend can provide, so why not treat him like your best friend and give him the happiness he so deserves. You know that he’ll give you unconditional love after all.

A dog truly can be man’s best friend, and should be loved and valued as if he is too. Maintaining your dog’s health will not only keep him happier and healthier, but it will keep him around longer for you too, and that makes the work worth it in the end.

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