Health of dogs

Have you heard a saying of Dick Dale, "If you want someone to love you forever, buy a dog, feed it and keep it around."

Dogs can make your life enjoyable and beautiful. Having a dog or any pet is not only fun, but it is also a big responsibility. You are responsible for the health and happiness of your dog.

All dog parents want their dog to be healthy. If you are a first-time adopter or an experienced dog owner, you should know how to take care of your dog's health?

Here we will discuss some important care tips that are necessary to maintain your dog's health.

• Proper nutrition, 
• Health monitoring
• Veterinary care
• Dental care
• Grooming
• Plenty of exercise and affection

Proper Nutrition

The dog needs a proper and balanced diet to keep them healthy. Each dog has different nutritional requirements depending on its age, size, breed, state of health, and stage of life. You should select dog food by carefully reading the composition and ingredients on the labels.

You can also consult your vet if your dog has a sensitive stomach to formulate a homemade diet. Never overfeed your dog as it can cause obesity.

Health monitoring

Your dog cannot speak to you to inform you about any health problems, you must monitor your dog's health. The dog can show different signs of illness in case of health problems. Here are some early signs of illness by which you can decide when your dog needs a visit to the vet clinic, such as:

• Lack of appetite 
• Sudden change in behaviour
• Reduced activity or lay down all-day
• Urinating less or more or showing discomfort during urination 
• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting 
• Coughing 
• Sneezing 
• Unusual Discharge from the natural orifices like nose, ears, or eyes
• Bald patches or Skin allergy
• Lameness 

Veterinary care

If you have bought a puppy or adopted an adult dog, the first thing to do is take the dog to the vet for an initial checkup. Discuss vaccination schedule and parasite control with your vet.

Adult dogs need at least one visit per year for routine veterinary care, but puppies need more frequent visits. You should take your puppy to the vet after 3 to 4 weeks to 4 months of age.

For older dogs, 2 visits per year are sufficient.

Dental care

Dog dental care is also important since the mouth is an important part of the body. You should brush your dog's teeth daily to reduce tartar build-up and maintain good hygiene. Never use human toothpaste, but always use dog-specific toothpaste. Some raw foods like bones and meat are also helpful in maintaining good oral health.

Grooming

Grooming is one of the important factors that can keep your dog healthy. Brush your dog's hair daily. You can groom your dog at home, but the professional grooming visit is also beneficial. Always clean your dog's eyes and ears, as they are a neglected part of the body during grooming.

Nail trimming is also essential for dogs that spend a lot of time indoors.