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A Healthy Dog is a Happy Dog!
by: Brendan Gunstan
A healthy dog is a happy dog. And a happy dog is the best companion anyone
could wish for. Unlike people, dogs can't figure out when something is wrong, or
tell you about it. It's your job as the owner to look out for problems and step
in quick to keep your hound happy. Illness doesn't just mean breaks, parasites
or viruses, it include the scourge of humanity too - obesity. Just like in
humans, obesity in dogs can lead to arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, and
premature death. Also like in humans, this is a recent development. The
availability of cheap food for pets has caused an obesity spiral in the
developed world.
So what should you feed your dog? Obviously, breed plays a part, but in general,
kibble is the best base (dried dog food) with tinned stuff as a treat. Too much
tinned stuff can give your poor pooch the runs! Don't feed him human cakes
biscuits and the like, no matter how much he seems to enjoy them - dog's
digestive systems are not designed for this kind of food! A diet based on these
principle will ensure a shiny coat and clear eyes, both necessary if your dog is
going to win thru to the finals of the
http://www.petmillions.com
contest and a chance to win you a million in cash!
Dental care. Dogbreath is a byword for bad smelling breath. Help your dog keep
his teeth and gums healthy by offering him bones to chew (note - NEVER chicken
bones!). If it's a real bad case, there are even special 'doggy tooth cleaner'
products available at the store.
Worms. Keep him healthy with regular shots against the 4 biggies - distemper,
heartworm, parvovirus (which is rare, but fatal!!!) and kennel cough (which is
also rare unless you keep the dog out on cement all the time). You can do the
worming routine yourself - crush the tablets and sprinkle them onto some tinned
food. He WILL be able to smell it, but what the hey, food is food, right? Woof!
Only use a small amount of tinned food to ensure he eats all the tablet powder.
Don't know what distemper is? Kind of like dog flu, with runny nose and eyes.
Worms tend to cause lack of appetite, bad coat, and a tendency to drag his
backside along the ground. These are easily passed to humans so fix it fast!
That brings us to fleas and ticks. Treat regularly with one of the many
excellent 'dropper' products now available. They really work, and fast too.
Ticks can be a nightmare - they can cause swelling, then paralysis and death, so
you have to guard against them very carefully, especially if you live in an area
prone to dog ticks. |
