Family Life

Top 5 Care Essentials for a Happy and Healthy Dog Seeing your dog grow and thrive is one of life’s great rewards, but which are the most important areas when it comes to canine health? Here are fi ve of the essentials:

Dog Dieting

1. Vaccinations

Vaccinating your dog against life-threatening diseases such as distemper, parvo virus and leptospirosis prevents or reduces their potentially devastating effects. Your vet will let you know which vaccinations are required and whether any boosters are needed in the future. 2. Diet

Dietary needs change during a dog’s lifetime, so the calciumrich foods you fed your puppy won’t be as suitable when they’re fully grown. By the time they reach old age fewer calories will be needed, and probably additional help to maintain bones and joints. 3. Exercise

Exercise benefits body and mind and is one of the most important activities for your dog. Although the level of exercise depends on various factors, such as breed and age, the mental stimulation that exercise provides adds greatly to your dog’s health and happiness. 4. Worming, fleas and ticks

Tapeworms and roundworms are common parasitic infestations in dogs. Regular worming is essential, therefore, and should ideally take place every three months. Don’t forget flea and tick treatments too, as prevention is much easier than cure in this respect. 5. Dental

It’s advisable to start checking your dog’s teeth in puppyhood so they become used to the practice. You can buy dog toothpaste and toothbrushes to make cleaning easier, but you also need to watch for signs of redness or inflammation of the gums.

Your dog isn’t starting the month worried about zipping up their jeans. But if a check on their waistline shows that they are carrying a few extra pounds, it’s time for to you to address the problem for the sake of their health.

Studies have shown that overweight dogs don’t live as long and are more prone to illnesses that spoil their quality of life. All those little extra treats you’ve been giving them could mean there’s a genuine risk of killing your pet with kindness.

There’s no BMI chart for dogs, so you need to look at body shape and assess body fat. Viewed from above, does your dog have a waist where their body tapers after the ribcage? Can you feel your dog’s ribs or do they have a potbelly?

Increasing exercise will not be enough on its own, so you should plan a trip to the vet. Not only will they assess how overweight they are, they’ll check if any medical conditions are causing the extra pounds or will prevent weight loss. Furthermore the vet can provide a special caloriecontrolled food.

Keep a note of everything – including table scraps and treats – that your dog eats for a few days. A dog that does not seem to eat much dog food probably still has an appetite for sausages and biscuits!

If you’ve reached the stage that your pet actually looks plump, it’s going to take quite a while to reach their target

weight, so stick with it.