October in the UK is pet wellness month, and what a great opportunity to show your furry friends an extra special bit of care and attention!
To help you along, we’ve put together some top tips for dog owners out there to ensure your hound is in tip-top form.
1. Proper nutrition and food
One of the easiest ways to help your dog – no matter what breed or size – stay healthy is to ensure that you feed them the right food containing vital ingredients including proteins, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Feeding them a combination of lean meats, fish and even fruits and vegetables is a good way to balance out their diet.
There is a wide range of pet-friendly and breed-specific dog food on the market offering complex mixes that cover all of the right nutritional needs but do your research to ensure you select the ideal food for your dog.
2. Weight control
One of the biggest factors in poor dog health is allowing them to become overweight through a combination of poor diet and lack of exercise.
Overweight dogs can often suffer joint and ligament pain or degradation, hip issues, skin irritations, respiratory problems and more.
By feeding your dog the correct amounts at the correct times of day, and doing regular exercise – even just a light walk daily – is a simple way to keep your pet at a health weight.
3. Get active
Keeping your dog fit and active through regular walks, play-park time or simply throwing a ball in the garden is a great way to keep them healthy and ensure they don’t suffer weight-related issues, but it’s also just as important for their mental wellbeing (and yours!).
Getting them active builds muscle, joint and bone strength, keeps their tongues and tails wagging, and promotes an overall wellbeing that will benefit both you and them.
4. Check their teeth
Checking your hound’s teeth regularly promotes overall health and wellness and has been shown to extend a dog’s life, so it’s absolutely vital to conduct regular inspections.
You can use a special dog toothbrush, specific chews and other toys you can buy at any pet store to help keep your dog’s teeth and mouth as clean as possible. But be sure to take your pet to a vet if you see any signs of teeth falling out, inflamed gums, loss of appetite and similar indications that something in their mouths might be wrong.
5. Grooming is essential
Whilst it’s not good to shampoo or wash your dog too regularly – their fur oils are good for their skin – it is a good idea to keep them brushed and groomed regularly as this helps to distribute their fur oils evenly, stimulates their coat and also gives you a chance to spot any issues early on.
Similarly, whilst your dog will have nails to help them grip when they walk or run, having nails that are too long can become an issue, and can cause nail tears and other injuries.
Be sure to have your dog’s nails clipped regularly or do it yourself with a specific pair of dog clippers but take care not to cut them too short.
Ears are another grooming area that need regular checks and attention – you can clean your dog’s ears carefully using a piece of gauze, organic baby wipe or similar, gently wiping the inner surfaces that you can reach without pushing your finger in too deep. Never use a Q-tip or similar as this can penetrate the ear too deeply and cause issues or damage the eardrum.
Being a responsible pet owner, you’ll likely already be doing all of the above and more, which is great – as always, if you notice anything strange in your pet’s behaviour, that’s usually an indication that they need some help from you or a vet.
By spending quality time with them you’re sure to have a happy, well-balanced and well-behaved hound, in October and well beyond!
To find out more about dignified pet cremation services please speak to one of our staff today on 01604 740864 or email enquiries@pcsonline.org.uk.
