Dishing Up Dog Health
By: Sally Ricco

Understanding Dog Health

Does your dog have lively eyes, full energy and lots of vitality? Is your dog's coat shiny and bright? These visible signs of a healthy dog are pretty easy to spot. And, as a dog owner, your role in getting your dog into this healthy state and keeping your dog in this condition is important.

The most basic way to keep your dog healthy is through food. Every animal requires water and food to live. We realize from a human standpoint the importance of a healthy diet and how food affects our energy. These conditions are important in a dog's diet too or else they encounter malnutrition. Our much-loved dogs require a diet full of vitamins, minerals and canine nutrients for a proper diet. Since the majority of today's top brand-name dog foods are complete with these ingredients, this health requirement for our dogs is easy to fulfill. Steer away from cheaper brands as they often contain too much cornmeal and little nutrition.

It is also now well known from human experience that it is possible for animals to overeat and become obese. This never happens in the wild - an animal that is so out of shape that it cannot fend for itself does not last long - in fact we only ever see obesity in humans and in their pets. It may be something that kind hearted owners do to their pets, thinking the dog will be happier if it eats plenty. But they should remember that overweight pets do not live as long as their lean counterparts, and (like humans) they are more susceptible to heart disease, respiratory problems, arthritic pain and diabetes. What's more they are more likely to die if they have to be put under anaesthetic for surgery (again, this applies to obese human beings too). Feeding your dog the right food, and at the right amount, is the first key to keeping your dog healthy.

As attentive owners there are several things we should be on the look out for that can be seen on a dog's fur, skin and stools. Fleas and tics can both cause dog illnesses so should be treated. Flea collars are not great at treating fleas, but there are any number of good powders and spray that will do the job - the only thing is that you must follow the instructions exactly. If you have had a flea problem it is vital that you thoroughly clean all the areas where the dog hangs out - if you vacuum carpets empty the bags outside straight afterwards, if the dog lounges on the bedding, wash it. This is so that you dog is not immediately re-infected from the fleas or eggs in the carpets and fabrics around the house.

Be careful to check your dog's fur after a walk in the country, since this is when they are most likely to have picked up ticks. Finally check your dog's stools for evidence of worms. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms all can infest a dog's intestinal tract, though not all are visible to the naked eye - this is why a regular worming schedule needs to be followed.

These few steps create a much healthier and happier dog. Further steps like keeping veterinarian visits and keeping your dog's vaccinations up to date also increase your dog's health factor. By following these caring and healthy steps, you are creating a fit and content dog that is sure to live a much longer and healthier life.