Owning a dog is a great idea and immensely rewarding. But, dogs have complex needs and each of them is unique. There is no one ‘perfect’ way to care for all dogs, but our expert advice will help you ensure your dog is healthy and happy.
Keep reading and you’ll find everything you need to ensure your dog is healthy and happy!
1. Mouth: Tongue, Teeth, and All
A dog’s mouth is much more than a woofer for various vocalizations — it’s actually a barometer of his overall well-being.
With their mouths, dogs regulate their body temperature and express appetite, happy playfulness, even love for humans and other animals.
How often should you really brush your dog’s teeth or hit the vet’s for a cleaning?
Brushing your dog’s teeth daily with a dog-specific toothpaste will help fight infection and kill bacteria that cause problems. Just as you brush your own teeth a few times a day, a dog’s mouth also needs daily attention.
By helping your dog maintain proper oral care, you can hopefully avoid all of the above common oral conditions. Show your pet you care and help him keep those teeth, gums, and tongue clean.
2. Stomach
Food enters through the mouth and slides down the esophagus on its way to the stomach. From there, it takes in the sights of the small and large intestines before departing the body.
When your dog has a food intolerance, this means that they are not able to properly digest an ingredient in their food.
Food intolerance is quite a common issue with 1 in 3 dogs suffering from digestive disorders. If your dog is displaying signs of stomach sensitivities, take them in to see a vet who will determine whether these symptoms are caused by your dog’s diet.
In general, dogs have more sensitive stomachs than humans and can experience digestive upsets. In this case, you might consider feeding them a diet for a sensitive stomach.
3. Joint
How common is arthritis in dogs?
The older your dog is, the more chances that his sudden lack of appetite, slow movement or fatigue are due to arthritis. According to the Arthritis Foundation, if your dog is more than 7 years of age, there’s a 65% chance he’s suffering from the disease.
Sometimes dogs are just forced to live with hip and joint pain. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t improve your dog’s quality of life.
The things you can do are: keep things like food and water easily accessible, give him a comfortable place for quality sleep,…
If you want to discover more information, take a look at an infographic about 15 Interesting Facts About Your Dog’s Organs by Leo Wilson from CyberPet. If you would like to submit a blog article contact cynthia@Newyorkdognanny.com
