How To Keep Your Canine In Peak Condition 

Whether your dog is a pampered pet, a show animal or a canine athlete, you are probably keen to ensure that your four-footed friend remains in tip-top condition throughout their life.

Fortunately, there are some simple but effective techniques you can follow to make sure your dog looks and feels their best, both mentally and physically.

Read on to find out more, and maximise your canine’s chances of a long, healthy, and happy life.

Take Good Care Of Their Coat

Whether your dog is long or short-coated, it’s still important to pay attention to their fur. Regular brushing is recommended, which helps to remove any loose hair and dead skin particles, and also spreads the dog’s natural oils through the fur. These oils keep your dog’s coat lustrous and shiny, and can also provide protection from damp and dirt.

To supplement those oils, you can massage coconut oil into your dog’s fur, or add some to your dog’s food bowl. Regular doses of coconut oil will help to keep your dog’s coat shining and healthy from root to tip.

You can also bath your dog and wash their coat, but make sure you only use specially made dog shampoos, not human products, which will be too harsh for your dog’s skin and can cause irritation.

If you have a long-coated breed, you may also need to take your pet to a dog groomer’s for a clipping session. Long-coated dogs can be prone to shedding, and in some cases their fur may even grow so long that it flops over their eyes and obscures their vision; this is particularly common with breeds such as the Old English Sheepdog and the Afghan Hound.

Ensure A Healthy Diet

One of the cornerstones of your dog’s care should be ensuring they have a healthy diet. The type of food you feed your dog will depend on their breed and size, and should also take into account any dietary intolerances or allergies they may have.

Common food sensitivities include eggs, soy, milk, corn, beef and chicken. If you’re not sure what symptoms to look out, possible effects of a food sensitivity can include itchy skin, vomiting, diarrhea, and possibly even infections of the feet and ears.

A food allergy is more severe than a sensitivity, and will provoke an immune response such as swelling, vomiting, hives and possibly even anaphylactic shock, just like in humans. However, food allergies in dogs are not as common as intolerances.

When it comes to the components of your dog’s diet, it’s essential that they receive a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Whether you feed pure kibble or some soft food is up to you; too much soft – or ‘wet’ – food can give your dog diarrhea, which is unhealthy for the dog and unpleasant for you.

Keep Their Teeth Clean

If you have ever been lucky enough to see a wolf in the wild – or if you enjoy watching documentaries about your dog’s distant cousins (several times removed) – you may find yourself wondering how wild canines keep their teeth from rotting over time.

The fact is that a wolf’s diet is conducive to maintaining a certain standard of dental health, as the process of gnawing on bones (and, occasionally, sticks and bark) helps to clean their teeth. In addition, because wild wolves tend to have a relatively short life span, they simply may not have time to develop any serious dental complications.

When it comes to their domestic relations, however, a helping hand may be required. To help ensure that your canine friend stays in tip-top condition, it’s a good idea to keep on top of their dental hygiene.

There are several ways you can do this. For example, you can purchase a special doggy tooth brush and start brushing your dog’s teeth in the same way as you would your own.

However, there are also techniques you can use for cleaning your dog’s teeth without having to brush. Native Pet provides helpful tips on how to clean dog teeth without brushing, including some options you may not be familiar with, such as using dental chew toys and probiotic supplements.

If you notice that your dog may be developing a problem with their teeth or gums despite your best’s efforts, it’s important to get them checked out to prevent further discomfort or even the development of a mouth infection.

Clip Their Nails

It can be easy to overlook your dog’s nails, but the fact is that over-long claws can cause your canine some considerable problems, including pain, difficulty walking, and potentially even infection.

Fortunately, most active dogs naturally wear their nails down with their daily activities, especially if they spend a significant amount of time walking or running on a hard surface. However, if your dog becomes ill, or if you have an older dog who is no longer as active, it’s important to cut their nails so they don’t become uncomfortably long.

Not sure what counts as ‘too long’? If your dog’s nails are extending over the pad and touching the ground (making a clicking or clacking sound when they walk around the house) then that’s a good indication that it’s time for a snip.

Give Them Regular Exercise

Giving your dog enough opportunities for exercise is crucial for maintaining their long-term health and happiness. As you may already know, some breeds may require a lot more exercise than others – such as huskies and border collies – or they can become bored, restless, and destructive. However, all dogs need a certain amount of physical exertion, whether it’s going for regular walks, swimming, or even taking some agility classes.

If you’re not sure if your dog is currently getting enough exercise, here are some signs that indicate that your beloved pet needs to get out and about more:

• They are gaining weight.
• They are becoming stiff or lethargic.
• They are engaging in destructive behavior.
• They are becoming over-excited and hard to control while on the leash.

If your canine is showing any of these indicators, it’s time to increase their exercise regime. Hopefully, before long, they should be calmer, fitter, and healthier – not to mention a great deal happier too.