To ensure your dog has a long and healthy life, it’s important to consider a few things. We provide tips for a long dog life.

The Right Mix Makes the Difference

Similar to humans, a long life for dogs is generally dependent on lifestyle. While genetics play a role, there are proven measures that can improve and extend a dog’s life. After all, it’s in your interest to have your four-legged companion by your side for as long as possible, enjoying life.

So, what’s the secret?

The following tips for a long dog life are just a part of the puzzle, but they can significantly enhance the quality of your furry friend’s life. And on this foundation, you can build a wonderful dog life.

Nutrition

Everything starts with the right nutrition. As the saying goes, “No food, no fight.” Just like us, dogs prefer a full stomach to an empty one. Unfortunately, both humans and dogs often consume things that aren’t really conducive to good health. Therefore, it’s crucial to focus on a balanced diet. Research has shown that dogs fed a species-appropriate diet are less prone to diseases like diabetes, obesity, or allergies.

But what should the dog’s diet provide? Well, dogs are known to be descendants of wolves. In addition to the main ingredient, meat, many plant-based components should be included. Fruits, vegetables, herbs, or grass should be on the dog’s menu.

Unfortunately, many commercially manufactured pet foods, especially pellets, are laden with low-quality grains. The meat content, on the other hand, is decreasing, which is unsuitable for dogs.

Moreover, artificial flavor enhancers, fragrances, and sugar are often added. These make the processed food irresistible for almost any furry friend. However, it’s far from healthy, especially the abundant sugar content, which can lead to diabetes in old age.

The addition of artificial vitamins in dog food or as supplements is also increasingly criticized. The best option is always the natural one in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables; here, the active ingredients work best.

Finally, poor nutrition in dogs often leads to obesity (also called adiposity in dogs). This, in turn, often results in secondary damages such as the aforementioned diabetes, musculoskeletal problems (not only are the joints excessively stressed due to the high body weight), high blood pressure, etc.

If the dog is already older, you should switch to senior dog food. Especially, herbs are suitable as a dietary supplement; they support organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys. Basil (digestion-promoting), savory (appetite-stimulating), parsley (good against bad breath and full of vitamin C), or devil’s claw (medicinal herb against musculoskeletal pain) are just a few from the long list of healthy herbs in tips for a long dog life.

Dental Care

Not only is the right food important for humans and animals, but proper dental care also needs to be learned and applied! Due to the abundance of sugar in food, the teeth of your four-legged friend must be regularly maintained and cleaned. Even if you provide your pet with a healthy diet and mostly avoid commercial food, dental hygiene is still crucial!

There are many opportunities for proper dental care. You can achieve this naturally by giving your dog something to chew on regularly, quite literally:

These items not only provide great chewing pleasure for the dog, but they also simultaneously clean the teeth of plaque and food residues. Another advantage of this chewing activity is that the jaw muscles are strengthened, and the gums are better circulated. This ensures comprehensive care for the entire chewing apparatus. After all, let’s be honest, humans also wouldn’t want to eat mushy stuff every day, right?

Exercise

Proper nutrition should be accompanied by sufficient exercise in a dog’s daily routine. And not just to prevent excess pounds. Dogs naturally have a tendency for movement; the daily “dose” certainly depends on their breed. A greyhound typically requires longer and more extensive exercise than, for example, a pug. If regular walks are not enough, physical and mental health problems may occur in your furry friend.

To make the outings interesting for both the dog and the owner, it is advisable to bring dog toys more often. Giving your dog a task keeps the mind sharp and makes the daily walk lively. Fetch exercises or participation in dog sports groups are just a few additional examples of truly good, supportive, and demanding exercise programs. The possibilities are very diverse.

All in all, you should always ensure that your four-legged companion gets enough daily exercise. It’s good for both the animal and the human!

Coat and Skin Care

The surface of our dogs, also known as skin and fur, forms one of the most important organs of the quadruped. It protects our beloved pets, just like human skin, from external influences such as germs, etc. Our tips for a long dog life also include this section.

However, if the furry friend is not doing well, you often notice it by damage to this protective covering. This can manifest itself, for example, in a change in the color and density of the fur or perhaps scaly skin. There can be various causes for this. The most common triggers are incorrect or inadequate nutrition, diseases (unfortunately, cancer is increasingly found in dogs), parasites, stress, allergies, hormonal problems, or even a combination of these factors.

Regular Health Check at the Veterinarian

Regular visits to the veterinarian for health checks are essential for keeping the dog healthy. After all, you want to know that everything is in order. Many diseases are usually not recognized by the owner.

The veterinarian checks the fur, skin, eyes, teeth, and, if there is a finding, initiates further examinations. Perhaps a change in diet is necessary, or medications need to be administered. Vaccinations for dogs are also important and are administered by the veterinarian.

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