10 mistakes that can cut your dog’s life short
Every pet parent likes to think they provide their dogs with a healthy life. You might provide your dog with love and top-quality food, but there’s much more to raising a healthy pup.
Unfortunately, there are 10 dog health mistakes that pet parents can make that can shorten their dog’s life.
Sometimes, our busy lives interfere with proper care of our canines, causing us to neglect some essential measures that could increase their lifespan.
The good news is that it’s never too late to care for your dog.
Take action now, and avoid these ten dog health mistakes that can cut your dog’s life.
#1. Letting your dog gain too much weight
Allowing your dog to gain too much weight can result in dire consequences. According to research by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 53% of dogs weighed too much. Moreover, 95% of the owners didn’t know the right weight for their dogs. This is alarming.
Letting your dog get obese can reduce not only his life span but also his quality of life. People fail to realize that dogs don’t break down or process food as humans do.
A dog eating an ounce of cheese is equivalent to a human eating 1.5 hamburgers, which is a lot to consume.
So, don’t let your dog gain too much weight and create a healthy lifestyle for your pet. You may consider feeding your pup low-calorie dog food if your dog gets heavy.
#2. Not taking your dog for annual checkups
It might be a pain to take your dog to a vet yearly, but doing this might save his life.
Get your dog to a vet annually to improve its lifespan. You might think annual physicals are too stressful for dogs, but trust me—they aren’t.
Even if your dog seems normal, there might be problems inside. And in a dog’s case, time is the key to everything.
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In some cases, the symptoms might appear so late that the vets can do nothing about it then. But if the treatment is started early, it can improve the quality and quantity of a dog’s life.
#3. Letting your dog eat food from the table
One thing all vets agree on is that feeding dogs food from your table is a terrible idea. The internal parts of humans and dogs aren’t the same, especially the esophagus and stomach area.
The digestive system of dogs can’t handle most of the food humans eat. So, pay attention to his diet rather than showing affection to your dog with your food.
#4. Ignoring dental care
Giving a bath or shower to your dog is critical for your dog’s hygiene and prevention of disease. You don’t need to shower your dog daily, clean him after he gets dirty.
Another thing you can’t forget is the health of your dog’s teeth. When you visit the vet next time, be sure to check the condition of your dog’s teeth. You can buy special toothpaste and a toothbrush at the pet store.
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#5. Not providing daily exercise
Playing with your dog in the park once a week isn’t exercise. You need to plan an exercise routine for your dog.
Exercise provides mental stimulation and keeps extra weight off your dog.
Creating a fitness routine for your dog is a healthy way to expend energy.
#6. Exposing your dog to second-hand smoke
Like humans, dogs’ lungs aren’t compatible with handling smoke. Second-hand smoke can prove to be very detrimental to pets. It pushes them to the brink of having cancer and respiratory issues.
#7. Forgetting about heartworms and ticks
Preventing heartworms and ticks is as important as vaccinations. These tiny worms can spread life-threatening diseases.
Consult your vet. There are many prevention options, from collars to oral medications.
#8. Not showing your dog love and care
Dogs are social animals. And like humans, they want communication with you and other dogs. They need social interaction to develop their personalities.
Failing to provide proper socialization can make your dog aggressive and scared, ultimately cutting their lifespan.
#9. Making certain breeds work too hard
Small and toy dog breeds and short-nosed breeds have different exercise routines than other dog breeds.
For example, English bulldogs, French bulldogs, and boxers shouldn’t exercise in extreme heat, which can be life-threatening due to their short snouts and difficulty breathing.
#10. Letting your dog be outside without supervision
Letting your dog go outside without supervision can lead to horrible consequences. Cars, coyotes, and other predators are out there.
So, it’s best to monitor them when they are outside.
Live a long and happy life
Your dog is perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of your life.
So, don’t take any steps that can reduce your dog’s lifespan.
Give your dog the proper care to ensure he lives a long, healthy, happy life.
Kathrin Garner writes about social issues and volunteers at Marijuana Detox.