5 ways to help your dog live a long, healthy life

As a pet parent, your primary responsibility is to extend your dog’s lifespan by ensuring your dog lives a healthy life.

While making your dog live forever may not be possible, you can supply it with the best care as you usher your pet into its golden years. Here are some simple ways to help your dog live a long, healthy life.

Feed a nutritionally balanced diet

All dogs are different and require varying nutritional needs.

You need to modify and adjust your diet to suit the dog’s body weight, health, and each stage of life to ensure it stays healthy.

Considering that portion control is crucial to eliminating obesity, follow the instructions for the portion amount provided by well-balanced commercial dog foods.

It’s also vital to remember to include enough water to keep the dog hydrated.

It is also best to ensure that the meals don’t include excess sugar and sodium. Avoid feeding your dog raw meat and bones, as they can increase the risk of bacterial infection, intestinal blockage, and fractured teeth.

Consider supplementing your dog’s diet with veterinary-tested products from a good pet wellness store.

Use exercise to keep your dog active

Each dog has their individual exercise needs and energy levels. Daily exercise can help keep the dog’s joints mobile, control weight, and provide mental stimulation.

The best starting point is to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to advise on the best possible exercise programs based on your pet’s health to extend your dog’s lifespan.

Some of the best dog exercises include walking, agility training, playing fetch in the yard, and swimming.

Be cautious not to exercise the dog immediately before or after eating, as this can lead to bloating, mostly in deep-chested dogs.

Vaccinate your dog  

Vaccination can help minimize the risk of fatal infectious diseases like hepatitis, canine parvovirus, and distemper. Most unvaccinated puppies fail to survive such diseases.

Ensure your puppies and dogs get the core vaccines from ages six to eight weeks.

Depending on your dog’s infection risk and location, your veterinarian can advise you on the most suitable non-core vaccinations to safeguard your dog from leptospirosis and kennel cough.

Offer mental enrichment and stimulation

Like humans, dogs rely on mental simulations to stay cheerful and express natural behaviors.

Lack of enrichment can cause dogs to develop weird and annoying behaviors, such as excessive digging or barking and obsessive tail biting.

You can extend your dog’s lifespan by playing scent games, using puzzle feeders, doggy daycare, training sessions, and snuffle mats.

Schedule regular vet visits

Regular vet checkups can identify potential health issues. Depending on the dog’s condition, you can get recommendations on the best healthcare practices early enough.

It is advisable to take young dogs for check-ups at least once a year and older ones after every six months.

To make the most of your vet visits, always be alert and document any changes in your pet’s behavior, such as drinking, eating, toileting, and even grooming sessions.

Instead of visiting different vets, choose a veterinarian so your dog is accustomed to a familiar environment.

Final thoughts on how to extend your dog’s lifespan

Ensuring you do everything to extend your dog’s lifespan means providing the best care possible.

This starts with essential changes in the dog’s daily routine, such as embracing regular exercise, providing mental enrichment, and feeding the pet a well-balanced diet. Be sure to vaccinate your dogs and be intentional about regular vet checkups.

Richard Thomas has been a freelance animal and pet care writer for over a decade. He also is a volunteer dedicated to animal rescue and welfare, working for different organizations. He lives with two adopted cats and a rescue dog.

Protect your furry friend with our optimal dog health guide 🐾