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Illness is an unpreventable and inevitable part of your dogsโ
lives. You could ensure that he lives a healthy life by adopting
healthy practices that suits his needs and keeps him fit. You
play a critical role in your dogโs good health. In most cases,
the illnesses and injuries that may shorten a dogโs lifespan are
easily preventable. Help prevent these dog illnesses by following
a few steps or adding a new routine to your daily activity
roster.
Heartworm
It is the leading cause of doggy deaths. Itโs a parasite thatโs
spread through mosquito bites. Heart-worm disease affects the
lungs and the heart and can be fatal when left untreated. Get the
monthly revolution of vaccines for your dogs โ even on colder
months where you might think it unnecessary. It may save his
life.
GI Upset
Upset tummies in dogs can be easily prevented by sticking with
canine foods. Our tummies are designed to handle high-fiber,
high-protein, high-fat or sugar loaded foods, no matter how
unhealthy. Our pets are more accustomed to a more controlled
diet. Their stomachs arenโt designed to handle high-risk foods
like our daily plates. So stick to dog food to prevent chances of
diarrhea and pancreatitis.
Diabetes
Diabetes is considered to be the Number One preventable disease
when it comes to dogs. Obesity is the only factor that leads to
this disease and the key here is to keep your pets slim and fit.
When feeding your dog, practice portion control and make sure to
exercise him regularly. Diabetes can inadvertently lead to more
dire diseases like kidney and heart diseases. Weight is something
the owners have control over. Prevent diseases by keeping him
healthy.
Dental Diseases
Dental diseases are usually overlooked when it comes to canines
and this leads to the worst problems like cancers and heart,
kidney, and liver diseases. All this can be easily prevented by
brushing your dogโs teeth on a daily basis. Ask your vet for
advice if itโs your first time. Routine check-ups at the vet will
tell you when your dog needs to have his teeth cleaned.
Skin Diseases
Promoting healthy skin in your pet is a big part of preventing
skin diseases. Bathing can remove allergens from the skin so
donโt skip bath days!Brush your dog regularly to keep his coat in
good condition. Brushing spreads the oil through the hair coat,
promoting a healthy skin.
Injuries And Trauma
Although this may seem out of our control, this can be avoided in
most cases by the simple use of a leash. Walking your dog is a
great way to get exercise but remember that canines are curious
animals and they may run off. Itโs safer to keep him on a leash
so he doesnโt run into unwanted trouble.Taking a few preventive
methods can help your dog in leading a stronger, longer and
healthier life. A few precautions on our part may just let us
have more happy years with them.
What should you feed your sick dog?
We all hate being sick. It reduces our appetite and brings our
energy level to an all-time low. Exactly the same thing happens
to our adorable ball of fur too. The most common illnesses seen
in dogs is an upset stomach. Diarrhea, vomiting, kidney or liver
disease, intestinal parasites can cause them to be sick too.
Symptoms that your dog is
sick
Dogs cannot communicate to you when they are in pain or not
feeling well. You need to be proactive and check for the
following symptoms to ascertain that your dog is ill.
- Loss of appetite.
- Aversion from water.
- Difficulty in walking.
- Loose stools.
- Excessive sleeping.
- Excessive drooling.
- Itchy skin.
When your puppy is sick, they stop eating and do not play all
day. It hurts to watch them be sick. Getting them to eat
nutritious food for a speedy recovery can become a challenge in
itself. Would the same chicken noodle soup that makes us feel so
much better work for our puppies too? Here is a list of food
items to feed your dog when they are sick.
Water
Make sure to boil and then cool the water. Feed your dog small
amounts of water at regular intervals throughout the day. If they
are extremely reluctant to drink water, you can use a dropper.
Keeping your dog hydrated,when they are sick, is extremely
important.
Shredded boiled chicken
Chicken is a great source of nutrition for your dog. Do not add
any spices and simply boil some chicken. Shred-it to make it
easier for your dog to consume it.
Boiled rice
Well cooked rice is another nutritious yet light food for your
sick dog. Serve the rice in small portions to your dog. You can
pair it up with shredded boiled chicken too.
Mashed pumpkin or sweet
potato
Mashed pumpkin or sweet potato is soft and easy to digest. You
can also feed them the canned pumpkin variety. Make sure that it
does not have any additional sugar since that can further upset
your puppyโs tummy. Also, do not use sweet potato for diabetic
dogs.
Bone broth
Bone broth is extremely mild and gentle on your dogโs tummy. You
can use turkey or chicken legs to boil in water. Remember to
scoop out the layer of fat that forms on top of the broth after
it has cooled down. As an additional precaution, strain the broth
to remove all small bones.
Boiled eggs
If you see your dog getting a little better, you can try and feed
them a fully boiled egg. It is high in protein, but do not force
it on your pup if they do not feel like eating it. They might not
be ready for an egg yet.
