As a dog owner, you obviously want what’s best for your four-legged friend. By taking care of their needs, you will ensure they live a long, happy life. Here are seven things to do to keep your dog healthy:

1) Brush Their Teeth

Did you know that dogs also have to brush their teeth? If they don’t brush their teeth, they could have bad breath, tooth decay, or even gum disease. Or worse, an infection caused by their tooth decay could spread to vital organs like their heart, lungs, kidneys. 

2) Neuter

Neutering or spaying your dog can prevent breast cancer and pyometra, in the case of female dogs, and testicular cancer and prostate disease in male dogs. However, you should keep in mind that opposite to common belief, many studies show that neutering your dog won’t help to solve their aggression issues. You can help to change their aggressive behavior by hiring a dog trainer or trying to train them without professional help by watching videos or reading books about it.

3) Keep an Eye on Their Weight

Obesity is a very common problem in the canine population, it is estimated that 25-30% of dogs in the United States have this problem. And it is most likely not because of them since owners often overfeed their pets or give them scraps of their human food whenever they ask. Obesity can cause a lot of diseases such as arthritis, liver disease, and diabetes.  

4) Frequent Check-Ups

Just like humans need to go to the doctor for check-ups, dogs also need to be taken care of. Regular visits to their veterinarian will keep your dog healthy, because more serious diseases could be diagnosed and treated from the beginning, preventing them from having surgery or having to undergo any other expensive treatment.

5) Don’t Let Them Eat Toxic Food

Certain foods can be really toxic, or even deadly to your dog. The most known toxic food for dogs is chocolate, but as well as that, they can’t eat avocado, coffee, onions, grapes, macadamia nuts, anything sweetened with xylitol, among many other things. It is always a good idea to check before feeding your pet with something different from their regular diet. And in case they ate one of those things, you should probably take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

6) Make Sure They Get Exercise

Just like you, your dog needs daily exercise to stay healthy. This way they will become less destructive, calmer, maintain a healthy body and mind, among many other benefits. Keep in mind that a walk around the block is not enough, they need between 30 minutes up to 2 hours. If you don’t have time to do that, it might be a good idea to hire a dog walker. 

7) Treat Them For Parasites

Parasites in dogs are certainly not uncommon. The most common of all are fleas, which can cause a lot more than irritable skin. They can also cause anemia, allergies, and even tapeworms. Most flea control products can protect your pet for up to 30 days, and there is also medication for preventing tapeworms that are given once a month to prevent this infection from happening.