Lifestyle Changes to Aid Your Dog’s Health

If you have decided to bring home a puppy, you have made a promise to care for it for the rest of its life, ensuring that they are well, happy, and healthy. The responsibility of a dog owner is intense, but deciding to bring back an animal and make it a member of the family means you will do what it takes to care for them. This means aiding your dog as they transform from a young puppy into a senior dog that may need additional care and attention. However, it also means making any lifestyle changes for both you and your dog to aid their health and keep them healthy and happy. 

Lifestyle changes could be for both you and your dog, but it could also be for just one of you. Either way, they will need to be made and stuck to so that their health does not deplete and everyone can live a healthier life. 

Change Exercise Patterns

Does your dog require more exercise? Or perhaps they need less? Either way, if you need to adapt their exercise routine so that they are getting the right amount of exercise, this is extremely important and should be done as soon as possible.

Not exercising your dog can lead to health problems such as weight gain. This can, in turn, lead to health issues such as arthritis and high blood pressure and heart disease. Obesity is a killer and is known for reducing the life expectancy of dogs, so be sure to exercise your dog enough so that they are burning the right number of calories.

On the other hand, however, you will also need to make changes to your dog’s exercise routine if you are exercising them too much. Perhaps your dog is not eating enough and losing too much weight. Or, if they are older, they may need a reduced amount of exercise because of their joints and bones. 

If you are ever unsure on how to exercise your dog (remember, it can also depend on your dog’s weight, size, and breed), speak to your vet.

Adapt Diets

Your dog’s diet is important and can be the cornerstone to your dog living a healthy life. A poor diet can lead to weight gain and obesity; however, it can also lead to your dog not getting the right nutrients that could lead to deficiencies. What’s more, if your dog suffers from arthritis, this can also aid your dog in better mobility.

Again, your dog’s diet will need to be determined and refined by your vet. They will be able to weigh, monitor and take all your dog’s health and any past ailments into consideration. By doing this, they will then be able to provide your dog with an exact meal plan and even a brand of food that suits them best. 

Typically, a dog’s diet should be a mix of kibble and cooked food or raw meat, fish, rice and vegetables. You may also wish to get your dog a few bones as these are great for keeping your dog’s teeth healthy and strong amongst other things. You should also remember the foods that your dog should avoid. For instance, foods that are bad and even poisonous for your dog are apple seeds, cherry pits, grapes, potato leaves/stems, walnuts, tea, and salt. Keep these foods away from your dog at all times. 

Invest in Supplements

Your dog may develop arthritis at any point in their life, or experience joint pain as they start to age and turn into senior dogs. You can help support your dog by investing in joint aids for dogs from brands such as YuMOVE. A YuMOVE joint supplement is a great way to reduce the effects of stiff joints, help aid mobility, and protect your dog’s joints and bones. They also offer a guide on everything you need to know about joint pain in dogs and how you can help support them, as well as the signs and symptoms of your dog needing joint aid. 

Supplements are a great and easy way to help your dog live a more comfortable life when they start to age. Be sure to look into them and see whether adding them to your dog’s diet can be worthwhile.

Speak to Your Vet

If you are unsure as to how you can support your dog, then be sure to speak to your vet so that they can provide you with the best advice possible. Of course, your vet will want to check your dog, so be prepared to take them in for a check-up.

Lifestyle changes can be a lot of hassle, especially if you have a few habits that you have gotten used to. However, lifestyle changes can be for the better. Be sure to see how you can improve your dog’s livelihood through proper eating and the right supplements.