Ways You Could be Shortening your Dog's Life

It's all too easy to spoil our dogs whenever we get the chance. It could be because we feel guilty at leaving them on their own for too long or because we had to take them on shorter walks than usual. For whatever reason, giving a canine companion a few too many treats or inappropriate ‘people food’ it can have a serious impact on their health and therefore their life spans!

However, there are other things you may be doing which could affect your dog's overall health and well-being, shortening their lives and this includes doing the following:

Forgetting to check your dog's teeth

Just like people, dogs can suffer from gum disease which is more common than most people think. When food builds up around and in between a dog's teeth, it can lead to bacteria forming which in turn forms plaque. Any sort of oral bacteria build-up in your pet's mouth can be a trigger for all sorts of other health issues and this includes problems with their hearts and kidneys.

However, all is not lost because by regularly cleaning your dog's teeth you can avoid this from happening. If your pet is not used to having their teeth cleaned, you should take them along to the vet on a regular basis to have this done professionally.

Forgetting your dog's annual check up with the vet

As dogs get older, they are more likely to develop certain health issues and age-related disorders. In short, it's really important they have regular annual health checks with the vet. The reason being that the earlier a condition is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated and the easier it tends to be for vets to clear up. However, even younger dogs and puppies should be taken along for annual check-ups to makes sure there's nothing brewing that could affect their overall health and well-being a little further down the line.

Forgetting to take your dog out for enough daily exercise

No matter how big or small a dog happens to be, they still need to be sufficient daily exercise for them to remain strong and healthy. However, mental stimulation is just as important too. Dogs that get enough exercise are far less likely to plough on the pounds, they will be fitter, healthier all round and this could mean less expensive trips to the vet when they develop any sort of disorder. When you decide to share your home and life with a canine companion, it's important that you have the time to spend with them because it's a huge responsibility although a very enjoyable one. The rule of thumb is that a tired dog is a healthy and happy dog which says it all really.

Smoking cigarettes around your dog

Dogs are just as susceptible to developing cancer if they have to breath in second hand cigarette smoke so if you are a smoker or have friends who come around who smoke, make sure your dog is well out of the way. You have to protect them because it could lead to them suffering from cancer as well as other nasty and hard to treat respiratory diseases. If you have to smoke, make sure you go outside and never smoke in a room where your canine companion happens to be.

Are you asking too much of yourdog?

Although all dogs need to be given regular daily exercise, you have to be careful that you are not asking too much of your four-legged companion. Smaller or older dogs may need less and you have to watch just how much you ask of them so you don't put them under too much pressure or strain. Breeds like English Bulldogs, Pekingese and Boxers have very short snouts which makes them more prone to suffering from Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome. They have a lot more trouble breathing due the fact they have such stubbed noses. If they are asked to do too much when they weather is hot it could prove life threatening to them.

You have to make sure you only ask as much of your dog as they can do which depends on their breed and their ages because if you don't you could be putting their bodies and organs under too much pressure and strain which could end shortening their lives considerably.

Conclusion

Sharing a home with a canine companion is extremely rewarding. Dogs give owners so much pleasure and in return, it’s up to people to make sure their four-legged friends are looked after in a safe environment and fed a good quality, well-balanced diet. However, it’s all too easy to get a few things wrong which could end up shortening your pet’s life considerably which is why it’s important to keep on top of things which includes making sure your dog gets enough daily exercise to suit their ages and their breed. It’s also a good idea to take your pet along to the vet for regular annual health checks, because the sooner a condition is diagnosed, the easier it tends to be to treat. When dogs are happy and healthy they live longer which means you’ll have them around for a few more years enjoying their wonderful company.