Dog Health Care - Looking After Your Dog's Health Is Just Common Sense

Dog health care is not difficult or complicated. The simple way to keep your dog healthy is to feed him the correct diet and make sure he has sufficient exercise. In fact this is the same way we keep ourselves healthy so we're already familiar with how to do this!

Practising dog health care will also help prevent most canine diseases and save you a fortune in vet bills over the years. Keeping this in mind, you'll be able to afford good quality dog food, which is the basis of keeping your dog healthy and fit.

Which dog food is the best? Much has been written on the pros and cons of specific dog foods so it's easy to become confused when doing research on this topic. Your vet can possibly advise you on which dog food to choose for your particular breed of dog, but at the end of the day, it's probably more beneficial to research it yourself. Buying cheap dog food is a false economy because any money saved will surely be spent on dog diseases in the future.

As a general rule a good dog food should contain enough protein, preferably in the form of meat. Vegetables are another essential component of a quality dog food and should provide most of the bulk. Grain or carbohydrates should only be a small part of the total mix at around 10%. Unfortunately most cheap brands contain much more grain and can lead to poor nutrition and obesity in your dog.

An adult dog should only need feeding once a day. There are quality canned or dried foods available so the choice is really yours. Dried food is easier to buy and store but your dog will need plenty of water to drink with this type of diet. Do make sure there is plenty of clean water provided for him to drink whatever you decide to feed him with.

Dogs love to dig and generally get dirty. They don't need to be washed every day like us humans, but a weekly bath will keep them clean and smelling good. It also helps detect pests like fleas in your dog's coat.

Even the healthiest dog can be struck down with a disease like parvovirus, canine distemper or rabies. It is essential to vaccinate against these dangerous diseases when your dog is still a puppy to provide lifetime immunity. Noxious pests like heart-worms and fleas can be prevented with topical medications available from your vet.

Exercise comes naturally for some dog breeds, they simply love to run around. Make sure there's enough room at your place for your dog to move around. If not there are parks which permit dogs to be off the leash, or you could simply take him for a walk. Exercise is vital for your dog's health and your own, preferably every day.

So, as you can see, dog health care is largely a matter of common sense and keeping your dog healthy will provide your companion with a happy and long life right through into old age.

Thinking about owning a dog? Along with buying the kennel and toys, don't forget to find out about dog health care.

Discover more about how to look after your puppy or dog using natural methods at http://mydoghealthcare.com/ written by a holistic health therapist: Wendy Owen (HH Dip).