Dog health is as important as the health of your family members. A healthy dog reflects your care and love for it. There are innumerable necessities of a dog that require lots of care and patience. From the stage when it is a puppy to when it becomes a full-grown dog, it requires regular attention and concern. To not miss any of the important dog health care needs, refer to the following guide.
Watch Out for Its Behavior
The first thing that is directly related to your dog’s health is its behavior. You must be aware enough to take immediate notice of any change in its behavior. There are usually some remarkable symptoms behind any behavioral changes in dogs. You should immediately take your dog to the nearest veterinary doctor as soon as you feel something is wrong with it. Proper medication is a vital part of proper dog health.
Use a Harness
For handicapped and weak dogs or bulky dogs, it is good to use a dog harness. Dog harnesses can be used for numerous medical purposes. All kinds of harnesses are available, whether required for small dogs or larger ones. There are many uses for harnesses and some of them are given below:
- A harness can be used to handle a dog with an extra large size. It prevents the collar of the dog from cutting into its neck.
- It can also be used to transfer a large-sized dog into the car. Without a harness, it can be very difficult to lift a huge dog into the car.
- The best use of a dog harness is to provide proper support to partially paralyzed dogs. They have a lot of trouble in handling their paralyzed bodies and the use of a harness makes it easier for them to move from one place to another.
- Even those dogs, that suffer from osteoporosis or severe arthritis, can also be comforted by providing them with harnesses.
- The bones of small and feeble dogs can easily be supported with the help of a dog harness.
- Harnesses can also protect your dog from wind, cold, and even heat.
Proper Way of Using a Harness
The proper way of using a harness is to place it comfortably under and around the body of your dog. Harnesses come in different materials such as cloth, leather, etc and you can choose the one, that is the aptest for your dog. Some of the harnesses are also provided with metal spikes which are used for dogs like pit bulls. Some of them are also provided with padding to make the dog more comfortable. You can also get hold of some fancy ones in multiple colors and with jewels.
While choosing the harness, take care to choose the correct size, otherwise, it may harm your dog. To get a proper size, first, measure your dog’s girth. Before buying one, it is better to choose a material that does not shrink. The best way to avoid shrinking is to avoid the harness from getting wet. Be sure to remove the harness if your dog wants to enjoy playing in the rain. Even while bathing your dog, you must remember to take it off.
Proper Fit Is Important
There should be some space between the body of the dog and the harness. Leave space so that two to three fingers can be inserted between the body and the harness. If you put the harness too tight on the dog’s body, there are chances that your dog may develop body sores. It is always better to go for a little bigger size, as your dog may grow or gain weight. Be very careful while choosing a dog harness, as you would never want your dog to suffer any kind of discomfort.
Dog Health Care with Supplements
To take care of your dog’s health, boost its diet with dog health supplements. There are ample products available in the markets that provide your dog with all the required minerals, amino acids, vitamins, and proteins for proper health. These products completely fulfill the nutritional requirements of your dog.
Dog Insurance is a Must
Before buying dog insurance, you must know the benefits related to it. By getting insurance for your beloved pet, you, save a lot of bucks. These days, veterinary expenses have increased incredibly making it very difficult to maintain proper pet health. You need to pay for every small medication, in case your dog does not have dog insurance. Every activity such as routine checkups, vaccinations, emergency treatments, preventive care, and of course regular treatments is indeed very expensive, and sometimes meeting all the needs can be challenging for the owner.
Dog insurance is quite similar to your health insurance. The premium of these health policies depends mainly on two things - the breed of your dog and the type of insurance you choose. If you have more than one dog, then the company reduces the rate of premiums after the first policy. Several factors must be brought into consideration before choosing a particular plan. It is better to get hold of the brochure of multiple plans and then compare the rates and features of coverage.
All aspects including payout schedules and benefit limits must be compared and understood before going for a particular dog health plan. Check the breed-specific conditions of each health insurance plan and buy the one offering complete coverage for all possible diseases. Buy dog insurance as early as possible, because the age of your dog matters.
Practicing dog health care with each of these steps would make you a proud dog owner. Remember that dogs, if taken care of well, may prove to be wonderful companions, sometimes better than human ones.
