Your dog is your everything so you want to make sure that he is living his healthiest life possible. In order for your pooch to be in good health even in his old age, be sure to follow these simple tips. 

Keep A Eye On Your Pooch’s Diet 

Making sure your pup is eating the proper diet is of the utmost importance. Granted, it’s hard to resist handing Fido some table scraps when he is giving you his signature puppy dog eyes. However, giving in to his whims is not worth your best bud having health issues because of a poor diet. 

Go On Regular Walks 

While both you and your furry friend may be tempted to resign to being couch potatoes, it’s extremely important that your pooch gets enough exercise. Not only going on daily walks will ensure that your dog will be in tip-top shape, but it will also help relieve his stress, which, in turn, may decrease some bad behavior. Think of it this way, taking your dog on a walk means there’s less of a chance that he’ll destroy your shoes while you’re at work. So really it’s a win, win situation for everyone. That being said, it can be difficult to have the time to take a stroll every day. If that’s the case, you may want to consider hiring a dog walker. Another admittedly more expensive option is to purchase a dog treadmill. 

If Your Pooch Is On The Older Side Prevent Injury By Limiting Playtime 

Speaking of exercise, if your pooch is getting up in years, you may want to actually consider limiting their playtime or editing how they get their active time. While leisurely walks around the neighborhood are absolutely fine, it’s best to refrain from throwing around the frisbee. However, it is imperative to keep them active and ensure that they are getting adequate exercise.

Invest in Footwear particularly for Senior Dogs

Booties are a great thing to If your pup is older also consider adding booties to your pup’s wardrobe. It will give your pup a lot more stability and ability to be more active particularly if your home has hardwood floors. Pixie, my dog who is 13.5 uses these and they have drastically improved the quality of life as it allows her to play and run around the apartment with a lot more stability and ease. Pixie, grins ear to ear when I put booties on which is a far cry from when we were trying to acclimate her to using booties and would try to walk like a spider and look as awkward as possible.

Brush His Teeth Daily 

Brushing your dog’s teeth daily has so many benefits. First off, he’ll have incredible breath. And more importantly, his chance of having issues with his oral health that could lead to heart disease will significantly decrease. 

Schedule Bi-annual Vet Appointments  & Make Sure To Get All His Vaccinations 

While no one wants to go to the doctor (or in this case a dogtor, get it?), it’s important for your pooch to visit your vet at least every 6 months. This way your veterinarian will be able to catch any problems before it’s too late.  Vaccinations can protect your pooch from numerous ailments including Lyme disease, rabies, and kennel cough. During your pup’s vet appointments, make sure that your furry friend is up-to-date with everything. 

Doggy Proof Your Home 

If you don’t properly doggy proof your home, your pooch can be at risk of a serious injury. Make sure to invest in a quality doggie gate, purchase a dog-proof trash can, and hide your electrical cords with cable clips.  A good percentage of why dogs have to go to the vet particularly during the holidays is tied to dogs ingesting something that they weren’t supposed to. Here are Woof Republic’s helpful tips to dogproof your home.