A Guide To Preventing Common Health Issues In Dogs

As a dog owner, keeping your dog in great health is a priority. You always try to employ good routines and precautions. But with so many potential afflictions that could affect the pup’s health, keeping on top of things can be tough.

You should be quick to visit the vet if a serious problem arises. Nevertheless, the best way to treat your dog well is to take preventative action against the most common and serious issues.

Here are four regular health issues, along with the best ways to battle against them. Employ them now and your dog should stay healthy and happy.

Eye Infections

As with humans, eyes are extremely important to dogs. Unfortunately, there are a number of conditions that your pup could encounter. Knowing how to react when this does happen is a must. However, you can also take various precautionary measures.

There are several dietary changes that you could make to reduce the risks. More importantly, you should employ a good grooming routine. Wipe dirt away with cotton pads to avoid harmful build up.

Try to keep hair around the eyes short too, as this can irritate them.

Skin Irritation

Many dogs suffer issues with their skin. It’s quite common to see them scratching. Funnily enough, this can often be a result of over cleaning the pet. One of the best improvements you can make is to reduce the amount of baths your dog takes to two per week.

Another common problem is dandruff. Dry skin can contribute to dog dandruff, and understanding how to battle against this will make life a lot easier for your pup.

Skin irritations might seem like a small issue. If they are left unattended, though, they can evolve into quite serious conditions. The key is to act fast before it snowballs out of control.

Oral Hygiene

A dog’s teeth are arguably even more important than a human’s. Not only do they play a vital role, but they are also used to play and explore their surroundings. Quite frankly, if your dog starts suffering oral problems, it will impact its life greatly.

The first thing you should learn is how to clean your dog’s teeth properly. This is the foundation of great oral hygiene. You can enhance this with dental sticks and other food treats that promote healthy teeth and gums.

Oral hygiene is one of the most important parts of great dog care. Don’t forget it.

Joint Problems

Another common issue suffered by many dogs, especially in later life, is problems with their joints. Dogs are naturally very active beings, so this is the last thing that you want them to encounter.

One of the best ways to prevent these potential troubles is to keep the dog active. If your pet is anything like our Champ, then playing with balls is a great way to achieve this. However, you must also take your pooch for regular walks. Besides, it’s good for your health too.

There are also various supplements that can reduce the risks.

Jammin' Salmon - Chicken and Salmon in Pumpkin Soup #ProductReview

September is International Pet Blogger Month at Chewy.com so I got  another  dog food  for our  fur babies.  This time, I wanted them to try this Weruva's Jammin Salmon, it's a combination of chicken and salmon in a pumpkin soup.  Our dog Champ is very fond of seagood but Bolt is not.  However, they both love chicken so I was hoping hat they would like this as much as they loved the  Beef Stew.

This Jammin Salmon has  boneless, skinless, white breast chicken and wild caught salmon.  It is loaded with Omega-3s for their healthy skin and coat.

It is made with tomatoes, green peas and sweet potato in a pumpkin soup and it is made without added antibiotics or hormones.

What I like is  that, it is grain-free.   As usual, I mixed it in with their dry dog-food.  When introducing new dog food to  our fur babies, I only put a little bit for the first time to   gauge if they like it or not.  

At first, Bolt smelled it and walked away, but when Champ started eating, he came back and started eating his.  I think the smell of the salmon turned him away but later on find out that  it's nothing bad.  He  polished his bowl nd wanting more.  With the three  varieties of  dog food that we got   Champ and Bolt, they love the Beef Stew the most.  

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Hearty Beef Stew for our Fur Babies from Chewy: Review

Bolt and Champ loved the first  Beef Dinner dog food  by Evangers that I got from chewy.com.   They just consumed all of those  so I got them  new  beef stew by Whole Earth Farm from Chewy as well.  This  beef stew smells so good that it  smells like human  food almost.  As you can see, it has  whole chunk of  real meat.  You can check out its ingredients below.

Deboned Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Carrots, Peas, Dried Egg Product, Sweet Potatoes, Natural Flavor, Dried Potatoes, Blueberries, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate), Olive Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Minerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Glucoheptonate, Sodium Selenite), Choline Chloride, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Caramel Color, Yucca Schidigera Extract.

Our fur babies  does not  like  eating  pure dry dog food so we always   mixed it with  canned dog food.  We don't give them  pure  wet food either because they get the runs so the formula is 50/50 for their system to work  perfectly.  

Bolt (black and brown) will eat dry dog food when he is so hungry but Champ, our JRT, refuses to eat  dry dog food alone.  That's why we always  have canned  dog food.  Now that I know that they love this kinds, these are definitely the brands that we will buy from now on.

Whole Earth Farms makers  a wholesome line of naturally nutritious dog food that offers all the goodness from the earth at a good value. Whole Earth Farms is another company that makes all their kibble and canned dog food are made with  high quality that are all derived here in the us.  They uses natural ingredients that deliver complete and balanced nutrition for pets. 

Here are the key benefits of Whole Earth Farms dog foods.

• Carrageenan & Grain-free recipe
• Low glycemic
• No artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
• No corn, wheat or soy
• No ingredients from China
• Made in the USA!

When you buy Whole Earth Farms canned dog food  at Chewy.com, you will get a free shipping which is a big savings.  Check them out and try it for your fur babies.  A box of this beef stew cost $32.49 but today they are offering a 20% discount so you  will get the whole box for under  20 dollars plus free shipping if you spend $49 or more.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

How to Know if You Can Trust Someone to Take Care of Your Dog

When you’re thinking of going away for a weekend or even a week, you need to consider the needs of your pets. You want to make sure that they are not only fed and watered, but well looked after too. How do you know if you can trust someone to take care of your dog? Look at the following signs to be sure!

They are CRB Checked

Anybody who is offering their services as a dog sitter should be CRB checked. You shouldn’t just take their word for it either; you need to double check to be sure that they haven’t done anything in the past that could indicate they are untrustworthy. People who have a clean record are much easier to trust than those without, so make sure you check!

They Have Good Reviews from Others

If they offer this as a service, they should have some past clients they can point you in the direction of. If they have good reviews from others, this is a great sign! However, you need to make sure the reviews are legitimate and not made up to make this person look better. Of course their friend or family member will tell you they are good! Somebody who is impartial should be contacted if you’re dubious about leaving your dog. If they can do things like dog grooming too, that goes to show they are passionate about dogs and they’re not just doing this for the money. You don’t want somebody who is going to spend no time with your dog giving them the attention they deserve. They’ll need more than just feeding while you’re away!

They Get Along With Your Dog

You probably shouldn’t leave your dog with a total stranger for the duration of your time away. It’s best if they have at least spent a little time with them beforehand and had a chat to you - a bit like a consultation. You can then spend some time letting them get to know your dog and telling them things that will help them out. If you feel like the sitter and your dog bond well, that’s a bonus! It isn’t wise to leave somebody who has never met your dog with them, even if they do this for a living. Each dog is different and they need to know how to handle yours properly. A professional will always recommend meeting your dog beforehand so they know they can do a great job.

They Make You Feel at Ease

Not only should this person get along with your dog, they should make you feel at ease too. They should explain exactly what they’ll do while you’re away, and give you some options to contact them. When you feel at ease with this person, you’ll feel so much more confident that your dog is in safe hands.

By now you should know how to tell whether your dog is being left in safe hands. Your dog is like a member of the family, so don’t put them at risk!

My Pets And Their Comfort

Having pets is a great experience, especially as we have children. The kids are now at an age where they appreciate having the pets around the house. Not only do they love to play with them, but they also love them outright. Still, from time to time I think they get on their nerves! To be fair, the whole household loves them unconditionally, which is why I like to take care of their comfort.

Every pet owner can think of a situation where the dog or the cat could be more comfortable, but you fall into a routine. Plus, they don’t need constant treatment twenty-four hours of the day. Still, it’s a nice gesture.

Food

Any regular pet food will do the job, as long as your pet doesn’t have dietary concerns. For a surprise, however, I don’t hesitate to treat them to the good stuff every now and again. Buying the best food is expensive, so it is hard to do every week. But, on occasion it doesn’t make a dent, and I swear their mood is miles better. They are just like guys!

Walk Them Constantly

I know that you don’t want to go for walks all the time, but it is not about you. It is about your pets, and that is part of the agreement when you buy one. A lot of pets have plenty of excess energy that they need to dissipate. Otherwise, it will build up, and they will become uncomfortable. Plus, they’ll take it out on the house! Exercise will keep them fit and healthy and tire them out for the rest of the day. That way, you get your rest, too.

Play

Playing is an important part of any animal’s life, especially dogs. Remember that most pets are domesticated, but they are still wild at heart. Sometimes, they do things that you have never seen before, and that is their second life coming out to play. Throwing a ball around or letting them rip an old shoe to pieces is incredibly cathartic. Pets, like humans, need a balance between good physical and mental health.

Visit The Vet

Stopping problems at the source is the best way to keep comfortable. Do you not go for a checkup every couple of months? Well, just like humans, pets need a checkup to maintain their health. For me, it is worth the monthly visits because I can be happy in the knowledge that there is nothing wrong. All in all, the animals are happy and so are you.

Ask For Help

Animals and pets can be an enigma. One day they are fine, the next they are down in the dumps or don’t look their best. It can be almost impossible to work out what is wrong how to keep them happy, which is why sites like Love Your Pet UK is a Godsend. These sites cover all pets big and small and how you can make them as happy and comfortable as possible.

I like to think my pets are as happy as they can be, and the reasons above play a big part.