How to Keep Your Dog Healthy in Indiana
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Getting a dog is one of the most rewarding things you can do for your family or yourself. Dogs are excellent companions and can easily keep your kids entertained for hours. No matter what dog you have or are thinking of getting, it’s essential to pull out all the stops to keep them healthy and happy.
Long-term dog care involves everything from providing nutritional food to warm and safe shelter. Daily exercise, regular vet visits, and weekly or monthly grooming also play a significant role in keeping your dog healthy in Indiana. We explore these aspects in more detail.
Vaccinations and Wellness Visits
The first step in keeping your dog as healthy as possible in Indiana involves keeping them up to date with their vaccinations and follow-up boosters as required by your pet insurance or animal hospital plan.
Speak to your vet about setting up a schedule for necessary vaccinations. Keeping your dog up-to-date with vaccinations will help eliminate the onset or spread of disease. You should also schedule routine wellness visits for the vet to monitor your dog’s current condition. Be sure to discuss any out-of-character behaviors that may indicate an underlying medical condition.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If your dog lives in the house with you, it’s easy to spoil them with all sorts of snacks when you or the kids are eating. This can sometimes lead to unhealthy eating and obesity. Both of these factors can result in a host of different medical complications. Avoid feeding your dog unhealthy human food snacks and regulate the number of dog treats they get.
Check with your vet about the minimum and maximum weight range for your dog’s breed type. Ask that your dog be weighed at every vet visit, as this will help you keep your dog in their ideal weight range.
Regular Exercise is a Must
Eating the right food isn’t the only way to keep your dog in shape. It will also need regular exercise. More active dog breeds, such as Jack Russles, Bulldogs, and Huskies, require a lot more exercise. Adjust your dog’s exercise routine to the weather, as taking them for a walk on a hot Indiana summer afternoon can do more harm than good.
Where possible exercise them in your backyard or take them for a walk in the coolest part of the day. Dogs who go for long walks to the park should also wear protective footwear such as Croc clogs to avoid burning the pads under their feet on hot asphalt. These can always be removed once they’re on the grass in the park.
Stimulate Your Dog’s Mind
Dogs, like humans, aren’t just physical creatures. They also need to have mental stimulation to avoid developing cognitive dysfunction syndrome. This condition is also known as dog dementia and will cause your dog to display similar symptoms, such as those found in humans with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Avoid the onset of this in your older dog by ensuring they have interaction with other dogs either at home or at the park. Keep them mentally fit by routinely adding new and challenging toys, taking a different route to the park, or introducing new games. The goal is to get their minds “unstuck” from the same old routine. This type of mental stimulation is good for you, too.
Add Plenty of Shade
Whether your dog lives inside and plays outside or stays outdoors permanently it’s essential to ensure they have protection from the sun. The outdoor play area should have a shady spot to lie in on those hot Indiana days. Ensure that there’s freshwater indoors and outdoors.
Groom and Clean Your Dog
Your dog will also need to be groomed. This often involves bathing them, cutting their toenails, and brushing their teeth. Most dogs should be bathed every four to six weeks unless they are in the habit of rolling in mud.
Keep in mind that too many baths in a brief space of time may cause their skin to dry out. If your dog scratches excessively after bathing, you may need to switch to a hypo-allergenic dog shampoo. Dogs who are difficult to bathe or groom will benefit from having it done professionally.
Final Thoughts
Some dogs are kept as guard dogs and live a simple outdoor life. Others are integrated into the home and live their days out as spoiled members of the family, eating treats and watching TV. Either way, your dog needs the best care you can give it. Ensure that your Indiana dog has a healthy diet, gets the right amount of exercise, interacts with other dogs and people, and gets a lot of love and care from everyone in the home. It really is that simple.