5 Habits That Help Your Dog Enjoy Healthy Bones And Muscles
As your four-legged best friend, looking after your dog is probably one of the most significant responsibilities you have. You want to guarantee they are healthy and active so that they can stay by your side for as long as possible. Taking care of dogs is like taking care of a child. For one, you need to pay attention to their nutrition, environment, and physical activities.
A dog who has led an active life and who has maintained strong bones, joints, and muscles will have fewer health issues throughout the course of their life. This will make it very easy for your dog to socialize with other animals and individuals, becoming naturally friendly. A dog who is healthy is also very easy to train as their cognitive functions are optimal.
While pets require many of the same things as humans for bone health, they do need some distinctive approaches. Here are five habits that help your pet enjoy healthy bones and muscles.
1. Commit To Daily Exercises
If you were looking to tone your body, where would you start? Probably with some daily exercise, right? This should be the same starting point for dogs. If you want to strengthen your dog's bone strength then the most efficient way to do it is through rigorous physical exercises.
Right here, right now, make a commitment to yourself and to your four-legged friend that you are going to take them out for a walk every day. Choose a time you know will consistently work for you and make it part of your routine. If necessary, write it into your schedule as though it were a meeting. If you have a full-time job, consider waking up super early to take your dog for a walk or make time the moment you arrive from the office.
Depending on the age and breed of your dog, you might need to take them out more than once a day. However, if your dog is suffering from certain health conditions, it's best if you consult a vet to determine what type of exercise is suitable for your dog.
If you aren't physically able to exercise with your dog, consider working with a reputable dog walking company whose trained staff will know how to appropriately get your dog moving. If you're leaning towards this direction, make sure that you carefully scout for options and pick a sitter that shows compassion for your dog. As a fur parent, you don't want anyone to inflict danger to your furry friend, right? Asking for recommendations from your friends and family can also help you search faster and end up with an excellent pet sitter.
Not only will daily exercise aid in maintaining your dog’s bones and muscles, but it will also reduce the likelihood of obesity and prevent diabetes, as exercise enables metabolism to speed up – thereby making it easier for him or her to digest carbohydrates.
2. Ensure A Well-Balanced Species-Appropriate Nutritional Diet
Just like humans, for your dog to have good health and strong bones and muscles, he or she needs to have a well-balanced species-appropriate nutritional diet. Different species have varying requirements, so always discuss your dog's diet with your vet.
If you're planning to change your dog's diet, make sure that you do it gradually. Suddenly changing the diet of your dog can upset their stomachs and might even cause severe problems in their digestive tract.
Whenever you're changing your dog's diet, mix a small amount of the new food with the old food, and slowly increase the amount of the new dog food. If you’re having problems finding the right food, especially if you have a Shih Tzu, you can check shihtzucenter.com.
When you do go food shopping, make sure you are reading the labels and checking the ingredients of the dog food you are considering. For bone and joint strength, your dog should be consuming dog food that includes vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus. Meeting your dog’s nutritional needs is the very best thing you can do for his or her bone health.
3. Don't Overfeed
That being said, it is also crucial that you don't overfeed your dog – no matter how lovingly he or she looks at you when they are craving a treat. Bypass treats that don’t contribute much nutritional value and instead opt for natural snacks that contain reduced trans fats and a more substantial amount of protein, and bone and joint supporting nutrients.
When deciding which treats to give, opt to buy products that are natural and free of any chemicals. Aside from the ingredients, you should also pay attention to the size of the treats because feeding your dog with a treat that's too big or too small can become a choking hazard to them.
Now that your furbaby is strong and healthy, why not explore the outdoors with your best friend. Our mates at Venchas.com have curated a helpful Guide on how to safely and properly prepare your dog for a thru-hike in the Wilderness. You can check out the article here.