Here Are a Vet's Top Tips To Keep Your Dog Healthy Year-Round

Stay Up-To-Date on Vet Visits

Just like our own annual physical exams, scheduling regular vet visits is important because they ultimately keep your furry friend healthy. If a dog is overdue for vaccines, this can lead to them becoming susceptible to many preventable diseases, Jacobi says.

In addition to yearly check-ups, she recommends doing routine blood work depending on your dog’s age to make sure they’re in good health beyond what vets can tell solely from a physical exam.

“Some health conditions we can detect at an early stage before an animal becomes clinical for it, or shows true signs it is impacting them largely, and address it to provide better outcomes,” she explains. “If everything looks normal on blood work, we can use those normal parameters to compare to your pet’s blood work when they may have a health complication.”

Common signs of illness or distress pet parents should watch for include:

• Lethargy
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Appetite changes
• Diarrhea
• Wounds or sores
• Regurgitation
• Excessive drooling
• Weight loss or gain (unintended)
• Anxiety
• Bad breath
• Odors from skin or ears

Seek veterinary care if you notice any symptoms that are abnormal for your dog and if they last for more than a day or two.

Use a Monthly Heartworm and Flea/Tick Preventative

We’ve all heard of flea and tick season, aka spring and summer. Jacobi says one of the most common misconceptions about using a monthly preventative is that dogs don’t need them during the cooler months, especially winter. And while ticks can be seasonal, temperatures in which they can no longer survive vary from year to year.

The solution? Use a monthly flea and tick treatment and heartworm prevention medication to keep your dog parasite-free year-round.

“Heartworm prevention helps prevent most intestinal parasites, which dogs can be exposed to any time they are exposed to other dogs’ feces,” she says. It also kills heartworm at the larval stage and protects dogs in instances where mosquitoes may have previously bitten them.

Prevent Common Health Issues

Although there are certain health issues in dogs that can't be prevented, the good news is that there are some that can.

Jacobi shares the five most common health issues in dogs and the preventive measures for each, including:

1. Obesity: This can be prevented with regular exercise and a complete and balanced diet fed in appropriate portions. Avoid free feeding.
2. Dental disease: Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth with a pet-safe toothpaste, feeding dry dog food to help dislodge tartar, and providing chew toys that can help scrape tartar off can help prevent dental disease in dogs. Your vet may also recommend professional dental cleanings and dental X-rays.
3. Ear infections: Some dogs can be more susceptible to developing ear infections. To prevent the likelihood of your dog getting an ear infection, clean their ears with a product that has a drying agent. Consult your vet for recommendations on ear-cleaning products and tips on how to clean your dog’s ears and how often.
4. Loose stools: To prevent your dog from developing loose stools, avoid feeding human foods that are high in fat and may cause pancreatitis. Some gastrointestinal parasites can cause loose stools, so it’s best to keep your dog on heartworm medication and flea and tick preventative.
5. Seasonal allergies (atopy): Although allergies aren’t preventable, they can be controlled. Depending on the severity, it’s a good idea to ask your vet about immunotherapy or symptomatic treatment to help with itching, skin infections, or other secondary consequences of allergies.
   

Feed High-Quality Dog Food

High-quality dog food is essential to ensuring a dog’s getting adequate nutrition for a long, healthy life. But with so many different options and diets available, it can be tricky to figure out how to choose the right dog food.

“Every dog is different, and the nutritional requirements for each dog vary depending on their overall health,” Jacobi says. She recommends looking for dog food that’s appropriate for their species as well as life stage and condition. “The American Association of Feed Controls (AAFCO) provides great resources for pet owners and how to read labels to ensure it is the right choice for your pet,” she adds.

To find the best dog food for your canine companion, consult your vet for recommendations based on your pup’s individual needs. This, Jacobi says, ensures that potential health conditions that may require a prescription diet are addressed.

In addition to feeding a complete and balanced dog food, it’s also a good idea to avoid giving your dog people food—even those that are considered safe for dogs to eat—in excess to prevent unwanted weight gain or any other potential health risks.

Exercise Your Dog Regularly

“Just like with humans, if your pets don’t get regular exercise or enrichment, it can lead to obesity and behavioral issues,” Jacobi says. It’s crucial to find forms of exercise and enrichment that your furry friend enjoys to prevent potential health and behavioral issues that result from inactivity and boredom.

Regular exercise prevents obesity and its subsequent health conditions. A dog who’s overweight may have difficulties or become fatigued from simple activities, such as going on walks, jumping on the bed, or being mobile. What’s more, a lack of mental stimulation can lead to bored dogs engaging in potentially destructive behaviors to keep themselves entertained or exhibit other disruptive behaviors.

Jacobi shares a few forms of physical and mental stimulation for dogs of various energy levels:

• For low-energy dogs: A short stroll around the block or walking with your dog in the backyard can provide enough exercise. Hiding their favorite toy in a spot around the house they can access is great mental stimulation. 
• For medium-energy dogs: Some exercises that are bound to be a blast for your dog include twice daily walks and playing fetch at the park or in the backyard. Rotating through toys they frequently play with can keep them occupied and extend the life of toys. 
• For high-energy dogs: Longer walks, runs, or playing with other high-energy dogs are a few ways to make sure your playful pup gets sufficient exercise. Also, implementing a type of treat puzzle and introducing new toys frequently are fun ways to keep them mentally stimulated.
  

Practice Proper Hygeine

From bathing and grooming and nail trimming and teeth brushing, good hygiene is important to keep dogs fresh, clean, and ultimately healthy. No matter whether you plan on grooming your dog at home or taking them to a professional, it’s best to desensitize them to the process to reduce stress and make the process easier.

Jacobi notes that proper hygiene for dogs includes:

• Brushing for a healthy coat, as well as to prevent matting and skin irritation
• Nail trimming to prevent overgrown nails from causing pain and discomfort
• Bathing to keep your dog’s skin clean and reduce allergen loads
• Cleaning their teeth with brushing and professional dental cleanings to prevent health conditions, like weight loss, infection, and systemic illness
• Cleaning their ears to prevent wax buildup

Since grooming care can vary from one dog to another, it’s always a good idea to consult your vet to learn more about how often each routine should be done.