3 Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make That Can Damage A Dog's Health
As a pet owner, you often want what is best for your furry four-legged family member. Owning a dog offers a number of health benefits that can help improve your mental, physical, and emotional state of being. Therefore, it is important that you keep your dog's health in tip-top condition in return. Unfortunately, many pet owners make common mistakes that can damage their dog's health without even realizing it.
Dry Kibble Is Not Enough
Have you gone above and beyond to select a premium dry kibble dog food that contains all the right ingredients for your dog's health? Dry kibble is a great addition to any dog's food. In fact, it is said that dry kibble can help clean your dog's teeth. However, dry kibble does not effectively clean the top of the teeth along your dog's gum line.
Failure to remove food and other debris along your dog's gum line can lead to a buildup of plaque and tartar. As time goes by, plaque and tartar can eventually lead to gum disease and gum disease can lead to heart disease. Approximately 75% of dogs have gum disease by the time they are middle-aged. Considering that heart disease can have a deadly impact on your dog, it is important for you to offer the proper pet care.
For starters, never make the mistake of assuming that dry kibble is enough. Try to incorporate meaty bones in your dog's diet. The texture of the meaty bones can help remove plaque and tarter buildup around your dog's gum line. Furthermore, visit your local vet clinic for assistance. Veterinarians can often provide dental care for dogs, including teeth cleaning.
Don't Focus on Brand Names
Purchasing dog food for your dog goes beyond trusting the brand label. Instead, pay attention to the ingredients. Dogs require different diets depending on their size, age, and breed. For instance, dogs require a certain amount of calcium or protein. However, you should not risk overfeeding your dog.
The internet would have you and other dog owners believe that a high protein content can cause your dog to eventually suffer from hip dysplasia. However, studies have proven that there is no link between hip dysplasia and the amount of protein your dog consumes. In fact, hip dysplasia is often linked to an overabundance of calcium and calories in your dog's diet.
In order to provide your dog with the correct nutrition, pay attention to any dog food recalls that could potentially make your dog ill. You will often find a number of name brand dog food on recall lists. Furthermore, talk to your dog's veterinarian to determine what ingredients your dog needs in his or her diet. Ask the vet how much your dog should consume on a daily basis. Pay attention to the ingredients on the dog food labels rather than the brand name to ensure your pet is eating healthy.
Don't Assume Foods with Vitamins Are Enough
Many dog foods contain vitamins and minerals to help ensure your dog remains healthy. However, dog foods may have low levels of these nutrients. Instead, offer your dog proper support by purchasing oral medications for your dog from a vet clinic. The vet can assess your dog to determine if joint problems exist. However, you do not have to wait for joint problems to develop before offering your dog joint-healthy supplements. In fact, offering supplements can help prevent joint problems from developing in the first place.
Make an appointment at your dog's local vet clinic to learn more about these common problems as well as address any other questions you may have.