We know that just like for humans, feeding your pup a fresh, whole food diet and ensuring they get lots of exercise are two of the most important ways to keep your pup healthy and happy.

In addition to those cornerstones of health, here are a few other vet recommended tips to keep your pup in optimal health as long as possible.

1. Schedule Annual and Bi Annual Exams: 

Especially as your pet gets older, it is ideal to schedule blood work once every 6 months to see if there are any changes to your pup's health. If your dog has certain diseases or illnesses, such as lyme disease they may not initially exhibit any symptoms but catching and treating these conditions early can have a huge impact on the health of your pup!

2. Dental Health: 

Did you know over 80% of pets have some stage of dental disease? If your dog has stained teeth, inflamed gums or bad breath these can all be signs of dental disease.

Dental disease in dogs can lead to an array of other issues such as systemic diseases, weight loss or oral pain.

Contrary to popular belief, feeding your pup kibble does NOT support dental health. Instead, the processed ingredients in kibble can actually harm your pup's teeth.

Instead, try feeding your pup a raw meaty bone 1-2 times per week. You can find these in the frozen section in your local pet store! Alternatively, you can choose to brush your pups teeth every day or get them professionally cleaned!

3. Pain Management: 

If your dog seems to be limping, moving slower than normal, exhibiting signs of lameness or seems to have a sore spot on their body they do not want you to touch it is important to get them checked out by the vet immediately.

Some great natural ways you can manage your pups pain including aging joints are to try acupuncture, water therapy or laser therapy. Ask your vet for recommendations on these options or try to find a holistic or integrative care vet in your area!

4. Weight Management:

Did you know that over 50% of dogs in North America are obese? If your pup carries excess weight this can lead to a variety of other health problems including strain on joints and ligaments and risk of developing other diseases or illnesses such as diabetes or osteoarthritis. Ensure your pup gets adequate exercise, manage your pups portions of food and include any treats you provide in their daily caloric intake. Switching your pup to a whole foods diet can also help with weight loss/weight management.

Use these tips to ensure your dog stays as healthy and happy as a pup for as long as possible!