An old proverb goes, “prevention is better than cure.” Is that the case? That is what we will cover in this article. When we have a dog in our family, we want to ensure a long healthy life. Just like with any other family member, we worry about diseases that may affect their life or deteriorate their health.
The top three causes of death in dogs are cancer, cardiovascular disease, and trauma.
On average, about 27% of all dogs will die of cancer. However, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Cancer kills more quickly than cardiovascular disease does; however, cardiovascular disease is often easier to treat successfully if it is caught early enough. The symptoms can mimic other ailments like seizures or arthritis due to the fact that tumors occur rarely in the heart itself; most often they affect the peripheral organs such as the lungs, liver and kidneys.
Cardiovascular disease is not only the number one cause of death in dogs, it is also the most common illness to afflict canines. This does not mean that it cannot be treated successfully; however, the earlier it is caught, the better chances a dog has of living a long and healthy life. The primary symptom for cardiovascular disease is increased heart rate which typically comes with either heavy panting or no apparent reason at all. More advanced stages produce weakness and even collapse because of lack of oxygen reaching tissues and organs throughout the body. Other symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss – these are little clues that something more serious may be going on inside your pet's body if they do occur.
Trauma is the number three cause of death in dogs. Unlike cardiovascular disease, trauma usually affects younger individuals who are more athletic and accident-prone. Accidents are not always preventable but steps can be taken to help lower the risk of accidents occurring on a regular basis. One way is to make sure that your dog has passed all necessary training before being allowed to play off leash with other dogs or children. Stairs should be made inaccessible by either blocking them off completely or creating barriers that require jumping over rather than climbing up/down due to the fact that most canine injuries occur when they slip or fall while attempting to maneuver stairs. Pets should also wear harnesses instead of collars which have been proven safer for walking because this prevents accidental strangulation.
Preventative measures are practices that are designed to avoid disease or slow and stop the progression after the onset of one. For example, giving our dogs multivitamins to ensure they get all of their nutrients to prevent joint and bone deterioration, vision problems, skin issues or hair loss is a great preventive measure. Nutrition and Exercise are integral to help prevent two of the top three causes of death mentioned above.
2. Proper nutrition can extend your dog’s life
A healthy diet with regular exercise helps to maintain our dog’s health from puppy to old age. Ensure adequate amounts of nutrients in your dog’s diet. Veterinarians recommend a low sodium, high nutrient diet that contains methyl-sulfonyl-methane, glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, zinc, saponin, curcumin, vitamin C, and D to prevent several musculoskeletal problems like canine hip dysplasia and patellar luxation. Researchers suggest serving food containing chelated zinc, beta carotene, lutein, collagen, niacin, phytosterol, and lycopene, to prevent eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy, canine glaucoma, and cataracts. Study shows that proper nutrition can prevent your dog from becoming obese and avoid chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease and cancer. Use a high quality daily multivitamin to ensure nutrients are delivered that may not have been received from your dogs diet.
Exercise, along with proper nutrients , is what helps keep your pup fit and happy. It not only allows your pooch to remain healthy throughout their life but also keeps them occupied so they are less likely to chew on furniture or cause other mischief. I'm sure every owner knows how much energy dogs tend to have when they are outside at home or out on walks. But, did you know that this amount of energy is actually required for them to expend, in order to stay healthy? This need translates down to health problems that dogs may face if they don't get enough exercise. One of these health problems is obesity - which affects more than half of the dogs living in America today due to their sedentary lifestyles! When your dog's body reaches a certain amount of fat deposits, health issues start surfacing such as diabetes, heart diseases and reduced lifespan.
4. Importance of skincare
Skin problems such as skin allergies, dry skin, and hot spots are most common in dogs of all ages. These are results from various allergies, parasites, infections, and systemic disorders. Symptoms associated with skin problems include hair loss, redness, itchiness, dandruff, scaling, etc. The best way to prevent skin problems in your dog include:
Feeding a balanced diet, containing zinc, copper, vitamin E, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids. If you do not believe your dogs is receiving adequate nutrients, add a high quality multivitamin to their diet.
Groom your dog regularly to prevent dirt build up and dandruff.
5. Foot care
There are several problems like, ingrown toenails, torn toenails, burns, frostbites, and cracked feet, that can hamper our dogs. To prevent ingrown toenails and torn toenails, you can give your dog a pedicure once a month. If the problem persists and nails click against the floor, you can go for nail trimming. Hot pavement and sand from the beach during summer can cause burns to their feet. They can also get frostbite from exposure to extreme cold. Apply a layer of protective paw balm to the pads, daily to keep them moisturized and prevent cracking. It also helps on the nose. If you do not apply daily, use before you go out to protect them hazards and exposure.
6. Importance of keeping your dog flea free
Fleas are the most common problem every dog owner faces. The only way to get rid of this flea problem is flea treatment and prevention. The bites of flea cause irritation, hair loss and results in flea allergic dermatitis in your lovely dog. In a single day, one flea can bite your dog more than 400 times and lay 40 eggs. If not stopped, that will ensure its work will be carried on for generations to come. Flea treatment and prevention should be used for these pests. After treatment, clean your dog’s surroundings to prevent re-infestation.
7. Don’t forget about dental care
Many of us simply ignore the issue of dental hygiene in our dog. We forgot to brush our dog’s teeth regularly. Unfortunately, dental diseases like dental tartar, plaque, gingivitis, and periodontal disease are common in dogs. They impact 80% of our dogs by age two. The good news is, it’s easy to keep our dog’s teeth clean. You just need to brush their teeth every day with a suitable toothpaste suggested by your veterinarian. You can provide safe chew toys and treats to make their teeth strong and healthy. Strong evidence suggests that only brushing your teeth regularly can prevent all dental conditions in your dog.
Lack of preventative measures lead to treatment. Treatment is the use of an agent, procedure, or regimen, such as a drug, surgery, or exercise, in an attempt to cure or mitigate a disease, condition, or injury. Preventive measures take a proactive approach to care. They save our dogs pain and suffering and help with the financial burden expensive treatments cost. With the proper preventive measures, you and your dog will live long, healthy, happy lives!