When we think of our own health, we think about physical and mental aspects of ourselves. How is our nutrition? Are we dealing with too much stress? How much exercise are we getting? These are all questions that we relate to human health, but they are also extremely important aspects of good canine health. Following are the major secrets to good canine health.
Proper Canine Diet
Even though our dogs are not living in the wild, they are still canine, and they need a diet that canines thrive on. For instance, in the wild, a canine kills an animal such as a rabbit and then eats the rabbit meat as well as the organs, and stomach contents. In addition, during bigger kills, bones are often chewed clean by canines.
Huge pet food manufactures are still pushing their products as healthy for our canine friends by claiming they have real meat, healthy vegetables, and added nutrients that support good canine health. However, their promises are not always fulfilled.
Dog kibble goes through a lot of processing before it becomes kibble. Just as processed foods are unhealthy for us, they are also unhealthy for our pets. Many of the nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and protein, are lost throughout the process due to high heating levels.
In addition, some pet food manufactures are trying to trick us by label splitting. While meat should be the main ingredient in a food, often corn or grain is. The manufactures label their food with a meat source as the first ingredient, which means that it should be the bulk of the food, but then label three variations of corn products throughout the ingredients as well. In the end, corn products is what makes the bulk of the food (often called filler) and meat comes in second.
Good canine nutrition starts with us. It is important to understand our dog’s needs, and read labels and understand what they mean before buying any kind of dog food.
Adequate Exercise
Not many dogs will turn their nose up to a walk. While every dog requires a different amount of exercise throughout the day due to their age, breed, and natural energy level, one thing is for sure, our dogs are not being walked enough.
Obesity is becoming a major problem among our dogs, and obesity can lead to all kinds of issues such as joint, heart, liver, digestive, and lung diseases. It is our responsibility to understand how much exercise our dog really needs and give it to them, so that they can live out a physically healthy life.
Canine Mental Health
This is probably the most overlooked secret to good canine health. A dog can get easily bored when he or she is not stimulated mentally.
Exercise doesn’t just help your dog physically; it also contributes to good mental health. Going out for walks allows a dog to discover the world around their house, and they learn more about the world with each sound, smell, and experience they have, just as we do.
Moreover, activities such as training that require your dog to think, recall, and learn, are all very beneficial to their mental health. They become happier with their day, more confident in themselves, and feel more connected to you.
Dogs are pack animals, and they need companionship in order to stay mentally healthy. Watch any dog who is left in the backyard all day, with not much interaction, and you will see that they can exhibit a number of emotions such as boredom, aggression, depression, and anxiety. All of these emotions can be very hard on their mental health and cause behavior and physical health issues as a side effect.
In the end, the secrets of good canine health are similar to the secrets of good human health. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and mental stimulation are important to the health of any canine. When we take on the responsibility of a dog, we commit to giving them the healthiest life possible.
