This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight Food, but Emily Reviews only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s® Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

Most pet owners that I know truly love their pets. They want their cats and dogs to live happy, healthy lives. Yet, sometimes pet owners avoid doing things that could benefit their pets or even do things that damage their pets health. A healthy pet is a happy pet, so it’s important to care for their health as much as possible. If you’re a pet owner who wants your pet to live a happy and healthy life, here are 10 tips to get you started. The first one is based on a suggestion from Dr. Ashley Gallagher, a vet at the Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington DC.

1. Make yearly “well” visits for your dogs. A dog missing just one annual exam is the equivalent of a human missing five years in a row because dogs age so much quicker than humans.

2. Keep your pet active. Obesity is an extremely common problem for pets in the US. Excess weight adds pressure on joints and can make so many aspects of your pets life more difficult.

3. Choose healthy dog food (and treats!) for your pet. If your dog is overweight, you’ll want a weight loss dog food such as the Science Diet Perfect Weight food. You can think of it as a diet dog food – it uses natural ingredients that help your pets burn calories even with a low activity level so they maintain a healthy weight.

4. Keep up with vaccines. I’m guilty of sighing a little when the vet notifications show up in the mail saying one of my dogs needs a shot. Yet, it’s a “better safe than sorry” situation so we always schedule a visit promptly.

5. Regular heartworm prevention treatment. Heartworm can be deadly for dogs, and is transmitted through mosquito bites. We can’t possibly guarantee that they will never get a single mosquito bite, so to be safe we use a monthly pill that keeps my pugs protected. It’s well worth the tiny inconvenience – I can’t imagine how horrible I would feel if I lost one of my dogs to something so easily preventable.

6. Regular flea treatments. I suggest that you research your options and talk to your vet to find one that you both agree with. My dogs got fleas last summer and they were so miserable. The flea life cycle is 3 months long. This means that even if you eliminate all living adult fleas in your home, the eggs and larvae in the environment can still turn into adult fleas for 3 months! As a result, it took 3 months before we completely eliminated the fleas last summer. We learned our lesson and we now prevent year round instead of opening ourselves to the risk of fleas again.

7. Oral care. Brushing dogs teeth is the most ideal way to keep them clean. Using bully sticks, dog dental chews or textured chew toys can help remove tartar as well.

8. Don’t delay vet visits. Try to avoid the “wait and see” method when you suspect that something is off with your pup. It’s better to catch diseases and illnesses early so that they don’t worsen.

9. Use ID tags or have them microchipped. We all tend to think it can’t happen to us, but dogs get lost all the time. Having ID tags on your dog’s collar or having them microchipped really increases the odds that they’ll get back home safely if they do get lost.

10. Keep them comfortable. Puppies grow up fast, so as they are growing regularly check to make sure that their bed, kennel, collar (or harness) hasn’t gotten too tight. As weather changes, make sure that the environment that they spend most of their time in is warm or cool enough. Having a particularly warm spot for dogs to lay in the cold and a cold place for them to lay in summer is ideal. However, make sure that they can get away from the heat (or cold) source if they get overheated or too cold.

How do you keep your dog(s) healthy and happy?

Emily

Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.

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