How to Take Care of Your Dog

Taking care of your dog is a fun but essential part of dog ownership. While dogs are relatively independent animals, there are some things that every pet parent must do to ensure that their dog has a happy, healthy life.

In addition to feeding your dog a healthy diet of high protein dog food, you should take them to get proper medical care, groom them and give them lots of exercise.

Explore these ways to take care of your dog and give them the best life possible.

Regular Veterinary Exams

Your dog needs to visit a veterinarian regularly. Your dog should be immunized against canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies and have regular deworming and external parasite prevention measures. Keep meticulous records of all vaccinations and procedures for future reference and follow the vet visit schedule your veterinarian recommends.

Grooming

Be sure to groom your pets regularly. Most medium to long-haired dog breeds must be bathed at least once every three months. If your dog has an active outdoor lifestyle and spends a lot of time in puddles or mudding fields, you’ll need to bathe them more regularly.

Some breeds with thick or double coats, such as Huskies or Golden Retrievers, require less frequent baths; bathing can too often strip the natural oils from their coat and disrupt the coat regeneration process.

Coat brushing and nail maintenance are typically more important than bathing. Most breeds need to be brushed once or twice weekly. However, long-haired breeds or those prone to shedding may need daily brushing. You should also trim your dog’s nails as soon as you hear them when they touch the ground. This is typically done every three to four weeks, though it may be more often for indoor dogs.

Brush your dog’s teeth following your vet’s recommendation. You can also offer dental chews or use an antibacterial dental spray for dogs with bad breath.

A Healthy Diet and Plenty of Water

A healthy diet will give your dog the energy for an active, full life. Whether you feed your dog wet food for dogs or freeze dried dog food, choose a brand that offers organic, human-grade food for dogs. Cooked food for dogs is also a good option because it increases the amount of digestible protein and gives your dog a delicious treat.

You should also provide clean, fresh water for your dog daily. Your dog should have an easily accessible bowl of water for optimal hydration. Dogs need approximately one ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. Ensure that you clean the bowl daily to prevent bacterial buildup.

Exercise and Stimulation

Every dog needs exercise and stimulation throughout the day. Most dogs require two 15 to 90-minute walks per day, depending on size, age and breed, in addition to at least 60 minutes of additional play or exercise either inside or outdoors.

Bored dogs with insufficient exercise and stimulation will become destructive, obese or unhealthy.

Take Care of Your Dogs With a Good Diet From Open Farm

Giving your dogs a good diet will provide them with the fuel they need to live a long, full life. The fully organic, human-grade dog food from Open Farm has been lovingly prepared and thoughtfully chosen to give every dog the nutrition they need.

Give your dog a diet of Open Farm food daily and reward them with treats and probiotic snacks to promote a happy and healthy life.