Dogsmanship - The Dog Lover's Survival Guide

Puppy Health Care Tips – Exercise and Healthy Diet

The benefits your puppy will receive from staying in good shape are well worth the time and effort to make sure he gets plenty of exercise. A puppy that is physically fit will benefit on the emotional level as well as physically. It is important to allow your puppy to consistently have time to get outside and run. Running is a natural activity for dogs and it will help to keep them healthy and happy.

Exercises and Healthy Weight
Keeping your puppy healthy and active will enhance his well being throughout his life. When the time comes when your puppy has become old he will be able to deal with this portion of his life easier if he has been physically fit prior to becoming old. An important part of puppy health care is to make sure your puppy is consistently living an active lifestyle since he will be able to deal with arthritis or circulatory problems and other health issues far better than if he has led a sedentary life. Dogs obtain the same rewards from exercise as humans receive.

An important factor in a puppy health care program is keeping his weight at a healthy level. Studies have shown that dogs that lead a sedentary life are significantly more susceptible to illnesses and medical problems when compared to active dogs. As part of your puppy health care program take your puppy out for some jogging or play fetch with him and participate in some activities where he gets a chance to run, however don't let your puppy become too fatigued. If he has been sedentary for quite a long time begin him on an easy exercise program.

Healthy Puppy Diet
One of the most important and easiest parts of puppy health care is to provide him a healthy diet. Make sure you feed him nutritional food which is meat based and do not overfeed your puppy and don't give him unhealthy snacks. Experts also suggest that part of a quality puppy health care plan is to take your puppy to your veterinarian for a yearly physical exam. If your puppy is obese it is important to have your veterinarian check his thyroid condition.

A urine test can provide information regarding bladder and kidney health and a yearly blood chemistry panel will provide your veterinarian with information concerning the health of his organs. It is also a good idea to examine his gums as well as his teeth to make sure he doesn’t have painful problems such as an abscessed tooth. Some experts suggest that bad oral health in your puppy can lead to debilitation in senior dogs.

If your puppy suffers from arthritis check with your veterinarian about dietary supplements and other products that might reduce the pain that he is dealing with. Regarding puppy health care, keep your puppy physically active, feed him a nutritional diet and take him to your veterinarian on a yearly basis for a physical exam.