Hey they, viewers.
Do you have a dog?
If so, you’d probably do anything for it.
It’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes staring at you.
Especially when it wants something.
Yes, the love for our pets is real.
The problem is, we often don’t realize we’re hurting our dogs.
In many ways, they’re lives hang in the balance.
Let’s talk 6 Things You Didn’t Realize Are Killing Your Dog.
Are they not getting proper exercise?
What is their diet like?
How important are vaccines for your pet?
Wait, “heartworms”?
What are those?
We’re talking all that AND more...
Heartworms
If you care about your pets, this one might be hard to wrap your head around.
Did you know your pet can get worms in their heart?!
Disgusting isn’t it?
Well that’s not even the half of it.
Heartworm is a disease caused by parasitic worms.
It can result in lung disease, organ damage and heart failure.
The worms enter the body through mosquito bites.
As the infection spreads into the animal, larvae from the mosquito begin to grow within
the heart.
From here, they can spread to the lungs and blood vessels.
While this process happens over the span of 7 months, a fully grown worm can live inside
the dog for up to 7 years!
Heartworms can grow up to 12 inches in length.
What’s even scarier is that these worms will mate and spread their own larvae.
At one time, your dog can have as many as 250 worms living inside of them.
This sounds like a death sentence, doesn’t it?
Well it can be if your dog is not treated in time.
If your dog sounds like they’re having trouble breathing, they need medical attention.
Other symptoms include a rough and persistent cough.
If the dog is tired after mild activity, this could also signal an unwanted visitor inside
their heart.
When you get to the vet, one way they check for heartworms is through a blood test.
This will detect possible proteins that are released into the bloodstream by female worms.
The best way to treat heartworms is by preventing them.
There are several heartworm products being sold on the market, but they need to be prescribed
by a veterinarian.
This leads me to the next entry on our list.
But hang on, have you ever owned a weird pet?
Perhaps an exotic animal?
What was its name?
Sound off in the comment section and start a conversation with our Bestie community.
No Vet Visits
Much like humans, animals need checkups.
If your dog is in good health, you are recommended to take them in once a year for an annual
physical exam.
A puppy should have their first medical exam pretty much right after you get them.
During this exam, the vet will check their health and make sure they are free of parasites.
Throughout their years, they need to be taken in for certain types of checkups.
When your dog gets into its senior years, which is usually after they turn 7, vets recommend
they come in twice a year.
This is because older dogs are much more vulnerable to health problems.
The earlier these problems are detected, the easier they can be treated.
While you probably won’t get in trouble for not taking them to the vet, staying on
top of your dog's health ensures they’ll live a longer, happier life.
It’s also important to watch for changes in your dog’s behaviour.
The slightest shifts may be signs of growing health problems.
This includes excess salivation, breathing trouble and increased water ingestion.
If you’re ignoring these signs, your dog will likely have a shorter lifespan.
Poor Diet
This one’s pretty obvious, but it still needs to be mentioned.
If your dog is not eating properly, it can be life threatening.
There are plenty of poor-quality dog foods out on the market that your animal should
stay away from.
There is no one feeding schedule for dogs.
When and how much you feed them often depends on several different factors.
Regardless, veterinarians recommend that you feed your dog at least twice a day.
If your dog has some sort of condition, it may require a special feeding schedule.
If your dog is larger than others, they will likely require higher calories and more feedings.
You also need to factor in the dog’s age.
This is especially crucial for puppies, who are growing rapidly.
Puppies need small feedings.
At the same time, they need to be fed frequently.
For the first few months of their lives, they will need tiny meals.
Around the 4-month mark, they will require 3 feedings a day.
But not long after, they will only need two.
These feedings are to nourish the puppy through its development.
It helps both their bones and organs.
Not correctly feeding your dog can result in issues like loose stools, constant itchiness,
lack of concentration and ear infections.
Their kidneys and liver will even become damaged.
If you are unsure about how much you should feed your dog, check with a vet or animal
health expert.
Before we continue, are concerned about the state of your own health?
Check out our recent video discussing 11 Ways To Keep Your Blood Sugar Levels Healthy.
Now back to our list of things that can kill your dog.
Lack of Exercise
Yes, your dog needs exercise.
I’m not talking about taking them to some sort of a doggy gym.
This can be as simple as bringing them outside for a walk.
If your dog has been inside for an extended period of time, it’s going to have a ton
of energy pent up.
The animal is going to need a way to release that energy.
But you can’t just begin to take them out as they get older.
They need to learn to be active as puppies.
Since puppies are always growing, it wouldn’t hurt to take them on a couple short walks
through the day.
The reason I say “short” walks is because longer walks are harder on them, as the animal
is still developing.
If your puppy isn’t getting the proper outdoor time, it can become destructive around the
house.
If your dog is older and of a high-energy breed, they require much more exercise.
It’s important to figure out what kind of dog you have and just how much physical activity
will benefit them.
No matter what age your dog is at, they need to burn off fat just like the rest of us.
Studies show that overweight dogs live 2 and a half years less than the average healthy
canine.
No Vaccinations
Young dogs require several vaccines.
I’m talking about within the first few months of their life.
Not doing this can leave them vulnerable to several diseases and viruses.
Your dog needs to be protected from not only heartworm, but illnesses like canine hepatitis.
This is a contagious viral infection that damages various organs.
They also have to watch out for canine distemper.
This is another virus that affects your dog's respiratory system and gastrointestinal tract.
Have you ever heard of kennel cough?
This is an infection that happens as a result of inflammation in your dog's upper airways.
Frequent vaccinations will stop your dog from getting these diseases, reducing their chances
of early death.
Between it’s first 8 to 18 weeks of life, your dog requires something called the DHPP.
This is a combination vaccine that prevents 4 different types of virus-- distemper, hepatitis,
parainfluenza and parvovirus.
If you’re a new dog owner, talk to your vet about which vaccinations you should be
getting, and when…
Improper Dental Care
Plain and simple…
Keep your dog’s teeth clean!
This means brushing them on the regular.
Sounds a little weird, right?
Well not if you’re a responsible dog owner.
While it doesn’t need to be done everyday, the more you clean your dog's teeth, the healthier
they’ll be.
Giving your dogs a careful toothbrush will prevent gum disease, bad breath, tooth loss
and pain.
It will also stop bacteria from taking over.
On top of brushing their teeth, there are other methods.
These include tooth wipes, which are rubbed against your dog's teeth to get rid of plaque.
You can also use dental treats.
These will contain ingredients that not only help your pet’s teeth, but will have their
breath smelling fresh.
Cleaning their teeth only takes a few minutes.
If you want your pet to be around longer, this is something you have to consider.
Actually, that reminds me, have you checked your breath lately?
Has your dog’s health ever been in danger?
What are you doing to make sure they’re safe?
Let us know in the comments below.
We would love to hear from you!