Dog Health Articles
Dog Dental Care: Healthy Teeth and Gums
Your dog’s oral health can benefit from a premium diet that helps reduce tartar buildup. Most dry foods scrub away plaque while chewing, but more advanced premium diets, like EUKANUBA™, help to reduce tartar buildup both during and after meals.
During meals crunchy kibble helps to scrape away deposits from teeth.
After meals special minerals (polyphosphates) help to keep tartar–forming materials from depositing on teeth.
85% of dogs show dental problems by age 3, so make sure your dog’s diet is designed to encourage long–term dental health.
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How to Keep Your Dog Cool
Exercising and physical recreation are the best ways to bond with your dog. I strongly encourage dog owners to get their dogs moving, because physical activity helps reduce stress, fights obesity, and improves behavior problems. However, when outside temperatures are warmer, you need to be aware of the limitations the heat places on your dog’s ability to exercise safely and keep your dog cool.
Heat Stroke Can Occur Quickly
Your dog has many natural ways to avoid overheating, including panting, drinking water, seeking shade, and even standing or rolling in a pool of water. However, your dog’s innate mechanisms to cope with heat can be undermined when your friend is exercised or confined on a hot day. Heat stroke can occur within minutes in certain conditions.
Heat stress is more prevalent in brachycephalic breeds (or dogs with short noses), dogs that have recently been ill, dogs with underlying health problems, or dogs taking certain medications. And obesity is a predisposing factor for heat stroke.
Keep Your Dog Cool During Exercise
Dogs that are not acclimated to warmer temperatures or physical exertion are more likely to suffer heat stroke. Environmental acclimatization takes about 90 days, so dogs moving to hotter climates need to be closely observed during play and exercise. Dogs starting a new exercise routine during the summer should be given rest periods every 10 minutes.
Plan workouts with your dog in the early morning hours or in the late afternoon when temperatures cool down. Bring along plenty of cold water and a collapsible water bowl suited for serving your dog. Remember that, although your dog’s footpads are thick and durable, they can become burned and sensitive after being exposed to hot surfaces for a long period of time. White dogs are prone to sunburn and skin cancers, so give them a light coat of sunscreen.
Monitor your dog for signs of heat stress, which can lead to heat stroke.
Symptoms include:
Continuous panting
Showing signs of anxiety
Whining
Pacing
Slowing down or refusing to participate in an activity
Wanting to lie down
Heat stroke may feature the following signs:
Depression
Staggering
Inability to rise and walk
Mental dullness
Unresponsiveness to voices
A bluish tint to gums and tongue
Blindness
Seizures
Unconsciousness
If Your Dog Overheats
If you’re concerned that your dog is overheating, try these actions:
First, get him out of the heat and offer him a drink of cool water.
Place him in front of a fan, preferably an air conditioner.
A fast drive with the windows down works if a fan is not available.
Wet the fur and skin with tepid water to speed cooling. Do not use ice-cold water on your dog; this causes vasoconstriction in the skin and actually locks in the heat.
The actual core body temperature in a heat stroke victim does not directly correlate to the overall outcome, but the amount of time the temperature stays elevated does. If you believe your dog is suffering from a heat stroke, take him to a veterinarian immediately. Do not hesitate: Minutes spared could mean a life spared.
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Caring for Your Aging Dog
How to Care for Your Aging Dog
As your dog ages, it is important to take steps to keep her healthy. Here's what you need to know:
Signs of Aging in Dogs
To determine your dog’s age, veterinarians will focus on her physiological condition. (Forget the adage about multiplying her age by seven.) They find that small and medium breeds begin to show signs of aging at about 7 years; large and giant breeds show signs of aging at about 5 years. Telltale signs may include a dull or dry coat, flaky skin, joint stiffness, energy loss, weight gain, increased water intake, digestive problems, frequent constipation, and loss of muscle. These may signal the body's inability to rejuvenate its cells.
While genetics and the dog's environment play a large role in how quickly she'll age, her health is also up to you. This includes feeding her a high-quality premium dog food. Good nutrition can help your older dog:
- Maintain muscle tone
- Maximize digestion
- Retain ideal body weight
The Senior Dog’s Diet
Regardless of their age, all dogs need quality food. But as they get older, certain nutrients can be enhanced to promote health. When shopping for food to care for your senior dog, look for:
- High-quality protein: Much of your dog’s food should be made up of protein derived from an animal source—chicken liver, for example. Quality protein is critical because the body uses it to build and maintain muscle. For more information on the importance of high- quality protein and how to determine if it’s in your brand, see How to Choose the Best Protein for Your Dog.
- Fat: Choose a food with at least 10% fat. This promotes healthy skin and coat; it also provides the body’s essential fatty-acid requirements. (Never eliminate fat completely.)
- Fiber: Pick a brand that offers no more than 5% fiber, the optimal amount for a healthy gut. It enables excellent nutrient absorption and helps push small, firm stools through the intestines.
- Antioxidants: These molecules protect the immune system by ridding the body of free radicals, which corrupt cell membranes and DNA.
Why Taste Matters to Senior Dogs
As dogs age, they may become less interested in eating. They might not be burning the same amount of energy, so their appetite decreases. Or they're suffering from gum disease or have loose teeth, making it uncomfortable or painful to chew. (Learn more by reading Dog Dental Care: Healthy Teeth and Gums) If they’re eating less food, they may not be getting the nutrition their bodies need for healthy living. That’s why it is key to find a nutrient-packed formula that your dog enjoys. We've done extensive research with real dogs to see what they like to eat, and we've come up with an aroma, taste, and texture they love. We’ve been careful, too, to use only natural flavor enhancers and colors, so you’re assured your dog is getting our very best—and nothing more.
Timed Feedings for Your Senior Dog
Because aging dogs generally eat less than their younger canine friends, it could be helpful to provide two or three meals each day. Try a morning/evening schedule or a traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That way, the food in the dish isn't so overwhelming, and it’s fresher and more appealing. Timed feedings have the added benefit of increasing your dog’s metabolism, which will help her maintain her ideal weight.
While the calendar might say that your dog is ready for retirement, her body needn’t be. By feeding her a diet of premium dog food specially formulated for her age, you’ll help keep her active, healthy, and happy.
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