Four ways to keep your dog healthy
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Diet
As you know, we’re passionate about nutrition at the Dog Food Advisor. It’s why we’ve written nearly 2,000 detailed reviews by studying the labels of nearly 7,000 dog foods.
We’ve also announced 259 dog food and dog treat recall events.
But we want to give you as much information as possible.
We believe there’s no single best dog food — that’s why we put them into a wide range of Best Dog Food categories to help you choose what’s right for your dog, whatever their age, breed and condition.
It’s also why we have strict criteria for the foods we review.
By signing up for our recall alerts and newsletters, you can be the first to know of any foods that have issues, get feeding tips and nutritional advice, and take advantage of great deals and offers on some of our highly recommended foods.
Exercise
Just as with humans, exercise is a critical part of a dog’s overall health and wellbeing. An active dog is less likely to suffer from conditions such as obesity, as well as behavioral problems.
Overweight dogs can be affected by numerous conditions, most seriously cancer, heart disease and arthritis, which is why exercise and diet are so vital.
And the great news is there are plenty of ways you can mix up your dog’s physical activity — and perhaps keep yourself fit at the same time.
As well as walking, there’s swimming, which most dogs love and is easy on their joints, plus running and dog agility — great for the mind as well as the body.
And, of course, never underestimate play!
Exams & Vaccinations
Our dogs can’t tell us if something’s wrong, so taking them to the vet is an important way to look after their health. Even if they seem fine, annual wellness exams for dogs can help to build up a picture of their health and spot emergency conditions early.
Other things worth considering include fecal exams. These can help to identify parasites, which can make dogs seriously ill if left untreated.
And don’t forget those jabs! Keeping a dog up-to-date with vaccinations is also vital in protecting their health against a host of critical conditions, such as distemper and parvovirus.
Insurance
We support anything that helps our dogs lead happier, healthier lives, and getting your dog covered for accidents and illness by taking out pet insurance is also important.
As all dog parents know, dogs can get themselves into serious mischief. Sadly, they can also get sick. Paying a regular premium — the most common amount is $25-$40 a month1 — is a great way of making sure you’ll be able to afford whatever vet bills might come your way.
So how do you get your dog insured? One way is to use a comparison site — a reputable one we’ve seen is Petted, which allows you to compare quotes from America’s biggest and most-trusted pet insurance providers for free.
The only drawback to most pet insurance we’ve seen is you have to pay the vet bill yourself and then claim it back from your insurance company, minus your deductible and copay.
However, some pet insurers will pay the vet direct. For example, a new company called Paw Protect, 5-star rated by Forbes Advisor, helps pay your vet bills up-front, so you are not out of pocket until the claim is paid.