At my practice, The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center in Chicago, I’m constantly being asked for advice on my tips and tricks for raising a healthy pup. There’s a lot of information out there, and I know it can be overwhelming at times. That is why we created The Royal Animal Health University to provide sensible education to animal lovers. Here are my top five tips to keeping your dog happy and healthy without feeling stressed:
- Focus on the Fundamentals. The key to a healthy pup starts with what’s in their bowl. This means avoiding highly-processed foods and serving your dog highly-nutritious meals with familiar ingredients, including fresh 100% Human Quality food that has been verified for ingredients and human food production standards. Choosing foods that have fresh, natural, whole food ingredients, that are minimally processed, and non-GMO have health benefits that will provide convenience of being a complete and balanced diet for your four-legged family member. There are now many good options for pets from homemade to raw to minimally processed dehydrated foods to many lifestyles and pets.
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- Raise Social Butterflies! Dogs are social animals and socializing them early on is the best thing you can do to raise a healthy dog. Consider investing in training classes at local animal shelters or pet supply stores and get them mingling with other local pups. They will be less anxious in stressful situations, including vet visits and trips to the groomer, and be well-adjusted to handle new and different experiences with you.
- Rethink Treats. It’s definitely ok – and encouraged – to treat your dog every now and again. However, it should still be healthy and nutritious. Don’t rely on the overly processed treats on the market today. Dogs are natural-born carnivores so a delicious piece of meat or raw bone, even if they eat meat regularly, is still just as exciting and enjoyable when given as a treat.
- Rely on Natural Remedies. One thing that is always for certain when you are a dog owner – poop happens! While some stomach issues do demand immediate veterinarian attention, many dogs can be cured of minor tummy troubles through homemade remedies. I tell my patients there are many whole foods or supplement options, like pumpkin, that can soothe an upset tummy. If more pet parents ask their vets for holistic options, I believe more vets will take an interest in learning about their effectiveness.
- Smile: Don’t ignore your dog’s pearly whites! You can brush their teeth 3x a week if you have time to reduce stinky breath as well as gum disease, which can lead to larger health issues. But, knowing that it might not be as enjoyable for some pups, let them chew on raw (not cooked) bones to remove tarter and plaque. If you notice that the tarter continues to build up, consider talking to your vet for a more in-depth cleaning to limit future dental issues.
Overall, in my experience, dogs need to be healthy to give love and live a long life. If you can provide them with a loving environment and natural foods and treats you’re already off to a great start in raising a happy and healthy dog!
Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVM consults with Humankind and is the founder and owner of The Royal Treatment Veterinary Center and Royal Animal Health University. She is an internationally renowned pioneer in complementary medicine and physical rehabilitation. A passionate advocate of commonsense and cutting-edge approaches to optimal animal health, Dr. Royal provides a bridge between Western and Eastern medicine. Dr. Royal has extensive experience in veterinary care, including zoo, marine, and wildlife animals, emergency medicine, pathology, conventional practices, nutrition, herbal remedies, physical rehabilitation techniques, and alternative treatments. She is also an acupuncture expert for pets and exotic zoo creatures. She is the go-to veterinarian for Oprah Winfrey.
Get Your FREE 5 lb. Bag HERE ($5 s/h)
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