Canine Health & Fitness
Keeping your dog fit and healthy should be a priority for you throughout his life. From puppy-hood to golden years, he will undoubtedly fall ill at least a few times. It won't always be serious enough to give you sleepless nights (especially if you've got Pet Insurance!), but it's important that you keep on top of his health, keep him fit with sufficient exercise and consult a vet if you're ever in any doubt.
Puppy health
Your obligation to your dog's health is never more vital than when he's a puppy, starting from the day you welcome him into his new home. Book a vet appointment for a New Puppy Health Check early on, preferably for the day after he arrives. This will give your vet an opportunity to organise his vaccination program straight away and talk to you about neutering, further vaccinations and other health issues like worming, fleas, micro-chipping him and general healthy living.
You should have received any existing vaccination certificates from your breeder, so be sure to take them along. Use the opportunity to ask your vet any questions you might have about your new puppy's health, and what he knows about any local puppy parties or training classes.
Regular check-ups
As well as occasional trips to the vet, you should be checking on the general condition of your dog at least once a month. It's best to start these check-ups early on in your dog's life so that he gets used to you handling him in ways he might not find entirely comfortable (particularly cleaning his teeth!).
- Nose – his nose should be clear of discharge or dried crustiness.
- Mouth – bad breath is generally not a good sign: it could be anything from digestive issues to poor oral hygiene. Your dog's teeth should be white and tartar-free and his gums should be pink and healthy. Get him used to a teeth cleaning early on. Start by just lifting his lips gently and rubbing the outside of this teeth with your finger wrapped in a piece of cotton or cloth and progress to soft brushes. There are dog toothbrushes available but you can also use a soft, baby toothbrush. Don't use human toothpaste though, use special enzymatic dog toothpaste. If your dog resists, there are several alternatives from dental gel mixed with his food to dental pads. Ask your vet what he recommends. You can also buy dental chew toys and dental treats that will help keep his teeth clean through natural chewing action, and feeding him dry food can also help.
- Eyes – eyes should be bright and clear at all times with no excess discharge. If your dog's eyes look red or sore, or if he shies away from bright lights, consult your vet.
- Ears – ears should be clear of wax and odour-free. Long-eared breeds might need a good ear-clean from time-to-time, and there are kits available, but it's important to be gentle. Over-vigourous cleaning can damage the delicate internal surfaces of the ear, so take care.
- Claws – ask your vet for advice on how best to keep your dog's claws clipped and neat. Judge them the same way you would your own nails: smooth and strong instead of rough and fragile. Walking him on hard surfaces such as tarmac and concrete will also help keep his claws the right length.
- Coat – your dog's coat should be healthy and shiny without patches. Underneath, his skin should be a smooth pale pink (or black, depending on breed) and free from patchy reddening or dandruff. If your dog is of a breed that doesn't shed much hair (such as most terriers or a poodle) you should arrange to have it clipped from time to time. You can do this yourself, but ask your vet for advice as it requires some expertise.
- Body condition – It's important your dog isn't overweight, as obesity can bring all kinds of unwanted health implications such as heart problems and diabetes. Check you can just feel his ribs through his coat and that he has a defined waist between his chest and hips. If he's getting tubby, you might want to consider exercising him more or switching him to a specially formulated low-calorie diet.
Keeping fit
Dogs are born to run. Some breeds require a great deal of exercise, and some less so, but they all need time to run around outside every day.
When you first get your puppy, he won't be allowed outside until his vaccination course is complete, but playing with him inside can be a great way to burn energy and grow strong bones and muscles. Don't play roughly though, as his joints and bones will be fragile as they grow.
Once he's allowed outside, he won't need to do much more than play about in the garden for the first month or so, but pretty soon he'll need more space, and that means regular, daily walking. Walking also provides him a great opportunity to socialise with other people and dogs, but keep an eye on him until he learns the social skills to understand dog etiquette. It's ok to let him get barked at a few times (he'll learn quickly!), but keep him away from too much trouble as his natural curiousity will be to play with everything and everyone.
Before you start walking, you should have trained him to walk on a lead without pulling and a basic set of commands including ‘Sit', ‘Stay' and ‘Come here'. ‘Come here' is the most important command you can teach your dog and can be the difference between keeping him safe close by and watching him run away from you across a busy street, oblivious to the dangers of traffic.
General health
Specific advice aside, perhaps the most important tool you can use to keep your dog healthy is one you already possess: common sense. Like you, your dog needs to eat the right things in moderation and exercise to stay fit and trim. He'll be much healthier over the years (and your vet bills much cheaper!) if he's healthy, slim and happy, so look after him the way you would any loved one.
If you're ever unsure about his health, or need advice, ask your vet. Prevention, as always, is better than cure.