As a pet owner, we try our best to make sure that they are happy and healthy. The only problem is that it’s not that easy for them to let us know when something isn’t quite right – and they depend on us to understand their body language and ensure that they get treatment.

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While giving them a lot of love and snuggles certainly helps, there are a few health concerns you won’t be able to get rid of that easily, but knowing about them will help a lot. Make sure that your dog avoids these health problems by looking at the list below. That way, you can feel confident that you’re doing everything you can for your pet.

Focus on the long walks
Every dog needs a couple of long, good walks every day. It should be common knowledge by now, seeing that humans have kept dogs for quite some time, but some owners seem to think that a big backyard is sufficient.

Even if your dog is able to run around in the backyard as they please, they still need to explore new environments and sniff around as they should. Two to three walks of around half an hour each should do, but it depends on the breed of your dog as well – some of them requires more exercise than others.

Both behavioral issues and health concerns can be eliminated as long as your dog gets enough exercise.

Look at their teeth
Many dogs end up with dental problems at some point in their lives. You may notice a bit of bleeding from their gums, for example, when they chew on their toys – or you might spot some brown marks on their teeth as they grow older.

Luckily, there are a lot of ways to prevent this, though, and you’ll be able to find many varieties in pet shops; Trudog spray me is a great option as it makes it easy to take care of your dog’s teeth. Simply spray it on your dog’s teeth and it will help to keep their mouths clean.

Remember hydration
Many of your dog’s health concerns can be reduced if you remember that they need a lot of water. They’re not always as interested in water as they are in food, though, and might need a bit of help from their owners to remember hydration; try to soak their pellets in water from time to time so that they get that much-needed water through their meals.

And, of course, ensure that they always have a lot of fresh and clean water available at all times. It should be changed around every two hours, by the way, according to this article so that it doesn’t go stale.

If in doubt: Ask the veterinarian
Finally, the best thing to do for your pet if you’re concerned about their health is to simply take them to the veterinarian. Dogs should go for check-ups, in any way, and it’s much better to head over there a bit too often rather than not going often enough.

Just like it can be difficult for us to book those doctor’s appointments unless we’re quite sick, we also tend to put off the trips to the veterinarian. It’s not the most pleasant trip for your pet, that’s for sure, but as long as they have you there to keep them safe, they won’t dread it so much.

Give them a treat while going through their check-ups so that they associate the trip with something slightly positive.

Having a pet is a big responsibility and it’s up to us to spot the signs of illness and general discomfort. Try to keep an eye on your dog’s mood and behavior, in general, and make that trip to the vet if you’re ever in doubt.