When a friend asked me, "What are the ways to keep my dog healthy?", I thought I would write a brief article, so all caring pet owners could take advantage of these simple, practical tips. By following and making these suggestions a part of your daily routine, you can help your dog live a longer, happier and better quality life.
In terms of creating good health, dogs are not much different than humans. They need good food, clean water, a daily supplement, regular exercise and love and attention. Although this is what most caring pet owners do, let's take a look at these elements more closely, so you can give your beloved pet the best that life has to offer.
First let's look at food. Although you may believe you are feeding your dog a healthy brand of pet food, many popular brands contain fillers, meat byproducts, dyes, preservatives and other chemicals. These ingredients contain no nutrients and since the body doesn't know what to do with them, they end up getting stored in the tissues.
When my friend asked me, "What are the ways to keep my dog healthy," the first thing I suggested was reading the ingredients label on the kibble that she feeds her dog. Since it was a commercial brand that is always advertised on television, she was shocked to discover how unhealthy it was. So the first step is to read the ingredients label. Look for a food that contains meat as a first ingredient, vegetables, healthy oils like omega 3's and flax seed oil and minerals. Eating good food is your dog's first line of defense against disease.
Next, boost the power of good food with a quality supplement. Like us, dogs are getting less nutrients in their food than they were fifty years ago due to pollution and mineral-deficient soil, so a daily supplement is a necessity. Look for one with ingredients like Echinacea, Cat's Claw, Mistletoe, Milk Thistle and Indian Ginseng. Together, these herbs help the body fight disease, build immunity, regulate blood pressure, support healthy circulation, and remove stored toxins from organs and tissues. This is one of the best ways to keep my dog healthy along with good quality food.
The next step is to make sure your pet is well-hydrated with fresh, clean water. Clean the water bowl regularly. Instead of giving your pet water from the tap (which is full of chemicals because it is treated by the city), install a simple tap filter on your kitchen spigot to make sure that you and your pet are drinking chemical-free water.
Make sure your dog gets daily exercise to relieve stress, keep the heart healthy and move the lymph. The body was designed for motion and dogs that are forced to stay inside all day have a greater tendency to get depressed. Beyond this, exercising together by playing in the backyard or taking a jog around the block is a good way to deepen your bond and sense of playfulness with your dog. Play is good for all of us, humans and canines alike.
If, like my friend, your goal is to "keep my dog healthy," then you've just deepened your understanding of what this takes and found a simple plan that you can put into action today. Read the ingredients label on the kibble you feed your dog, get a good quality supplement and tap filter and take your dog outside to enjoy the beauty of the world around you. After all, your pet deserves the very best.
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Laura Ramirez is a researcher and animal lover. Browse her findings on ways to keep my dog healthy by going to www.pet-health-supplements.com. 
