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Your Dog’s Health, from 1 to 8 Years
Your Dog’s Health, from 1 to 8 Years

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Adult Dogs Health Care Guide

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Just like humans, dogs too need constant care and support throughout their lifetime. We all know puppies need more attention and care; however, did you know? Adult dog health is also equally important. In fact, dogs’ health is the primary responsibility of every pet parent. Providing the right nutrition and health care largely contributes to your pooch’s health. Keeping the four-legged angel away from the harmful pathogens, germs, and unhygienic surroundings is also a prime responsibility of every caregiver. A dog’s behavior, mood, and diet can say a lot about its baby’s health and fitness. Hence, as a dog parent, you must keep a close eye on your pet’s behavioral changes.
 

Signs of a healthy dog

There are many signs that help pet caregivers keep a tab on their canine companion’s health. Given below are a few signs to look for to understand your dog’s health and fitness status:

  • Shiny fur: Your pooch’s fur gives you direct insight into its health. You can easily identify a dog’s health with a single glance at its fur. A glossy, shiny fur with no parasites or bald spots is considered healthy. However, you must know that a certain degree of shedding is considered normal in some breeds.
  • Bright eyes: Another sign of a healthy dog is bright, shiny eyes. If your dog’s eyes are perfectly bright and have no issues of discharge or watering, it is considered a healthy sign.
  • Smooth skin: You should constantly check your fur baby’s skin alongside glancing over their fur. Your pet’s skin should ideally be free of any scratches, rashes, growth, and redness.
  • Clean ears: Another sign of a healthy adult dog are clean ears. Your dog’s ears should have no discharge, wax, or swelling as they could be a sign of an ear infection.
  • Temperature: 101°F to 102.5°F is the average normal body temperature for dogs. Your pooch’s health might be at risk in case of low or high temperature. Hence, you should constantly record their body temperature to ensure they are fit and fine.
  • Oral health: Adult dog health is also linked to gum, teeth, and mouth hygiene. Signs of healthy oral health in dogs include strong teeth, pink and normal gums, and no foul smell.
  • Normal stool: A healthy dog will not have any issues passing stool or urinating. You should constantly check your dog’s stool to look for signs of constipation and diarrhea. Signs of parasites and worms in stool can also be symptoms of an unhealthy dog.

Signs of a sick dog

Knowing about the symptoms of a sick dog helps caregivers identify and treat their pooch’s medical condition in time. Given below are a few signs and symptoms that might help you recognize any dog illness:

  • Loss of appetite: If you notice your pooch eating lesser or not being as enthusiastic about treats and mealtime, then there could be a potential health concern. Loss of appetite could be linked to stomach issues, gastrointestinal issues, or other illnesses.
  • Cough: Constant sneezing and coughing are signs of flu. Even though most adult dogs recover from flu within a few weeks, they can sometimes develop other bacterial infections. Hence, it is better to get them treated at the earliest to avoid such concerns.
  • Pain: If you notice your pet frequently chewing on their joints, limping, or whimpering, then they could be suffering from some sort of pain. Visit a vet at the earliest to get the issue diagnosed and start the necessary treatment.
  • Irritation: Constant irritation, aggression, and uncalled change in behavior is other signs of undiagnosed illness in dogs. Unlike humans, dogs cannot express their feelings in words. Hence, you need to pay close attention to their behavior to understand their complaints and concerns. Visible signs of irritation, barking, and sometimes lethargy could also be considered a sign of illness in adult dogs.
  • Diarrhea and vomiting: Dogs often vomit or pass stool when suffering from an upset stomach. Watery stool and constant urge to pee or pass stool are a few known signs of potential illness in dogs. If you notice your pet vomiting or suffering from diarrhea, you should consult a vet at the earliest.

Maintaining your pet’s health is an essential part of caring for them. Visiting a vet is necessary for getting your pooch vaccinated and regularly checked. Veterinarian doctors also prepare diet charts and suggest health supplements for your dog depending on its health requirements. In conclusion, looking for signs of sickness and constantly inspecting your dog's physical and psychological well-being ensures that your furry friend is hale and hearty.

Frequently asked questions

  1. What are some common dog’s health issues?
  2. Heartworms, canine influenza, parasites, and leptospirosis are some common health issues faced by dogs.

  3. How do I know if my dog is healthy?
  4. If your dog shows no signs or symptoms of illness, eats well, rests enough, and is in a pleasant mood on most days, then your dog is more likely to be healthy.

  5. What are the signs of a healthy dog?
  6. A clean, shiny coat, healthy pink gum, smooth skin, and normal body temperature are a few signs of a healthy dog.

  • How to teach your dog to stop barking
    How to teach your dog to stop barking
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    How to Stop a Dog from Barking?

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    Barking is your dog’s way of communicating. We often observe dogs barking at people and things to grab attention. It is a normal dog behaviour that is often a reflex for expressing emotions related to anxiety, aggression, or boredom. Different types of barks emote different moods and feelings of the dog. Dogs also bark to stop others from entering their territory.
     

    Even though dogs bark to communicate their emotions, excessive barking can cause disturbance to pet parents. In such situations, pet caregivers often look for ways to teach barking on command to their fur babies. If you too want to learn how to stop a dog from barking in the right manner, then read the following.
     

    How to teach your dog to stop barking

    Dogs often bark to claim territory, express emotions, and communicate with others. However, sometimes, dogs might not know how to control their barking habits. Teaching your pooch to stop barking unnecessarily makes them calmer by sharpening their natural instincts. While barking is a norm for dogs, barking on command is a skill that you easily teach your fur baby. Follow the below points to learn how to teach your dog to stop barking.

    • Teach commands: With patience, persistence, and practice, you teach your dog to control its barking habits. It is easy to stop your dog from barking with a little effort. Training dogs to follow commands related to barking is beneficial in managing this dog behavior. You need to start by teaching your furry friend to follow commands by training them regularly.

    The following are a few things you can try to teach your dog to stop barking on command:

    • Try to calm the dog by using affirmative words. Using calming words and actions can help reduce anxiety and stress in dogs. Once they relax, you can pet them a little to stop them from barking completely.
    • You can also use commands for sitting to relax your fur baby. Most dogs bark when they get territorial or anxious. Using commands for sitting can work as a reassurance that can help them calm down. If the dog is barking out of fright or anxiety, you should try to use words of praise and encourage it to relax.
    • You can also use certain words like ‘stop, ‘relax’ and ‘calm down’ to signal the pooch to stop barking. However, to teach them to do so, you must use the commanding word every time they bark.
    • Offer treats: Another effective way to teach your dog to stop barking is by offering them their favourite treats. Most dogs have ADHD, which means it is very easy to distract them. If the dog is distressed and won’t stop barking, you should try to calm it down by offering its favourite treat. Simply try to grab their attention by showing them a treat. However, avoid offering the treat directly. Once you have the pooch’s attention, command them to stop barking and treat them only once they listen to you. Follow this method regularly to eventually teach your canine friend to stop barking simply on receiving a treat.
    • Distract with favourite toys: Dogs can also be distracted by their favourite toys. Simply show the pet its favourite toy the next time they start barking. You can also ask them to fetch a ball or start playing with them to distract them from barking.
    • Console and praise: Sometimes dogs bark to warn or grab your attention towards something that is genuinely bothering them. Hence, it is always better to first try to analyse why the pooch is barking before trying to stop them from barking. Pay attention towards the dog’s body language and mannerisms when it barks. If it is barking towards a direction, you can check in that direction to see if there is something that might be alarming. Paying attention towards your pet’s barks and trying to console it with words of praise will not only calm it but will also subside its anxiety and fright.

    Though these tricks will train your canine companion to control its barking habits, you must know that barking is a reflex instinct for dogs. Hence, it is imperative to stay consistent and regular when training a dog. It often takes time for dogs to learn commands and control their instinct to bark. However, with regular practice and consistent effort, you can eventually stop your dog from barking at will.

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