Common mistakes to avoid that shorten dog’s life
Getting a puppy is a rewarding and memorable experience for a first-time dog owner. Your dog becomes an integral part of your life and brings happiness to you. They are just like children; if you do not care for them, it can shorten dogs’ lives. Thus, as a responsible dog owner, you must monitor their well-being. As a pet parent, your life with your puppy can be an exciting adventure. Still, in the excitement of the enjoyable moments, you may make mistakes that can be dangerous and shorten dog’s life.
So, here are sixteen common mistakes to avoid that could shorten dog’s life
1. Lack of physical activity
Every dog breed requires exercise, and you must incorporate it into their daily routine. Simultaneously, it is crucial to understand how much exercise your dog needs, as it varies from breed to breed. Determine the training your dog’s breed requires and stick to it.
Daily routine keeps your dog physically active and keeps the dog’s mind occupied, which benefits the dog’s overall health. Regular exercise prevents your dog from becoming overweight, strengthens his heart, and provides mental stimulation. It’s also great to bond with your pet while doing extracurricular activities.
2. Overfeeding
Dogs are high-energy creatures who enjoy running around and participating in various activities. As a result, they require sufficient food to keep up with their daily activities.
However, some dog owners overfeed their dogs or give them too many treats, making their bodies homes for many diseases. Obesity is a rising problem among dogs, and it can shorten your dog’s life.
Overfeeding your dog can result in hypertension, breathing difficulties, diabetes, joint discomfort, and cancer. It can be hard to say no to your beloved dog but remember that it is for your dog’s benefit.
3. Neglecting Vet Visits
Taking your dog to the vet may appear to be a challenging task. First, you must carve out time from your hectic schedule; second, your dogs may become anxious and refuse to go to the vet. And it can be a nerve-wracking experience at times.
Nevertheless, taking your dog to the vet at least once every six months would be beneficial and highly recommended.
By taking your dog to the vet, you can take faster action and increase your dog’s life. Neglecting vet visits can shorten your dog’s life. As a result, your dog is more likely to suffer from underlying diseases you may not notice immediately.
As goes the saying, “prevention is better than cure.” Vaccination, spaying or neutering, and frequent veterinarian visits can prevent your dog from getting serious diseases.
4. Ignoring dental care
Have you ever wondered why your veterinarian examines your dog’s teeth?
Your dog’s teeth and gums are clear indicators of their overall health. Teeth are a vital part of a dog’s body, as they play a crucial role in chewing and digesting food. As a result, ignoring oral health can lead to several other problems.
Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly using a good toothbrush and toothpaste is the best way to maintain their dental hygiene. You can also include healthy foods like raw bones and carrots in their diets to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
5. Inappropriate bathing
The dog requires bathing at different intervals. Some dogs must be washed every four to six weeks, while others begin to stink after 10–15 days.
Bathing your dog is essential for keeping them clean and disease-free. But wrong bathing techniques and even excessive bathing can cause significant harm to your four-legged friend. When bathing your dog, remember to wash their heads last, as a wet head might cause them to shiver. Therefore, cleaning the dog’s head at the end of the bath is good.
Various dog bathing products are available on the market, but many contain harmful chemicals unsuitable for your dog’s skin. These toxic products could cause severe rashes, hair loss, and excruciating pain to your dog which results in shortening your dog’s lifespan.
Remember that dogs’ skin is quite different from humans, so using the same bathing products can hurt their skin. Read the ingredient list before purchasing any products for your dog and choose chemical-free variants.
6. Lack of affection and attention
From a tiny Shih Tzu to a massive Rottweiler, every dog craves your love and attention. Some dogs are more independent than others, while others rely on you, but they all enjoy playing with their pet parents.
Exercise, walking, and other activities that meet your dog’s mental and physical needs should be part of their daily routine.
Many dogs are prone to anxiety, and your lack of love and attention can drastically shorten their lives. A lack of affection and attention can exacerbate a dog’s destructive and aggressive behavior. As a result, many dogs end up in shelters or abandoned on roads.
7. Adverse weather condition
The weather tremendously impacts a dog’s physical and mental health. Each dog breed reacts differently to several types of weather. Rain, snow, and sudden temperature changes can shorten a dog’s life expectancy. In hot weather, heat-related diseases and heat strokes are pretty common in dogs.
They keep their tongues out all the time to maintain their temperature, but you must also provide cold water, keep them cool in air conditioning, and most importantly, take them for a walk when the temperature is lower.
Even if you become sluggish in the winter due to the cold, your dog will still require daily exercise and walks. Neglecting these can harm your dog’s physical health and limit the mental stimulation they receive from daily exercise.
8. Not brushing Dog’s fur
Dogs shed a lot of furs throughout the year, and regular brushing is one way to keep it from getting all over your house. Brushing your dog’s fur will allow you to remove excess hair, dirt, and debris that may have become stuck while your dog is playing outside.
Brushing their coats can also help you to detect ticks, fleas, dry or oily skin, and any other serious illness. Always brush your dog’s fur gently and in the direction of the coat to avoid tangles and pain.
9. Giving them spoiled food
Giving spoiled food to humans can be dangerous; imagine its effect on your beloved pet. Food that has been spoiled or contaminated can cause digestive problems and can be lethal for your dog’s health.
Because dogs cannot distinguish between fresh and rotten food, it is your responsibility to keep track of the expiration date on their food and treats. Bacteria in spoilt food can produce toxins that can enter your dog’s body and shorten your dog’s lifespan.
Another thing many dogs’ owners overlook is not cleaning their dog’s food bowl often enough. Reusing the bowl without cleaning it will increase bacteria, opening the door to tons of diseases. Cleaning the bowl is just as crucial as providing fresh food to your dog.
10. Not adjusting your dog’s collar
Not adjusting your dog’s collar properly can result in serious injury to your pet. The collar should be snug enough that it cannot slip over the dog’s head but not so tight that it chokes your dog’s neck. A properly fitting collar is essential not only for your pet’s safety but also for the animal’s comfort. An ill-fitting collar can cause the dog pain and discomfort, which can shorten your dog’s lifespan. Apart from general discomfort, failing to adjust your dog’s collar can lead to many skin problems, mouth injuries, and even death.
It’s nice to have a collar, but it’s not necessary to wear it all the time; you can remove it at home or take it off at night to make them more comfortable.
11. Avoiding sterilization
“Spaying” or “neutering” is simply the removal of some reproductive organs from your dog’s body. Sterilization is an essential and highly beneficial process for dogs. Sterilizing can save your dog from many diseases, like UTIs and prostate cancer. Sterilization also stops several problematic behaviors that could have caused a lot of trouble. So, by consulting your vet, get your dog sterilized at the right age.
12. Exposing your dog to second-hand smoke
There are many harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and these effects can also extend to our furry friends. Dogs who are exposed to second-hand smoke can develop respiratory problems, eye irritation, and cancer.
While it’s not possible to eliminate your dog’s exposure to second-hand smoke, there are some things you can do to reduce the amount of smoke they’re exposed to.
For example, you can smoke outside and away from your dog and wash your hands and clothes after smoking. Taking these simple steps can help keep your dog healthy and free from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
13. Forgetting about heartworm and flea and tick prevention
Heartworm, Fleas, and Ticks lead to irritation and cause a lot of pain, and no matter how clean you keep your dog one day or the other, they will end up catching them. Your dog could even catch Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. So as a dog owner, be regularly in touch with your vet if you suspect your dog caught with fleas or heartworm and take appropriate measures.
14. Giving your pet access to a window
Looking out the window can be extremely exciting for dogs, which is why they like to sit near a window. Outside the window, they can see other dogs, automobiles, kids, and other animals, which might be interesting, but it can also turn quiet dogs into frequent barkers.
Because for them window is like a barrier to the outside world, which can be frustrating for dogs. Dogs can become highly aggressive and destructive and even end up harming themselves. As a result, your dog’s life expectancy may be shortened.
However, looking out the window is fine if you provide your dog with a proper outlet for their energy by providing regular exercise and playing with them.
15. Leaving your dog for a long time
Leaving a dog closed in an apartment for a long time can shorten dog’s life. Dogs are social animals and need interaction with people or other animals. They can become anxious and stressed when left alone for long periods, leading to health problems. If you must leave your dog alone for more than a few hours, provide them with plenty of toys, food, and water.
16. Giving unhealthy food
Maintaining your dog’s diet is essential for their excellent health. As a dog’s digestive system differs from ours, it is crucial to understand what should be fed in the right way to increase a dog’s lifespan.
Even though the digestive systems of humans and dogs are vastly different, some human foods are safe for dogs. For example, if given in moderation, chicken, eggs, cheese, and other nutrient-dense human foods are an excellent treat for your dog.
Also, remember that feeding your dog table scraps will break their habit. Therefore, always keep these snacks on their meal plate.
Summing Up:
We hope you enjoyed our article about how these crucial mistakes can shorten your dog’s life. Avoiding these critical mistakes can help your dog live a long and healthy life.
