Three Tips for Healthier Dogs This Summer

Cat health specialists

Do your dogs or cats have popular pet names, or names that are more unique? For many people, pets are part of the family. In the United States, the most common pets are dogs and cats (unless you count fish–there are nearly 150 million of those). These loving and lovable animals are such a big part of our lives we even name them like we name our children. Some popular pet names like Bailey, Max, and Jack are popular human names too! And just like our own family members and loved ones, we want what’s best for our pets to ensure a long, healthy, and happy life.

People buy insurance for their valuable items, like their car, house, boat, and maybe even antiques. But we don’t just insure our physical belongings. Health insurance is extremely important for everyone. Life can’t be enjoyed to its fullest without good health and the peace of mind that comes with having one’s health insured. Since pets play such a big role in our lives, their health is important to us too (and to them, of course). This is why in addition to buying insurance for our own goods and health, many people choose to purchase pet insurance for their dogs, cats, and other pets.

Pet insurance is a good safety net to have in case anything happens to your pet. Of course, you don’t want anything to happen to your pet’s health in the first place. What are some ways to ensure your pet stays healthy this summer? All pets are different, of course, but there are still general steps that can be taken to allow your pet a healthier life. If you’re one of the millions of Americans with a dog (or more than one), here are three ways to keep them healthy this season.

1) Different Ages, Different Needs

Depending on the age of your dog, he/she will require different levels of activity and attention. Younger dogs, for instance, are full of energy and need to let it out in some way. Summertime gives us the perfect opportunity to let our dogs blow off some steam outside. If you don’t have a bigger yard that’s safe and enclosed, consider taking your dog to a park, beach, or other outdoor location that is suited for their outdoor needs. Older dogs sometimes have difficulty walking, running, and staying cool in the sunlight. While most dogs still enjoy getting some fresh air in their later years, it’s important to know just how much your dog can handle, and when it’s time to let them go back inside and rest.

2) Walk, Walk, Walk (With Water)!

Most dog owners know how important it is for a dog’s health and happiness to take them on regular walks. Again, summer is a great time to take your dog on consistent walks, especially for younger dogs. Keep in mind, however, that even though dogs don’t sweat, they can still get dehydrated just like humans. The sun is especially hot and unforgiving in the summer, so dehydration becomes a larger threat this time of year. To ensure your dog stays hydrated on the walk, bring a water bottle with you to give him/her periodically during the walk. Some companies even make water bottles especially designed for dogs that are easier for them to drink from.

3) Human Food Is Not Dog Food

This is something we all struggle with since we love our dogs (and because most are so good at begging). Even if they’ve already just eaten, we often want to share our food with our dogs because we know how happy it makes them. During the summer, when we’re outside grilling food and relaxing, it’s even more tempting to do so. While the occasional little treat isn’t all that harmful, feeding your dog too much human food can lead to poor health and bad habits. So try to resist those big soulful eyes and keep your leftovers for yourself instead of giving them to your pup.

Sites that list popular pet names are a testament to how much we love our dogs and other pets. This is why we do everything we can to keep them happy and healthy. Once we ensure that, we can focus more on popular pet names for our new family members!