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Healthy Dog Breeds with the Least Health Issues

Seldean Smith — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 17:36:14 +0000

We all know that no two dog breeds are alike. They’re all unique in personality, size, and of course, health. Although nothing is set in stone, some breeds tend to have a longer life span than others. Here’s a look at some of the canine lines that are considered healthy dog breeds.

Healthy Dog Breeds to Consider for Your Family

1. Beagle

The beagle might be small, but it sure is mighty. This is one of the healthiest dog breeds and one of the best pack-hunting dogs too. Beagles have an excellent sense of smell, which might also land them in occasional trouble. Life expectancy ranges between 10 and 15 years.

2. Border Collie

Border collies have a natural instinct to keep moving all the time, which is also what keeps them young at heart into old age. On average, border collies live up to 12 years and they’re best known for their stunning looks and impressive agility.

3. Chihuahua

You might not have expected a Chihuahua to be one of the healthiest dog breeds, but its small stature ensures that this little cutie can live for up to 18 years. Of course, they need lots of cuddles and warm laps to support them in their golden years.

4. Dachshund

Ah, the wiener dog…named an icon by the American Kennel Club, dachshunds look like they can easily fit into a hotdog bun. The good news about these dogs with their short legs angling bodies is that they can stay fit and healthy for up to 20 years!

5. Greyhound

Greyhounds have their origins cemented in Egypt and they’ve been admired for their perfect form and speed for millennia. It’s uncommon for hereditary health issues to pop in in this breed that can live for up to 15 years.

6. Miniature Schnauzer

Mini schnauzers are great family pets, and even though they’re part of the super busy terrier clan, they can be some of the best dogs, especially if you have young kids. With their muscular bodies and fearless attitudes, miniature schnauzers can live for up to 15 years.

7. Pomeranian

Yes, they’re small, but that doesn’t mean that Pomeranians don’t lead LARGE, happy lives! With super furry coats, these fuzzballs don’t need any extra layers to stay warm during short winter walks. If you’re a Pomeranian owner, you’ll be glad to know that these doggies can live up to 13 years.

8. Poodle

Poodles thrive in all seasons ad climates, all thanks to their versatile coats that can be trimmed according to the weather. Poodles are loyal and don’t have any serious health concerns to worry about, which means they can easily reach the age of 14!

9. Pug

Pugs look a little off with their wrinkly faces, but they’re also super energetic and can live up to the age of 15. It is essential to keep in mind that your pug will need to follow a balanced diet in order to stay as healthy as possible.

10. Whippet

The whippet looks a little like a mini greyhound, which means they’re also super-fast, just like the greyhound. Just like some of the other healthiest dog breeds, whippets need to get in enough exercise and follow a balanced diet in order to live for up to 15 amazing years.

A final word on healthy dog breeds

The healthiest dogs are the ones that have the most caring human parents. Although the dogs we’ve highlighted here tend to live the longest and have the least health problems, it doesn’t mean that other breeds are no-go zones. As long as you provide your pet with enough TLC, wholesome and nutritious foods, and take them for regular checkups at the vet, they should be healthy as can be!

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Product Review: NexGard Spectra

Seldean Smith — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 05:24:07 +0000

Preventing health problems before they occur is something all pet owners are passionate about. Prevention is also much cheaper than cure in the case of pets and vet bills. Feeding your pet high-quality food contributes to good long-term health. Immunisations and regular deworming are also essential aspects of pet care along with tick and flea treatments to keep external pests under control. But what about internal pests? That’s precisely where NexGard Spectra comes in.

What is NexGard Spectra?

These preventative treats are tasty broad-spectrum oral chews that treat and prevent tick, flea, and mite infestations. Soft and soy-based, these chews taste like beef, and since they’re so delicious, your dogs will never try and flee when it’s time for preventative care.

How does it work?

NexGard Spectra is a monthly treatment that helps prevent external and internal pests from plaguing your pets. Within 30 minutes of administering the “treat”, the product starts killing fleas. It kills ticks in 48 hours and also prevents heartworm, hookworm, and roundworm infestations.

Is NexGard Spectra suitable for all dogs?

Yes! Regardless of how big or small your furry friend is, NexGard is suitable for him or her since it comes available in 5 sizes.

What’s the difference between Nexgard and Nexgard Spectra?

NexGard protects dogs against brown dog ticks, bush ticks, and the potentially deadly paralysis tick. NexGard SPECTRA contains an additional active ingredient, milbemycin oxime, which provides protection against heartworm and intestinal worms.

How effective is this treatment?

We recently had the opportunity to review the range of NexGard Spectra chewable treatments. The chewable tick & flea treatment is administered orally and contains fluralaner. This medicine starts working after 30minutes of being administered and should keep your dog protected for up to 4 weeks.

There’s no guesswork to be done since pet owners can choose between suitable dosages for toy, small, medium, large, and extra-large breeds. Since dogs love the taste of NexGard chews, they’re effortless to administer and non-messy.

If your dog happens to get sick and vomits after he or she ingested the tablet, it won’t offer any protection. You also need to keep in mind that these chews don’t repel ticks and fleas. The pests die when they bite your dog. Another thing to keep in mind is the price. NexGard Spectra chews are not the cheapest on the market. They’re much more expensive than spot-on treatments. But they’re one of your most effective solutions.

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Age-appropriate diet: Is it really that important?

Seldean Smith — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 06:51:11 +0000

All dogs have unique nutritional needs based on their size, breed, and individual health makeup. But did you know that your dog also needs to follow an age-appropriate diet to stay as healthy as possible? The simple truth is that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all option when it comes to buying dog food. Here’s a look at what your dog needs during which stage of his or her life and the essential factors you need to keep in mind

Age-appropriate diet considerations for each stage of your dog’s life

Puppy

Your vet might recommend the best puppy food according to your dog’s breed, size, and health status. It’s super important to get your pup off on a high-quality nutritional regimen that’ll lay a strong foundation for good health throughout their life. A puppy needs much more calories than adult or senior dogs. You also need to ensure that their age-appropriate diet delivers the right balance of animal proteins, high-quality fats, and critical nutrients to support early development.

Recommended Product:

We’re big fans of the Hills Science Plan range of puppy foods for small and mini, medium, and large breed pups since each line has been formulated with breed-specific health problems in mind, and as such, helps to counteract health problems.

Adult Dog

When your dog reaches the age of 12-18 months old, they’re developmentally matured and officially enter the stage of adulthood. Growth spurts will have rounded out by this time, so your furry friends need a solid nutritional foundation to stay in good health. An age-appropriate diet can help support overall health and increase your dog’s life expectancy while covering all the crucial things like immunity, dental health, skin and coat, and digestive health.

Recommended Product:

If you’re not looking to buy something specific to your dog’s breed, we recommend Montego Adult Dog Food. Montego Adult is suitable for small and medium breeds from the age of 1, but for larger breeds, it’s best to only start them on Montego Adult when they’re around 2 years old.

The Golden Years

As your dog approaches his or her senior years, you’ll have to start implementing an age-appropriate diet. When your dog reaches this stage depends on his breed size and weight since larger breeds live shorter lives than smaller breeds. Your senior dog needs fewer minerals in her food to protect her kidneys.

Recommended Product:

Vets Choice Golden Years is an excellent choice for mature dogs from the age of 7 years for small and medium breeds and 7 years for large and giant breeds. With added barley and glucose modulation, this option assists with weight control and metabolic processes. It also contains balanced Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to enhance your dog’s skin and coat.

Final thoughts

All dogs need specially formulated foods according to their breed size and genetic makeup. Not just as preventative nutrition, but also to support their ageing process. The varieties we’ve covered here will ensure your furry friend gets balanced nutrition throughout their life to maintain good health and quality lifestyle!

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Car sickness in dogs: Why it happens and what to do

Seldean Smith — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 08:52:35 +0000

Like your human best friend, your dog can make an excellent travelling companion. But just like humans, car sickness in dogs is something that can happen without any notice. Some dogs even get sick on short trips to the vet. Signs of motion sickness include drooling, panting, restlessness, and trembling. Here’s a look at the facts of the matter:

Is car sickness in dogs a real thing?

Dogs can quickly get motion sickness, and it’s much more likely to affect puppies than adult dogs. A dog’s ear structure (involved in balance) isn’t as well developed in the puppy stages. As dogs mature, most of them outgrow motion suchness. But some of them need a little extra help to get over their problem, even when they’re grown.

What are the signs of car sickness in dogs?

As mentioned, some of the tell-tale signs include excessive drooling, panting, trembling, and restlessness. Here are some other indications that point to car sickness in dogs:

Yawning (which is a general sign of anxiety in dogs)

Whining
Licking their lips
Vomiting

Is there any other reason my dog vomits in the car?

If your dog had motion sickness before during a car trip, they’d likely associate any form of car travel with vomiting. This negative connotation will be reinforced every time your dog has to get into the car. Your dog might be so anxious about the car trip that it’s a combination of the worry and motion that brings about the vomiting.

Is there anything I can do to help my dog?

Because car sickness in dogs leads to anxiety, you may have to manage the motion sickness and your dog’s negative association with the car. Here are some tips that might help curb motion sickness in dogs:

Keep them facing forward

When your dog faces forward, it has less visual stimulus for motion sickness versus looking out the side window.

Allow fresh air to flow through the car

Lowering your window slightly will ensure that fresh air flows through the car, which can alleviate nausea.

Distract them

If you have a passenger that can distract your dog with his or her favourite toy or some physical attention, it can really help ease motion sickness during short journeys.

Get something from the vet

Your veterinarian might be able to prescribe anti-nausea medication that can be used short term for longer journeys. Anti-nausea remedies aren’t suitable for all dogs and cannot be used long-term. You might also want to try a natural alternative like CBD oil for pets to curb your pet’s nausea and anxiety.

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Here are the healthiest dog breeds with the least health problems

Seldean Smith — Mon, 04 May 2020 09:01:59 +0000

We all know that no two dog breeds are alike. They’re all unique in personality, size, and of course, health. Although nothing is set in stone, some breeds tend to have a longer life span than others. Here’s a look at some of the healthiest dog breeds that will grow old with families.

Top ten healthiest dog breeds

Beagle

Border Collie

Chihuahua

Dachshund

Greyhound

Miniature Schnauzer

Pomeranian

Poodle

Pug

Whippet

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Here’s why dogs and chocolate don’t mix

Seldean Smith — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 07:29:52 +0000

Even though they’re supposed to know better and instinctively avoid poisonous foods, some dogs will hunt down chocolate. And even though your pet might not have gotten sick from eating the sweet stuff before, really doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future. But why is the combination of dogs and chocolate so dangerous? Here’s the scoop:

Why dogs and chocolate shouldn’t be friends

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the Cacao plant with the main toxic component being the methylxanthine alkaloids which we know as the theobromine and caffeine. Humans digest and excrete these substances without any issues. Where the active components stay in our system for about two or three hours, it stays active in a dog’s system for up to 18 hours.

What does chocolate do to your dog?

Theobromine affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and the respiratory system. All three of those systems are crucial for a dog’s body to function properly. If your dog gets poisoned by chocolate, you might see initial symptoms like vomiting and excessive water intake. Those symptoms might be followed by hyperirritable behaviour. Increased heart rates, excessive panting, ataxia (acting like they’re drunk) and muscle spasms can also occur. Eventually, it can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and even death.

Can my dog die if he eats too much chocolate?

The lethal dose of theobromine for dogs is 10-500mg per kg. but the thing you need to keep in mind is that not all chocolates are equally as toxic because some types contain more theobromine than others. The higher the cocoa content, the higher the theobromine levels. 100g of dark chocolate can be lethal to a 10kg dog, but it’s not the case with 100g of milk or white chocolate.

How chocolate poisoning is treated in dogs

In the case of dogs and chocolate, there is, unfortunately, no specific antidote for theobromine poisoning. This means that it’s treated supportively. Your vet might induce vomiting, use intravenous fluid therapy and administer activated charcoal or oxygen if needed.

The best treatment really is prevention. Dogs love chocolate, but that doesn’t mean it is good for them. Don’t run the risk of accidentally poisoning your pet, stick to safe and healthy dog treats instead.

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