Veterinary and basic science have come a long way in maximizing canine health in recent years. And we’re lucky for it — after all, our furry pals feel like part of the family. So it’s important to know how to keep them healthy and thriving for as long as possible. Keep reading to learn five surprising insights and tips — spanning from grooming to nutrition — that will help your canine companion reach his or her full potential for health throughout their life.
1. Aim for optimal movement.
A lot of dogs are literally held captive in the home. They get one walk around the block twice a
day, but they’re never allowed to move their bodies and build their muscle tone, or get rid of all that nervous energy, decrease cortisol (a stress hormone), and lower their blood sugar. And that leads to both physical complications and behavioral complications, according to veterinarian Karen Becker, DVM, co-author of The Forever Dog. Becker notes a correlation between the longest-lived dogs in the world and the amount of exercise they had — at least an hour and a half a day.
2. Encourage foraging.
Many trainers say that you should try to feed your pet with a food puzzle — a toy that makes the pup work to…
