Because trained vets and dog-based websites are constantly promoting items like complicated supplements or handmade dog food, it can be very hard to find the best, correct advice. Losing a dog is always a very traumatic experience for the owners and can even be like losing a person. If you had the chance to help your brother or sister live an extra 5 or 10 years would you even think about it? Your dog shouldn't be an exception. Many individuals do not realise that dogs can live past twenty years old.

Remember that for thousands of years humans only lived around thirty five years as a maximum; but now that's all changed. It isn't any different with canines; you just need some simple knowledge and make a few changes here and there in your normal routine of looking after your dog. The 5 tips below will give you the knowledge to help your dog to live as healthily as he can for as long as he can.

Diet

Your dog's diet is one of the main components that will decide his lifespan. If you decide to raise your dog on natural homemade food from as early as possible you will be giving him a huge health advantage. A recent report carried out by the American Veterinary Research panel found out that a dog's diet can mean the difference between five or even ten years of extra life.

However, most commercially available food for dogs tends to have low levels of nutrients and lack a lot of important vitamins that your dog has to have to keep healthy. If you can't cook dog food yourself at home, you'll have to give your dog vitamin supplements that are specific to its breed. Make sure that you don't give your dog foods that are high in fat and remember to trim as much fat as you can from meats and poultry.

Yearly Vaccinations

Some research has found that vaccinations for pets can, in some cases, be unnecessary and even potentially harmful. The World Animal Vets Association have said in the past that once a dog gets its early important boosters, it may be immune to those particular illnesses for the rest of its life without needing any yearly vaccinations.

If you aren't sure whether or not your dog's injections need a top up, you can have your local vet carry out a simple blood test that can check how immune your dog is to the most common illnesses and diseases. By doing this, you may find out that your dog doesn't actually need any more immunisations at the moment.

Correct Grooming

Grooming your dog correctly is essential. Dogs that have to spend a long time without being groomed have a greater risk of catching diseases and infections which can ultimately shorten their lifespan and cause many expensive visits to the vets.

Make sure you brush your pet thoroughly before you give him a bash. Giving your dog regular baths will give you a great chance to search through his fur for ticks and fleas, it also gives you a chance to get rid of debris that could potentially cut into your dog's skin and in turn cause an infection.
You must also regularly check your dog's ears and eyes for any signs of an infection. If there's any swelling or redness in either the eyes or ears, you shouldn't hesitate to go and see your vet as soon as you can so your dog can get on the right antibiotics as soon as possible.

Dental Health care

Making sure your dog has good dental hygiene is essential to maintaining his health. If you can, you should aim to clean your dog's gums and teeth every second day, so plaque won't have much of a chance to form and harden. If you can't do this every second day, you should aim for once a week. If you choose not to clean your dog's teeth, he'll end up having to get his teeth cleaned by your vet. It's usually an expensive procedure and something that can easily be avoided with a small amount of effort.

You can purchase a soft child's toothbrush, a finger brush, or a small toothbrush that slips over the tip of your finger (the small toothbrushes are very good for using on smaller breeds of dog). You'll also have to purchase some canine toothpaste from your local pet shop, don't worry about your dog not liking the taste; they always love it!

Spaying/Neutering

Spaying or Neutering is a very common yet very misunderstood operation that only a small amount of people know the true consequences of. A recent study carried out by Dr David Waters, came to the conclusion that dogs that are not spayed or neutered tend to live an extra two years on average. Science has shown that there are many health benefits of letting your dog produce its sex hormones naturally throughout its life. If you really feel as if you have to get your dog spayed or neutered, you should take into account some basic rules to follow that will minimise any risk to your dog.

Female dogs have shown a decreased amount of brain functioning and a rise in cognitive problems when they have been spayed before they have become sexually mature. You should also never get a male dog neutered when he is younger than two years old. Male dogs need the testosterone produced in this time to develop their muscles correctly.

Remember to always research information into neutering or spaying your dog before you make your final choice as it can cause many unfortunate consequences that many dog owners know nothing about.