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Taking care of dogs is not a small task to take on. Over 15 years of raising dogs, I’ve come across 5 essential products for raising a happy and healthy dog that will save you money by keeping your dogs out of the vets office. Just like humans, our furry friends have needs too! They need love, proper hygiene, medication when they get sick, toys, and treats. Our pets are a part of the family and they deserve to be taken care of properly just like one of our own.Â
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5 Essential Products For A Happy And Healthy Dog
Do you love your dogs? Do you want them to be happy and healthy as possible? There are a few products I’ve discovered over the years of raising dogs that has helped tremendously with keeping them from getting sick with infections and ultimately avoiding unnecessary vet visits. Dogs experience ailments which may include ear infections, gum disease/dental infections, diarrhea and upset stomach. Check out these top products that I can truly attest to and hopefully will help keep your pups from getting sick too. In addition, I’ve added two of both my dog’s favorite treat and toy as a recommendation that keeps my dogs happy, hope your dog’s will love too!
1| Ear Cleaning Product For Prevention Of Dog Ear Infections
Raising dogs is a rewarding experience. They’re so loyal and will always be by your side no matter what.
The tricky part is, we have to be a mind reader when it comes to taking care of them.
Since they can’t speak or tell you what’s wrong, we have to figure out if they’re uncomfortable or in pain. It’s about picking up on certain behaviors which tell us that something’s just not right.
For example, does your dog ever shake their head or scratch their ears a lot?
It can usually mean there’s something going on with their ears, maybe a possible ear infection or irritated ears.
A lot of dogs have big floppy ears and sometimes air doesn’t circulate well through them, which leaves it a breeding ground for bacteria build up.
Just like how we all have to clean our ears, dog’s need their ears cleaned too.
My dog used to get ear infections and irritations a lot. Once I started using Vet’s Best Ear Care Kit after her grooming, she never had ear issues ever again.
What I like about Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner is that it contains natural ingredients like chamomile, clove oil, tea tree oil, and aloe vera to help soothe and fight bacteria in the ears. It’s also alcohol-free which helps prevent stinging.
This $10 kit lasts well over a year and probably saved me hundreds in vet bills! I have to say that Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit has been one of the most essential products that help keep my dog’s healthy.
Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit $10.49
How I use Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner:
- Trim ear hair with small blunted scissors
- Take out a few or several q-tips
- Take a q-tip at a time and apply the “Ear Wash” liquid directly on the q-tip
- Gently clean the part of pet’s ear that can visibly be seen (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
- Keep repeating last step until q-tip is clean and not filled with wax/dark debris
- You can also take a paper towel or towel and apply the “Ear Wash” solution to wipe down inner ear if there is too much debris to clean
- After the ear is cleaned of debris, take a q-tip and apply a very small amount of the “Ear Dry” solution on to the q-tip
- Carefully, apply it gently along the outer wall of ear canal (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
- After a few days to one week, check the pet’s ears
- Repeat the process if there is build up again
Another important tip to keep in mind is to not let water go into your dog’s ears. It can result in irritation or infections if it’s not dried properly.
When cleaning your dog’s ears, just use the Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner. There’s no need to wash inside your dog’s ears.
If your dog has irritated ears, use the ear cleaner after you groom them according to the directions. If it doesn’t resolve after a few days then it’s probably best to bring the dog in to the Vet to have it checked out.
2| Dog Toothpaste For Prevention Of Gum Disease
Did you know that dogs can develop gum disease too? Just like people, dogs also secrete minerals in their saliva and eventually form into tartar which adheres to their teeth. The bacteria and tartar can eventually lead to gum disease and dental infections. Gum disease and dental infections can be very painful conditions where dogs and people alike eventually lose teeth and bone in the mouth. That’s why even for people it is recommended to brush at least twice a day and to floss daily.
So let’s be real here, I’m not talking about trying to floss and brush your dog’s teeth after every meal. Realistically, people have a hard time even doing that for themselves. At least try to aim for once a day teeth brushing for your dogs. Your pockets will thank you in the long run. Dental treatment for dogs can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars!
My co-worker recently had a dog go through with 14 teeth extractions and dental cleaning and it costed her well over $1,200. On top of all that, the poor dog was very sick and in tremendous pain because his body was trying to fight off the dental infections which persisted for who knows how long.
Moral of this story is to prevent dental disease, suffering of your dog, and save lots of $$$ by brushing your dog’s teeth at home every day.
Toothpaste
SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste
Toothbrush/Finger Brushes
How To Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
- Secure your pet in between your arms so they don’t get to escape.
- Introduce the toothpaste to your dog by placing a very small amount on the toothbrush and give them a little taste. They may like the poultry flavor of Petrodex.
- Next, hold one side of their cheek open and gently use a toothbrush to brush from their molars forward, repeating on the opposite side.
- Don’t forget their front teeth and canines!
- For my furry dogs, I use a baby’s toothbrush for the sides of their teeth and use the rubber finger brush for their front teeth. Don’t forget the inside parts of their teeth too, especially the lower teeth!
- You will find what method works best for you and your pet.
- If your dog doesn’t let you get far with brushing their teeth it’s okay. Try again the next day.
- Sometimes it may take many tries to finally get them used to the brushing.
- Now my dogs come right up to me every night when it’s time to get their teeth brushed.
- Remember to also praise your pets so they associate teeth brushing with a positive tasty experience!
Keeping your pet’s teeth clean will ultimately keep them free of any dental issues caused from gum disease. They can live long lives with dental free problems. Ultimately, this can also save you tons of money by not needing to get their teeth cleaned all the time and also putting their health at risk by putting them to sleep in the process.
Teeth brushing is important but if your pet already has severe dental tartar, red swollen gums, and bad breath please bring them to the vet to get them professionally checked and cleaned. The tooth brushing is a preventative measure and not a 100% cure all treatment for dental gum disease in dogs.
3| Best Dog Product For Diarrhea Treatment
Has your dog ever had diarrhea before? Pretty sure it has. Sometimes it often resolves on its own which is great news. What if it doesn’t and your dog has diarrhea all over your house?
Yes, this has happened to me plenty of times. I have small dogs that are kept in the home. Unfortunately, when they have accidents they can’t hold, it turns into a smelly nightmare all over the house!
When feeding dogs treats and transitioning different foods, sometimes their stomachs may be too sensitive or unable to handle the food change. I have even had both of my dogs have diarrhea at the same time which lasted more than a week!
I was desperate to try something over the counter before spending hundreds to bring both my dogs to the vet. That’s where Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid came to the rescue.
Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid
This product is amazing. I followed the instructions and gave it to both my dogs right before meals for 3 days. By the end of the third day, no more diarrhea accidents! It was a miracle. I ultimately saved hundreds of dollars. The key is to administer it diligently and follow the dosage requirements according to the dog’s weight. Also, evaluate what gave the dog an upset stomach in the first place
I have used this medicine on 3 other occasions and it has worked like a charm. If you followed instructions for this medicine and your doggy is still experiencing symptoms then definitely bring it to the vet.
FYI: If Amazon doesn’t have this product, get it at HERE at Petco! It’ll be good to have this on hand just in case your dogs gets an upset stomach.
4| Best Toy To Keep Your Dog Happy
Are you looking for something to keep your dog busy? Look no further, this interactive dog toy/treat dispenser will keep your dog plenty busy and happy! My house is literally filled with numerous dog toys but there is one that my dog is obsessed with!
StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy
This toy also functions like a puzzle. There’s two compartments which hold treats/kibble. It gets dispensed by the toy being knocked around. You can also control how hard you want your dog to work at to get the treat by adjusting the size of the dispenser holes. My dog gets very obsessed with this toy and it keeps him busy for a long time.
5| Best Natural Dog Treat For Happy Dogs
Have you ever looked at the ingredients of dog treats? There are so many artificial additives and preservatives added to most of them. Some ingredients have even been linked to cancer. I try to give my dogs the most natural treats and dog food I can find. That’s why I recommend Freeze Dried Liver Treats.
Stewart Pro-Treat, Freeze Dried Dog Treats, Grain Free, USA Made
What I love about this treat is that it only has 1 ingredient that consists of 100% pure beef liver, that’s it! No artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives. Plus it’s processed in the USA! Your dog’s will love these treats just like mine does.
Takeaway
Being a dog owner is a great experience and it comes with a lot of responsibility. Dog’s need a lot of care from their teeth to their tummies. They need play time and delicious treats every once in a while.
Over 15+ years of being a dog owner, these products came in handy for keeping my pets happy and healthy. I hope these products and tips can do the same for your pets.
