How to keep your dog healthy and happy: a practical guide

Every dog is different, but the basics of a healthy, contented life are the same. Animal welfare laws across the UK expect owners to meet five needs:

• a suitable place to live;
• a suitable diet;
• the chance to behave normally;
• appropriate company;
• protection from pain, injury, suffering and disease.

This guide turns those needs into everyday care.

Feed a balanced diet and keep your dog slim

Choose a complete dog food that suits your dog's life stage, size and activity level, and follow the feeding guide on the pack as a starting point. Weigh food rather than guessing, and count treats as part of the daily allowance.

Extra weight puts strain on joints, the heart and breathing, and can shorten a dog's life. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, and see a waist when you look from above. If you aren't sure, ask your vet or vet nurse to show you how to body condition score your dog.

Fresh water should be available at all times. Change your dog's food gradually over a week or so to avoid stomach upsets, and keep toxic foods out of reach, including chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and anything containing the sweetener xylitol.

Daily exercise and play

How much exercise a dog needs depends on its breed, age and health. Working and sporting breeds may need a lot more than small companion breeds. As a rule, most adult dogs need at least one good walk a day, with chances to run, sniff and explore.

• Puppies need short bursts of exercise and plenty of sleep. Ask your vet how much is right as they grow.
• Older dogs often benefit from shorter, more frequent walks.
• In hot weather, walk early or late, avoid hot pavements, and never leave a dog in a car.

Exercise their mind too

Dogs are intelligent and curious. Without enough to do, many become bored and frustrated, which can show as chewing, barking or digging. Ways to keep their mind busy include:

• letting them sniff on walks, which dogs find rewarding and tiring;
• food puzzles, snuffle mats and scatter feeding;
• short training sessions using rewards;
• safe chew items;
• games such as find-it, fetch and tug, played with rules.

Vaccinations, parasites and health checks

Vaccinations protect against serious diseases including canine distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis. Puppies need a course of injections and adult dogs need regular boosters. Your vet will recommend a schedule and discuss others, such as kennel cough, depending on your dog's lifestyle.

Fleas, ticks and worms are common. Ask your vet which treatments are right for your dog and how often to use them, and check your dog for ticks after walks in long grass or woodland.

A yearly health check lets your vet examine your dog from nose to tail, check their weight and teeth, and pick up problems before they become serious. Older dogs may need checks every six months.

Neutering has health and behaviour pros and cons that depend on your dog's sex, breed and size. Talk it through with your vet.

Look after their teeth

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs, and it is painful. Brushing your dog's teeth daily with a dog toothpaste is the best way to prevent it. Start gently and reward your dog. Signs of dental problems include bad breath, red gums, difficulty eating and pawing at the mouth.

Grooming and handling

Regular grooming keeps the coat and skin healthy and gives you the chance to check for lumps, ticks, sore spots and overgrown nails. How often depends on the coat type. Get your dog used to having their paws, ears and mouth handled, with rewards, so vet visits and grooming are less stressful.

Company and time alone

Dogs are social animals. Most enjoy company and many find being left alone difficult. Teach your dog to be alone gradually, from a young age, and avoid leaving them for long periods. If your dog barks, howls, toilets indoors or is destructive when alone, they may be distressed. Speak to your vet, who can check for health problems and refer you to a qualified behaviourist.

Know when something is wrong

Learn what is normal for your dog, so you notice changes. Contact your vet if your dog:

• stops eating or drinking, or drinks much more than usual;
• is vomiting or has diarrhoea for more than a day, or there is blood;
• seems in pain, is limping or is reluctant to move;
• is coughing, breathing fast or struggling to breathe;
• has a swollen tummy, especially if they are restless or retching without bringing anything up;
• has a new lump, or a lump that is changing;
• is behaving differently, such as hiding, being snappy or seeming confused.

Some of these, such as breathing difficulty, collapse, a swollen tummy or suspected poisoning, are emergencies. Call your vet straight away, day or night.

How long do dogs live?

A 2022 UK study of dogs seen by vets (Teng and colleagues, Scientific Reports) found an average life expectancy at birth of 11.23 years. Female dogs lived slightly longer than males on average. Life expectancy varied widely among the breeds studied, from 12.72 years for Jack Russell Terriers to 4.53 years for French Bulldogs. Good everyday care won't change your dog's genes, but it gives them the best chance of a long, comfortable life.