For dogs as for people, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For a dog, this doesn’t mean yearly mammograms or cholesterol screening. On the other hand, it does mean regular visits to the vet, a levelheaded diet, good dental hygiene and many other medical attentions similar to what their owners need. If you’ve never thought about what it means to provide preventive health care for your dog, take a look at a few items you can starts with, and then research further for yourself, starting with talking to your trusted vet.

One of the primary things you can do to prevent health issues for your dog is to make sure he has the proper dog medications. Right away, you must ensure that he has the necessary vaccinations. Not only will this provide your pup with protection, but it’ll prevent you from contracting things like rabies from him as well. Then you’ll also need to make sure that you keep up with his necessary prescriptions. Do not leave out some kind of medicine for heartworm, plus a prescription to keep off fleas and ticks. Your dog doesn’t enjoy the little bloodsuckers any more than you do, and he’ll parade them right into your home if you’re not heedful.

Second, be sure that your animal has a good diet. Stores offer myriad brands of dog food, but not all of them are a good idea for your beloved dog. Some can make him sick, even deathly ill. Others just won’t give him all of the nutrients he should have to live a long, contented life. Pay careful attention to the meat, grain and fat content of the brand you feed your dog. He must eat enough protein. Unlike humans, dogs can’t truly be vegetarians. They’re natural carnivores. Many people now advocate giving dogs entirely grain free dog food, since that may better resemble what they’d eat if they hadn’t been domesticated. Regardless of the brand you think about buying, make sure to do your research and read reviews, in addition to talking to your veterinarian.

Lastly, don’t forget about your dog’s skeleton and nervous system. Many types of purebred dogs have been so inbred over the years that they are almost guaranteed to end up with problems like arthritis, bone and joint pain, or tooth and gum conditions. From day one, you might consider buying your dog a good bed, like one of these, to keep him comfortable. You should also read up on his particular breed to see what health problems are endemic to his breed.

Natural Dog Ear Cleaning Solutions You Can Use At Home

You can find any number of dog ear cleaning solutions on the market today.  Most of these solutions are effective enough at cleaning your dog’s ears, but the unfortunately they contain chemicals and preservatives which over time can do more harm than good.

Because of this, many caring dog owners look for natural remedies for their dog’s ears.  We have compiled a list of some of the most effective home remedies for dogs below.

Natural Dog Ear Cleaning Solutions

Witch Hazel- Witch Hazel has anti-inflammatory and healing qualities which makes it a great choice to use to clean your dog’s ears.  It will help to decrease the repair time for small skin tears as well as help protect against possible infection.

Hydrogen Peroxide- Hydrogen Peroxide has long been used to clean wounds.  What most people don’t know is that it works great when it comes to dissolving ear wax.  To create the solution combine equal parts purified water to hydrogen peroxide.

Tea Tree Oil- Tea Tree Oil is an amazing oil for so many reasons.  To start with, it kills bacteria & fungus.  This also makes it very effective with treating most infections which occur in a dogs ear.  This oil is also found in many natural dog shampoos due to its soothing and healing qualities.

Considerations When Cleaning Your Dog’s Ears

One must keep in mind however that a dog’s ear is quite sensitive and need to be carefull while grooming or bathing your dog.  You should not over clean your dog’s ears, use alcohol or attempt to clean them if they appear inflamed or infected.

While cleaning dog ears is not the most glorious part about owning a dog, it is important to do on a regular basis and using these natural dog ear cleaning solutions will help.