11 Ways you may be unintentionally shortening your dog’s life

9. Feeding Them Unhealthy Foods

Nutrition may be the most complicated hurdle to overcome when it comes to canine health. Not all dog foods are healthy and not all human or table foods are unhealthy.

With that said, here are a few guidelines to use when choosing the best way to feed your dog.

• Choose a dog food with a protein source in the top few ingredients – preferably meat raised in the US.
• Byproducts are okay as long as they are Grade A.
• Choose a food for the correct life stage – Puppy, Adult, Senior.
• Avoid fillers, glazes and artificial coloring.
• Look for an AAFCO statement declaring that feeding tests were conducted.
• When it comes to human foods, think lean, high quality, high protein and high fiber.
• Know which foods are toxic to dogs.
• Avoid sharing fatty, processed or heavily flavored/spiced foods.
• If you decide to prepare your dog’s food at home, be sure to ask your vet for a healthy, balanced recipe.

10. Allowing Them to Roam Free

There are far too many potential dangers out there to let your BFF run loose – cars, coyotes, poisonous snakes, other dogs, unsavory humans with ill intentions…the list goes on and on. Even an ID tag and a microchip are no guarantee that your pup will return home safely. It’s best to keep your buddy safely leashed at your side when out exploring the world.

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