Many of us believe that the dogs in our lives essentially take care of themselves. They are pleasant companions who need little from us other than a bowl of dog food, some water and a pat on the head every day. Our only responsibility beyond this is picking up the poop on occasion. But our pets are so much more complex than that. Our relationship with them should be much more. And, more importantly, our obligation to them should be far more expansive. Beyond time and attention, we need to look out for their health. Much of that health derives directly from our own actions on their behalf.

What are the key issues that shorten canine life spans? More importantly, are you contributing to those abbreviated years?

Simple things that we do, such as feeding table scraps may not be healthy for dogs and can lead to serious health problems later on. Consider how healthy you yourself eat…should you consume those various foods? If not, then they are definitely not good for your pet.

There are a list of other behaviors we as owners allow our pets that seriously endanger them, from letting them wandering loose in the neighborhood to leaving them alone when we go out.

Find your dog in the shelter or returning home to a destroyed couch may make you angry, but it could cost your pet its very life if it was hit by a car or ingested something that punctured its stomach lining. Pet ownership is about responsibility for the life of a fellow creature. That requires thought and attention.

Online site I Heart Dogs asks you to consider these often ignored items that could lead to a shortened life for your beloved dog:

Not Vaccinating
While over-vaccination is an issue that needs to be addressed, all young puppies should receive the proper vaccines for the area they live in.

Not Microchipping
Thousands of pets get lost every year, and many of them never make it home. Microchips, are an excellent way to properly ID your pet without it disappearing. Half of the dogs that end up in shelters are reunited with their owners due to microchipping.

Avoiding Regular Vet Check-Ups
Yearly vet check-ups are important for maintaining your dog’s health. When you catch problems early, you can treat them and ensure your pet lives a long, healthy life.

Ignoring Dental Health
Dental health is so important! Not only can bad oral hygiene cause painful tooth decay, the infections can spread to the kidneys, respiratory system, heart, and liver.

Poor Containment
We all like to think that our pets are friendly, but when they’re out alone they can become very territorial and scared, which leads to aggression. Remember that not only can you be held financially responsible for any damages done by your dog.

Second-Hand Smoke Exposure
While we aren’t trying to give a public service announcement about the dangers of smoking, it is important to realize that second-hand smoke causes negative health effects on our dogs.

Obesity
Obesity is one of the most common problems we see in dogs today. Many people are over-feeding their pets without even realizing. Feed just enough food to keep him at a healthy weight.

Lack of Training
Many people want to skip training. A large number of dogs that end up homeless and in shelters were surrendered because they lacked the proper training to make them acceptable house pets.

Leaving Your Dog Unsupervised
It’s completely normal and often necessary for us to leave our dogs unattended at some point. But it’s how and when we do it that makes the difference. If you need to leave your young or active dog unattended, they may be best suited in a crate for their safety.

Feeding Unhealthy Table Scraps
We all love to share food with our dogs, and there are a lot of items that are perfectly safe to feed! But there are plenty of items that dogs should not have.

So, we may not pay attention to our own health and safety, but our dogs depend on us to keep them secure from harm. Review this list. Make your own list and calendar and keep yourself and your pet healthy.

To learn much more about the items listed above, check out I Heart Dogs.

May you and your dog have a long and healthy life.