How to Keep Your Dog Healthy, Happy, and Around Longer
Learning how to keep your dog healthy comes down to a combination of preventive veterinary care, good nutrition, regular exercise, dental care, parasite protection, mental enrichment, and paying attention to changes in your dog’s normal behavior. If you want to know how to keep your dog healthy and happy and give them the best chance to live longer, the most effective approach is not one special food, supplement, or routine—it is consistent care throughout every stage of life.
How Do You Keep a Dog Healthy: The 11 Essentials
1. Schedule Regular Veterinary Wellness Exams
One of the most important things you can do for your dog’s long-term health is not to wait until they are obviously sick before visiting the veterinarian.
Dogs cannot tell us when something hurts, and many medical conditions can begin with subtle changes. A wellness examination gives your veterinary team an opportunity to assess your dog’s:
- Weight and body condition
- Muscle condition
- Heart and lungs
- Teeth and gums
- Eyes and ears
- Skin and coat
- Joints and mobility
- Abdomen
- Vaccination needs
- Parasite risk
- Diet and nutrition
- Behavior
- Breed- and age-related health risks
AAHA’s Canine Life Stage Guidelines emphasize individualized preventive healthcare based on a dog’s age, size, lifestyle, breed, and other risk factors.
How often should a healthy dog see a veterinarian?
There is no single schedule that is right for every dog.
As a general framework:
| Life Stage | Typical Veterinary Needs |
|---|---|
| Puppy | Multiple visits during the first months of life for examinations, vaccinations, parasite control, growth monitoring, nutrition, and development. |
| Healthy Adult | Preventive examination generally every 6–12 months, depending on health and risk. |
| Senior Dog | Often benefits from examinations and health screening every 6–12 months, depending on age and medical history. |
| Dog With a Medical Condition | Frequency determined by the veterinarian based on the condition and treatment plan. |
Current Companion Animal Parasite Council guidance recommends preventive physical examinations at least every 6–12 months. AAHA also recommends more proactive assessment and diagnostic screening as pets become seniors.
Healthy-looking does not always mean disease-free. Preventive visits are valuable precisely because your veterinarian can look for problems before they become obvious at home.
2. Feed a Complete and Balanced Diet
Good nutrition is one of the foundations of lifelong canine health.
Your dog’s food should provide the correct balance of:
- Protein
- Fats
- Essential fatty acids
- Carbohydrates where appropriate
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Water
Rather than judging a dog food only by marketing terms such as “premium,” “natural,” or a trendy ingredient list, look for evidence that the diet provides complete and balanced nutrition appropriate for your dog’s life stage.
In the United States, a nutritional adequacy statement indicating that a food is “complete and balanced” means it has met an established AAFCO nutrient profile or has been substantiated through an appropriate feeding trial.
Puppies, adult dogs, pregnant or nursing dogs, working dogs, and dogs with certain medical conditions may have very different nutritional requirements.
Ask your veterinarian about nutrition if your dog:
- Is gaining or losing weight unexpectedly
- Has food allergies or suspected food reactions
- Has chronic diarrhea or vomiting
- Has kidney, liver, gastrointestinal, urinary, or endocrine disease
- Is pregnant or nursing
- Is a growing large-breed puppy
- Has unusually high or low activity levels
- Is entering their senior years
- Eats a homemade or unconventional diet
AAHA recommends evaluating nutrition, body condition, muscle condition, diet, activity, and feeding practices throughout a dog’s life, ideally as part of routine examinations.
Do dogs need supplements?
A healthy dog eating an appropriately formulated complete and balanced food usually should not automatically need vitamin or mineral supplementation.
Some supplements may be useful for particular dogs, but “natural” does not automatically mean effective or harmless. Supplements can also interact with medications or provide inappropriate quantities of certain nutrients.
Discuss supplements with your veterinarian rather than adding them simply because they are marketed for longevity, joints, immunity, digestion, or general wellness.
3. Keep Your Dog at a Healthy Weight
Maintaining an appropriate body condition is one of the most valuable things you can do for your dog’s long-term health.
Being overweight places additional stress on joints and can complicate mobility and other health problems.
Instead of relying only on the number on the scale, veterinarians evaluate body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition.
In a dog at an ideal body condition, you should generally be able to:
- Feel the ribs without pressing through a thick layer of fat.
- See a waist behind the ribs when looking from above.
- Notice an abdominal tuck when looking from the side.
The exact appearance varies between breeds, so ask your veterinarian to show you what an ideal body condition looks like for your dog.
AAHA recommends routinely evaluating body weight, body condition, muscle condition, food choice, feeding quantity, and the need for nutritional changes throughout a dog’s life.
Measure meals rather than estimating
Small feeding errors can become significant over months and years.
Use a measuring cup or, for better precision, a kitchen scale if recommended. Your dog’s feeding amount should be adjusted according to their actual calorie needs and body condition—not simply the broad serving suggestion printed on the food bag.
And remember that treats count as calories too.
4. Give Your Dog Regular Exercise
Exercise helps support:
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Healthy body weight
- Muscle strength
- Joint function
- Coordination
- Mental stimulation
- Healthy behavior
- Quality of life
There is no single correct number of minutes of exercise for every dog.
A young Border Collie and an older Bulldog should not necessarily have the same exercise program.
The appropriate amount and intensity depend on:
- Age
- Breed
- Size
- Fitness
- Temperature
- Health conditions
- Joint health
- Personality
AAHA recommends daily exercise and mental stimulation appropriate for the dog’s age, breed, and temperament.
Examples of healthy activity include:
- Walking
- Sniffing walks
- Playing fetch
- Swimming when appropriate
- Hiking
- Controlled running
- Training exercises
- Interactive play
If your dog is sedentary, overweight, elderly, has breathing problems, or has a heart or orthopedic condition, speak with your veterinarian before suddenly starting strenuous exercise.
Watch for signs your dog may be overdoing it
Stop the activity and allow your dog to recover if you notice unusual:
- Exhaustion
- Limping
- Reluctance to continue
- Weakness
- Excessive panting
- Difficulty breathing
- Disorientation
Difficulty breathing, collapse, severe weakness, or signs of heatstroke require urgent veterinary attention.
5. Keep Vaccinations Up to Date
Vaccination is an important component of preventive healthcare because it protects dogs against serious infectious diseases.
Current AAHA canine vaccination guidance recommends core protection against diseases including:
- Canine distemper
- Canine adenovirus
- Canine parvovirus
- Rabies
- Leptospirosis
AAHA updated its recommendations to include leptospirosis as a recommended core vaccination for dogs. Additional vaccines may be recommended according to lifestyle and exposure risks, including vaccines for Bordetella, Lyme disease, or canine influenza.
Your veterinarian will determine the appropriate schedule based on factors such as:
- Age
- Previous vaccination history
- Local disease prevalence
- Travel
- Boarding or daycare
- Contact with other dogs
- Wildlife exposure
- Outdoor activity
- Health status
Not every dog needs exactly the same vaccination schedule, so individualized recommendations are important.
6. Protect Your Dog From Parasites
Parasite prevention is not simply about stopping itching.
Depending on where you live and your dog’s lifestyle, dogs may be exposed to:
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Heartworms
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
- Other parasites
Some parasites can cause serious illness, and certain parasites can also affect people.
Preventive strategies should be based on your dog’s geographic area, lifestyle, travel history, and individual risk.
AAHA life-stage guidance recommends ongoing assessment and control of internal and external parasites throughout a dog’s life. It also identifies routine heartworm, fecal, and tick-borne-disease testing as appropriate preventive considerations depending on life stage and risk.
Ask your veterinarian which products and testing schedule are appropriate where you live.
7. Take Your Dog's Dental Health Seriously
Dental health is a major—and sometimes overlooked—part of keeping a dog healthy.
Plaque accumulates quickly, and dental disease can result in:
- Inflamed gums
- Oral infection
- Tooth loss
- Difficulty chewing
- Chronic pain
The best home dental habit: brushing
AAHA recommends daily tooth brushing as the best home method for reducing plaque accumulation. Use:
- A soft pet toothbrush
- Toothpaste specifically made for dogs
Do not use human toothpaste, since some ingredients found in human products can be unsafe for pets.
If daily brushing is unrealistic initially, begin gradually and work toward making it part of your dog’s routine.
Dental products can also help
Your veterinarian may recommend:
- Approved dental chews
- Dental diets
- Water additives
- Other evidence-supported oral-care products
Products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can be useful when choosing dental products with evidence supporting plaque or tartar control.
Professional dental care still matters
Home brushing does not replace veterinary dental examinations.
When professional dental treatment is needed, a proper veterinary dental procedure allows examination, dental radiographs, cleaning below the gumline, and treatment of diseased teeth. AAHA notes that these important procedures cannot be properly and safely performed during so-called anesthesia-free dental cleanings.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice:
- Persistent bad breath
- Red or bleeding gums
- Loose or broken teeth
- Facial swelling
- Drooling
- Difficulty eating
- Pawing at the mouth
8. Give Your Dog Mental Stimulation
A healthy dog needs more than food and physical exercise.
Dogs also need opportunities to think, explore, interact, and perform natural behaviors.
Mental enrichment can help prevent boredom and provides an important outlet for normal canine behavior.
Try activities such as:
- Food puzzles
- Snuffle mats
- Hide-and-seek
- Scent games
- Short training sessions
- Exploring different walking routes
- Safe chew toys
- Fetch or retrieving games
- Learning new commands
- Appropriate social interaction
Even allowing your dog time to sniff during walks provides valuable sensory enrichment.
Training is health care too
Positive, reward-based training helps dogs learn how to navigate the human environment safely.
Skills such as:
- Recall
- Stay
- Leave it
- Drop it
- Loose-leash walking
can potentially prevent dangerous situations while improving communication between you and your dog.
9. Pay Attention to Your Dog's Behavior
Behavior changes can sometimes be an early indication that something is wrong physically.
Do not automatically assume that a dog who becomes withdrawn, irritable, restless, less playful, or reluctant to move is simply “getting old.”
Pain and illness can change behavior.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice persistent changes involving:
- Sleep
- Activity
- Personality
- Interaction with family
- House-training
- Anxiety
- Aggression
- Confusion
- Mobility
- Interest in play
This becomes particularly important as dogs age.
AAHA recommends discussing behavioral and cognitive changes during veterinary visits because medical conditions, pain, nutrition, or age-related changes may contribute to altered behavior.
10. Groom and Examine Your Dog Regularly
Grooming is not only about appearance.
It gives you an opportunity to notice subtle changes in your dog’s body.
Depending on coat type and breed, routine care may include:
- Brushing
- Bathing
- Nail trimming
- Ear care
- Coat maintenance
While grooming your dog, check for:
- New lumps or bumps
- Skin redness
- Hair loss
- Wounds
- Parasites
- Ear odor or discharge
- Broken nails
- Paw injuries
- Changes in existing masses
Do not squeeze or attempt to diagnose a lump yourself. New masses should be discussed with your veterinarian because appearance alone cannot reliably determine what a lump is.
11. Make Your Home Safe for Your Dog
Preventing injuries and toxic exposures is part of keeping a dog healthy.
Keep potentially dangerous products securely out of reach, including:
- Human medications
- Veterinary medications
- Household chemicals
- Rodenticides
- Certain plants
- Cannabis products
- Nicotine products
- Batteries
- Small objects that can be swallowed
The FDA identifies several foods and substances that can be dangerous to pets, including:
- Chocolate
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Xylitol
- Onions
- Garlic
- Macadamia nuts
- Caffeine
- Certain human medications
- Raw bread dough containing yeast
Xylitol deserves special attention
Xylitol may be found in some:
- Sugar-free gum
- Candy
- Mints
- Nut butters
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Cough syrups
- Supplements
Xylitol poisoning can become life-threatening in dogs and requires immediate veterinary attention.
If you believe your dog has eaten something toxic, do not wait for symptoms before contacting a veterinarian or animal poison service.
Daily Dog Health Checklist
A healthy routine does not need to be complicated.
Every day
- Feed an appropriate amount of complete and balanced food.
- Provide clean drinking water.
- Give your dog appropriate exercise.
- Provide mental stimulation.
- Check appetite and general energy.
- Notice normal urination and bowel movements.
- Brush the teeth when possible.
- Give prescribed medications or parasite prevention as directed.
- Spend positive time interacting with your dog.
Every week
- Check ears, paws, coat, and skin.
- Feel your dog’s body for new lumps or painful areas.
- Check nail length.
- Clean bedding and frequently used food or water items.
- Monitor whether activity and behavior remain normal.
Regularly throughout the year
- Attend veterinary wellness appointments.
- Keep vaccines current.
- Maintain veterinarian-recommended parasite prevention.
- Monitor weight and body condition.
- Schedule dental care when indicated.
- Update your dog’s health plan as age, lifestyle, travel, or medical needs change.
Dog Health by Life Stage
Puppies
Puppies need particularly close preventive care because their bodies and immune systems are developing rapidly.
Important priorities include:
- Puppy vaccination series
- Parasite testing and prevention
- Appropriate puppy nutrition
- Growth monitoring
- Socialization
- Positive training
- Dental development
- Safe exercise
- Microchipping
- Preventing exposure to household hazards
Puppies require multiple veterinary visits during their first months rather than waiting for a single annual examination.
Adult Dogs
Adult dogs benefit from consistency.
Focus on:
- Maintaining ideal weight
- Routine wellness examinations
- Dental care
- Vaccination
- Parasite protection
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Behavior
- Early recognition of health changes
AAHA’s life-stage guidance recommends approximately 6–12-month examination intervals for healthy young and mature adults, adjusted according to individual circumstances.
Senior Dogs
Senior dogs deserve increased monitoring because medical changes become more common with age.
Your veterinarian may recommend more frequent:
- Physical examinations
- Blood tests
- Urine testing
- Blood-pressure assessment
- Mobility assessments
- Dental evaluations
- Other screening based on your dog’s individual risk
AAHA recommends that senior dogs receive physical examinations at least twice yearly, with appropriate diagnostic screening individualized to the patient.
At home, watch closely for:
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Hesitation to jump
- Slipping
- Changes in sleep
- Confusion
- House-soiling
- Weight changes
- Muscle loss
- Changes in vision or hearing
- Increased thirst
- Reduced appetite
- Behavior changes
Do not assume these changes are an unavoidable part of getting older. Some can be associated with conditions that can be managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most important thing you can do to keep your dog healthy?
There is no single step that replaces everything else, but consistent preventive veterinary care combined with healthy weight, proper nutrition, exercise, vaccination, parasite prevention, and dental care provides a strong foundation for lifelong health.
How often should a healthy dog go to the vet?
Many healthy young and mature adult dogs should receive a preventive veterinary examination approximately every 6–12 months, depending on individual needs. Senior dogs generally benefit from examination at least every six months. Puppies require more frequent appointments during their initial vaccination and development period.
What should I feed my dog to keep them healthy?
Choose a nutritionally complete and balanced diet appropriate for your dog’s life stage, body condition, and medical needs. The FDA recommends checking the food’s nutritional adequacy statement when determining whether it is intended to serve as a complete diet.
How can I keep my dog healthy naturally?
Many of the best health habits are simple: appropriate food, exercise, healthy weight, fresh water, dental brushing, mental stimulation, adequate sleep, grooming, and a safe environment. However, “natural” care should complement rather than replace evidence-based veterinary care, vaccination, diagnostic testing, or medically necessary treatment.
How can I make my dog live longer?
No method can guarantee a longer lifespan. You can, however, support healthy longevity by maintaining an appropriate body condition, feeding a balanced diet, providing regular exercise, keeping up with preventive veterinary care, protecting against infectious diseases and parasites, caring for the teeth, and addressing changes early.
How do I know if my dog is healthy?
A healthy dog typically has a stable appetite and weight, normal activity for their age and breed, comfortable movement, normal urination and bowel movements, healthy skin and coat, and predictable behavior. However, outward appearance cannot rule out disease. Routine veterinary examinations remain important even when your dog seems completely healthy.
How much exercise does a dog need every day?
There is no universal number. Exercise requirements vary considerably according to age, breed, health, fitness, temperament, and weather. Your veterinarian can help you establish an appropriate activity plan, particularly for puppies, senior dogs, overweight dogs, or dogs with heart, respiratory, or orthopedic conditions.
Should I brush my dog’s teeth every day?
Ideally, yes. AAHA identifies daily brushing as the best at-home method for reducing plaque accumulation. Always use pet-safe toothpaste rather than human toothpaste.
Do indoor dogs still need vaccines and parasite prevention?
Potentially, yes. Indoor living does not eliminate every exposure risk. Vaccine and parasite-prevention recommendations should be determined by your veterinarian based on location, lifestyle, travel, exposure, medical history, and local disease risk.
What are the earliest signs that my dog may be sick?
Early signs can be subtle and may include changes in appetite, thirst, body weight, activity, sleep, behavior, mobility, urination, bowel movements, breathing, or interest in normal activities. Persistent or significant changes should be discussed with your veterinarian.
The Bottom Line
The best answer to how to keep your dog healthy is not a miracle food, supplement or single annual appointment. It is a practical routine repeated over a lifetime: appropriate nutrition, a lean body condition, daily movement, mental enrichment, dental care, disease prevention, safety and a trusting relationship with your veterinary team.
Keep Your Dog Healthy With Bramalea Animal Hospital
If you want a personalized plan to keep your dog healthy and live longer, start with a wellness visit. Bramalea Animal Hospital has served pets and families in Brampton for more than 70 years. Call (905) 792-2200 or request an appointment to review your dog’s weight, nutrition, teeth, vaccines, parasite protection and life-stage needs.
