This post Five Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Youthful is sponsored by BabbleBoxx we were given all the products to enjoy and all opinions are my own.
Two months after I got married I surprised my husband and TOLD him we were going to pick up our Shih Tzu. Little could I have known that 16 years later this little Shih Tzu would have been my one constant for so many years.
My Shih Tzu Mellie, who laid beside me as I could barely lift my pregnant body (both times) from my bed, who kissed away the tears when my father passed away and who for 16 years enriched my life in ways that are hard to articulate.
Growing up with Mellie, my daughter and son both learned so much about what it meant to care for and be responsible in every sense of the word for someone outside of themselves.
They both helped me feed her, always made sure she was comfortable in her bed, took turns getting up at 6:30 am each morning to take her out, before she had an accident, and tried to play with her, although as she advanced in age she preferred to curl up in their laps and be petted.
Caring for a senior pet helped my two kids dig deep for extra sensitivity and love and as a mother watching them made my heart swell with happiness.
Observing them and their sensitivity towards her, I've come to realize that our Mellie ultimately gave us so much more than we could possibly ever have given her. And that kind of unconditional love – is not something you can teach a child UNLESS they have a pet in their lives.
This is why I had to bring two other furbabies into our house, a Shih Tzu named Lazer who we rescued from a wonderful group called Louie’s Legacy and who my son refers to as his brother followed by another Shih Tzu named Ike who we rescued from Divine Intervention Animal rescue.
I remember when we first rescued Lazer and we helped him get through his sterilization surgery which did not go so smoothly. I stayed up with him for three nights changing the dressings and comforting him. He got through that and has been healthy ever since.
And we don’t know his exact age the guesstimate is that he is about ten years old and we want to do everything in our power to keep him around for a long time. We rescued Ike as a puppy who was found in a drainage ditch and he too had several surgeries and medical hurdles to overcome.
Bottom line- We all love our pets but having a pet means taking care of that pet and also making sure to clean up after that pet because they can be a little messy at times.
In my Babble Boxx this month I'm sharing everything you need to make sure your pets are taken care of and rewarded with an amazing treat when they are good.
Keep reading for my Five Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Youthful!
Five Ways to Keep Your Dog Healthy and Youthful
1) Give them Healthy treats ( and NEVER EVER feed them table scraps)In this month's BabbleBoxx we tried Fruitables Pumpkin Spice Skinny Minis and Pumpkin and Cranberry Baked Treats.
Our two rescue shih tzus loved them and wanted more. The Pumpkin Spice were made with fresh pumpkin, baked apples, and Cinnamon. The Pumpkin and Cranberry were so fresh and tasted like a fresh muffin.
The best part was that they are low calorie! Three calories of grain free for the Pumpkin Spice and eight for the Pumpkin and Cranberry with a crunchy baked texture. Both made of super foods.
2) EXERCISE! Exercise is proven to lower stress, increase endorphins, and balance mood and emotions in people and dogs alike.
In addition to helping your dog maintain a healthy weight and muscle mass and keeping their cardiovascular system in shape regular exercise will keep your dog healthy, active and engaged and that all adds up to more time with your furry BFF.
We give Lazer and Ike plenty of exercise by taking them out every day for long walks; we play with them and take them to the park.
And thats where The iDig from iFetch is a great product for all dog owners. Dogs naturally love to dig, and something I never knew we could have were dogs that did not scratch and sometimes rip my couch cushions.
My dogs loved it and really got a tiring workout from this after we loaded it with their favorite toys. It is sturdy and had three flaps for storage of toys and treats. It is the latest in mental and physical dog stimulation.
The best News? Use the code BABBLE15 to get 15% off an iDig digging toy (either the iDig Stay or the iDig Go) at goifetch.com
3) Using non toxic cleaning products around them!
The Disinfecting Wipes from LemiShine are a real worksaver and made with natural disinfectants.
They kill 99.9% of surface germs and viruses, and are effective against SARSCov-2, the cause of COVID-19. Best of all they clean with Eco-friendly cleaning formula that is safe, bleach free and plant based.
When it comes to owning pets we all know that accidents occur and stains can happen.
What every pet parent really needs is a stain and odor remover that really works but that is safe. The good news is The Stain & Odor Remover from Kids n Pets is that essential product.
It is a natural cleaner which uses natural non toxic enzymes that are safe for your pets, your kids and the planet.
All you need to do is spray or pour it directly on stains and let it air dry. It cleans all surfaces and can be used to pretreat stains in the laundry and to boost detergent. For all your messes with Kids n Pets use this biodegradable answer. You can purchase it at Walmart and Home Depot.
And last but ceratinly not least when it comes to cleanup–Clean up was never easier than with the NEU526 FloorRover Dash from Eureka.
This is the vacuum you really need as a pet owner and I have tried them all. It is a powerful, upright, swivel machine that really gets into the dirt in your rugs This vacuum has a 12 foot extended reach range.
This lightweight upright vacuum, ideal for whole home cleaning with effective suction, multi-cyclone filtration system and a HEPA filter for allergy-free cleaning. No need for vacuum bags that you are always running out of.
It is made by Eureka a trusted brand originally founded in 1909. At only $159.00 at Walmart,com it is a must have.
4) Visit the veterinarian at least once a year. Dogs and all pets need professional healthcare to maintain their optimal level of health. Take your pup to the vet once or twice a year for checkups and vaccinations. This gives your vet an opportunity to check for signs of common health concerns and head off any problems early. Common health issue indicators include; bad breath or drooling, changes in appetite, activity levels, or sleep patterns, breathing troubles or congestion, digestive issues and others. Also talk to your vet about common illnesses and symptoms for your dog’s breed.
5) Get your dog a playmate. Lazer has never been the only dog in our house– we have always had another dog to play with him. After our first dog Mellie passed we rescued Ike. And since then Lazer and Ike do everything together; they eat, sleep and keep each other company when we are not home. Ike really keeps Lazer occupied, he is about five years younger and he initiates their play together. I do believe Ike’s constant presence is helping Lazer stay youthful by constantly encouraging him to play.
And while my Mellie girl is no longer with us I know having had her and currently Lazer and Ike living among us has enriched my kids and imparted valuable lessons onto them in a way that no other responsibilities or textbooks possibly could. A dog doesn't care what color hair you have, if you are wearing a designer shirt or if you wear glasses or contacts. They love you the same either way. That connection between a kid and their pet creates a bonding relationship that is based on pure love and not materialism.
All of this stuff sounds awesome. I need that vacuum and the iDig. My dog sheds like crazy and he digs like a maniac. LOL
I need this vacuum! I have two cats and they are forever shedding. I do always want to make sure they stay healthy.
Your dogs are so precious! And yes, they enrich our lives in so many ways. These are pretty cool stuff too. Funny how you can make them pose by a vacuum. Our dog is utterly frightened by ours!! LOL!
These sound like amazing products, especially for dog owners.
It’s so important that our dogs health is first too! I love the idea of being able to keep a dog healthy and youthful, your doggies are too cute!
Lots of great products! That iDig toy looks so fun! I feel like even my cat would love it.
Great projects + great dogs = a fabulous post! Thanks for sharing all these tips for keeping our furbabies healthy!
This is awesome! This will be a huge help for those who have fur babies. Thanks for sharing.
We need to good care of our pets too. Those products are really helpful. I’m glad that your dogs are doing well now. You have such an amazing fur babies! So cute.
Great tips! How awesome that you had so many years with your fur baby. They really are a joy!
That sounds like a nice vacuum. Your dogs looks great .
Wow, those are great stuffs to have by all pet owners and I am sure that it will have them a lot when it comes to cleaning the dirts/messes of their fur babies.
Aww, your dogs are so cute and I can see why they are so healthy and youthful. I definitely need that vacuum in my life!
These look like some amazing products. I need that vacuum the most. I bet that would be so useful. I don’t have any dogs though, but it would be nice for my cats and all the hair.
These are some really great ideas. Keeping your dog healthy is easy if you stay on top of it.