4 tips to help your dog live longer

Dogs bring us so much love, the least we can do is keep them happy and healthy for as long as possible.

Rodney Habib, author of The Forever Dog, joins us on Morning Live with ways to increase the lifespan and quality of life for your furry friend.

Habib, who is also the founder of Planet Paws, travelled the world to gather wisdom from top geneticists, microbiologists and longevity researchers. Here are four tips to help your dog live longer:

Reduce Stress

You may think that stressful situations only affect you. But research shows that your stress can transfer to your dog as well.

“Your dog will sync up with your cortisol levels,” Habib said. “So it’s never been so important within the homes today to try to do things to alleviate the stress within the household.”

Use Natural Household Products

On top of emotional stress, Habib said the chemicals in unnatural household products can negatively impact the health of your dog.

“It’s so important to know what’s in those cleaners,” he said. “According to scientists, those chemicals are building up in your dog’s system.”

Cultivate a Healthy Diet

Feeding your dog fresh food is another way to help your dog live longer.

Habib advised dog owners to serve unprocessed foods and to check the ingredient list to avoid unhealthy additives.

“Add fresh food into that bowl as much as you can, starting with teaspoons. It’s critical today to bring diversity into that bowl,” he said.

In fact, Habib said that adding fresh food to your dog’s bowl just three times per week can reduce their risk of developing bladder cancer by 90 per cent.

Get Moving

In The Forever Dog, Habib interviewed owners of long-lived dogs who exercised for at least two hours per day. He said that movement is the most important factor for increasing the healthspan and lifespan of your pet.

Habib specifically encouraged owners to walk their dog in a park or forest.

“According to microbiologists, you’re sharing the biome of the woods with your animal,” Habib said. “You can actually decrease their likelihood of allergies by just getting out and walking in the woods a few times a week.”

If your dog is older, Habib recommends alternative forms of exercise such as an underwater treadmill.

You can purchase his book, The Forever Dog, online.