Top 10 Ways to Keep your Dalmatian Healthy

Want to give your best friend the longest, healthiest life possible? Here are the top 10 things you can do to keep your dog safe and healthy.

10. Be *very* cautious with dog parks.

Although there are absolutely exceptions to the rule, the majority of dog parks are too small with too many dogs. Many dogs that frequent dog parks are bullies at best or straight-up aggressive at worst. 

Dog parks also harbour significant risk for parasites and infectious diseases.

In most cases, your dog would be better served by finding a fully vaccinated friend or two with compatible temperaments. There are plenty of ways to exercise our dogs; we owe it to them to choose the safest options.

I am a HUGE proponent of dogs having the opportunity to run free/off-leash. This just means you’ll need to invest some more time and effort into finding an appropriate and safe place. One resource to check out is “SniffSpot”, an app that facilitates the rental of private areas to exercise your dog.

9. Always have your dog safely secured in the car.

The ideal way to transport your precious furry friend is in a crash-tested kennel. (Check out Zinger kennels - Canadian-made and of exceptional quality). If your car (or budget) can’t accommodate a crash-tested kennel, an alternative is a crash-tested harness. The two brands I am aware of that have undergone proper testing are Kurgo and Sleepypod. 

At *no* time should your dog be riding loose in the car. A loose dog is distracting to the driver. Even a minor crash can be fatal to a loose dog in the car.

8. Keep their nails trimmed short.

Keeping nails trimmed is crucial for a variety of reasons. Long nails interfere with how your dog moves, how their feet strike the ground, and how they push off for each step. Long nails put extra stress on your dog’s joints. 

Overgrown nails are also at risk of being caught and torn. A torn nail can be very painful, can lead to serious infection, and can sideline your dog. Many dogs require weekly trims to keep nails at an appropriate length.

7. Keep your dog vaccinated.

You can find plenty of fear-mongering posts online about the risks of vaccines. Any vaccine absolutely DOES come with the risk of an adverse event or vaccine reaction. However, that risk is very mild and much less than the risk of the disease the vaccine will protect against.

One vaccine that is often called out as “risky” is Leptospirosis. Lepto is endemic in many parts of Ontario (and throughout Canada). Dogs regularly die from Lepto; dogs do not die from the lepto vaccine.

Talk to your veterinary team about the disease risks in your area and discuss separating vaccines. The more you can split up vaccines, the better. I work with my wonderful veterinary team to figure out a safe schedule that provides my dogs with the protection they need while minimizing giving multiple vaccines at one time. I recommend always pre-treating with Benadryl to minimize vaccine reactions.

6. Appropriate parasite prevention.

Ticks are a severe issue in Ontario and much of the rest of Canada. Tick-borne diseases are serious and can be fatal. We have the opportunity to protect our beloved pets from these risks with safe, proven parasite prevention.

Nasty critters like ticks and worms can impact your furry best friend AND you and your family. Don’t let your pet be at risk or be the vector to putting your family at risk.

Talk to your veterinary team about your dog’s individual risks based on location, lifestyle, etc. They will develop the appropriate regime to keep your dog (and the rest of your family) safe.

5. Train and socialize your dog (including crate training).

Dogs should be comfortable and relaxed in various social situations and around different types of people and animals. This can really only be achieved with appropriate and dedicated socialization.

Socialization means getting your dog out in a variety of situations and ensuring they have positive experiences. Socialization does NOT necessarily mean a bunch of people petting your puppy. 

A dog that can be comfortably and calmly contained in a crate or kennel is easier to take places, safer in the car, and relaxed if they need to stay at the vet or in a boarding kennel. A dog that is comfortable in a crate/kennel will fare better in an emergency situation if they need to be contained or evacuated.

A well-trained dog is a joy to take places and will be included in more activities. A dog with a solid recall can enjoy off-leash time safely. 

4. Feed your dog appropriately.

Dalmatians require a low purine diet in conjunction with sufficient water to continuously flush out their bladder. When looking for a food, remember that your veterinary team often includes genuine nutrition experts.

Look for diets that align with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines, and don’t be swayed by internet drivel. Your breeder is probably knowledgeable about nutrition. Your veterinary team is probably knowledgeable about nutrition. However, there will be some exceptions. The local pet store employee is probably NOT knowledgeable (but again, there may be an exception).  

Websites that compare diets based on ingredient lists (without any knowledge of formulation procedures, nutrient testing, analyses, manufacturing expertise) are probably not knowledgeable.

3. Plenty of exercise.

Dalmatians were bred to be endurance athletes. The best way to honour that history is to ensure they get appropriate exercise. Nothing too strenuous when growing, but exercise is a huge part of keeping your spotty pal healthy and happy.

2. Invest in health insurance.

The best-case scenario is that you’ll pay a monthly premium and never make a significant claim! I frequently hear the suggestion to simply “put aside that same amount of $ into a bank account.” Not only would that mean you’re better at saving than I am ;), there is zero chance that will be sufficient if you have a significant bill.

I have racked up $20,000 in veterinary bills in 3 days with a foreign body. There is exactly no chance I have that kind of money sitting around. Pet insurance means you can avoid the horrible situation of wondering if you can afford a treatment plan and having to make decisions about your dog’s future based on finances.

And lastly, DO NOT LET YOUR DOG GET FAT!

The most impactful (and simplest!) thing you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy AND to have them live longer is to keep them at a lean, healthy weight. Clinical trials show that dogs kept at a lean weight live, on average, two years longer than their chubby counterparts.

Talk to your veterinary team about learning how to measure Body Condition Score (BCS) and Muscle Condition Score (MCS), how to choose an appropriate diet, and how to incorporate appropriate exercise.

All of this is worthwhile to ensure you get to spend the most time possible with your best friend.