Owning a dog isn’t easy and with everything involved in properly caring for a dog, it is downright overwhelming. Not only do they need to be fed and walked regularly but they also must be kept healthy and disease free. You need to make sure they are protected from fleas and ticks as well as kept away from possible allergens. While all of this sounds like an awful lot of work, the benefits of owning a happy dog make it all worth while.

Here are a few other aspects you’ll want to be aware of when caring for a dog or puppy:

Doggie dental care is an often overlooked aspect of your pet’s health. It shouldn’t be either because it is so easy and can also be done at home. Canine dental hygiene does more than improve your dog’s breath. It helps its other organs remain healthy because as bacteria builds up on the teeth, it then spreads to other areas of its system, sometimes leading to illness and disease.

To get the job done right, start by getting some supplies and items necessary for maintaining the health of your dog's teeth. Common dental items include dental cleanse solution, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Greenies dog treats, or a dental cleaning dog kit. Don’t be shocked if your dog doesn’t take to the idea of you brushing its teeth at first. It may take a few days to a few weeks before it will grow accustomed to the dental care procedures but in the long run it is worth it.

Another important part of keeping your dog happy and healthy is ear care. Ear infections are more common in some breeds of dogs than others but all are still susceptible to this painful problem. It’s caused from moisture built up within the ear canals and then bacteria calling these suitable conditions home. There are a number of different products available which can help care for your dog’s ears and to help keep them clean. Some of these include powders to keep the ears dry, medicine to kill ear mites and cleaning solutions that wash away dirt.

Your dog’s eyes are no different. Infections, especially conjunctivitis, are easily occur and it your job to make sure they don’t. Try to use eye cleaning solutions to protect your pet’s eyes from irritation while also killing harmful bacteria. It is also recommended that you regularly trim hair from around the eyes to prevent infection and keep the corners of their eyes free from mucous.