Book tip: How your dog lives to 20

There are insights that are of extremely great importance for dog health. Dogs used to often live up to 20 years, some even older. I still remember well a female dog from the neighbourhood. She lived together with other dogs on a farm where I fetched the milk as a child. She reached 22 years of age and never saw a veterinary practice. There were no vaccinations and no ready-made food. The dogs lived freely and without a lead and slept in the barn. They ran after the farmer's tractor and accompanied us children when we roamed around the village.

Why do dogs today often no longer grow so old? A retriever nowadays often has only an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. In the past it lived to 18 to 20 years. The reasons are varied and often concern modern living conditions and the quality of feeding. There are, however, ways to caringly help your own animal to a longer, more vital life. We at DOG FIT would like to accompany you on this path.

The dog industry and the focus on profits

The dog industry generates enormous revenues every year. Unfortunately, many companies pay more attention to profits than to the actual health of the animals. There are various developments that can shorten the lifespan.

• Breeders often go for features that please people but by no means correspond to the animal's welfare. One example is the pug, which suffers from massive breathing problems.
• In some areas of dog breeding and in the illegal puppy trade there is hardly any genuine interest in a long lifespan, since young dogs promise higher revenues.
• Dogs are often showered with toys, while species-appropriate offerings for real mental stimulation are lacking. This leads to stress, which shortens the lifespan.
• Around 60 percent of dogs in industrialised countries suffer from being overweight. The right diet, however, is the basis for a high quality of life.
• Areas of veterinary medicine, the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry often work closely together. Less money can be earned from a permanently healthy animal.

As lovely as brightly coloured toys may be and as expensive as the advertised special food is: this does not automatically make a dog more agile and healthier. A holistic consideration of all aspects of a dog's life is required to reach a great age. In our expertise we combine the knowledge of TCM and Ayurveda to promote vitality.

Foundations for a high life expectancy of your dog

If you are looking for effective methods with which your dog can reach a great age, you should observe the following points.

• Understanding the dog's psyche and the special relationship between human and animal is the key to a happy life.
• The choice of species-appropriate toys without carcinogenic substances is of great importance for long-term health.
• Training programmes should satisfy the dog and by no means lead to overtaxing. A burnout in dogs should absolutely be avoided.
• The basics of care and prevention help to interpret illnesses caringly at an early stage and to react correctly in an emergency.
• Environmental stimuli can damage health. A targeted relaxation programme for at home helps the animal to come to rest.
• Fitness and a high-quality diet are closely linked. It is important to check exactly what goes into the food bowl. Dry food, for example, is not part of a species-appropriate diet.
• A near-natural feeding such as BARF can decisively extend the animal's lifespan and sustainably promote vitality.

This article serves for general information and for caring awareness of species-appropriate dog keeping. For the health of our best friends, a conscious approach to diet and care is indispensable.