Dogs bestow upon us the rare gift of unconditional love, not to mention a whole lot of joy and laughter! As their human family members, the best gift we can give them in return is to help them live their happiest and healthiest lives. The awesome news is that by following a few simple, proactive healthcare guidelines, you can not only ensure your dog’s best quality of life but also help to improve their longevity.
To facilitate your doggo’s best and longest life, focus on four key pet biohack pillars: maintaining their ideal body condition, proactive veterinary care, a quality diet, and keeping a routine of positive daily habits.
Ground-breaking? Probably not. Scientifically proven? You betcha!
The foundations: Nutrition and weight management
Maintaining an ideal weight for your furry friend is one of the single most impactful things you can do to help support their general health and longevity.
Excess weight predisposes your dog to joint injuries (such as cruciate ligament tears) and arthritis, and increases their risk of breathing issues (such as tracheal collapse) and dangerous heatstroke. Since fat is a biologically active tissue, it also produces hormones that can cause chronic inflammation and negatively affect their organ health. This means that overweight pets are more at risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and have a higher risk of complications under anaesthesia too.
If you suspect that your dog is a little “cuddlier” than they should be, the best thing you can do is to consult your veterinarian. They can help you set a healthy target weight for your pet and will advise you on a safe and effective weight loss plan. It’s important that overweight pets are exercised gently and appropriately so that they can safely build fitness while also minimising their risks of overheating, joint injuries or breathing difficulties. Overweight pets will require a careful nutritional plan to ensure they don’t become deficient in any key nutrients while they are calorie restricted.
Proactive healthcare: Vaccinations and parasite control
The basics might seem a little, well, basic! But don’t underestimate the importance of keeping your pet consistently protected against common and potentially serious health issues.
For any dog, it’s recommended to follow an effective year-round parasite prevention routine. Based on your geographic region across the country, your vet will be able to recommend appropriate protection against harmful little critters such as fleas, ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm. While fleas and intestinal worms cause symptoms of irritation or unwellness (which can be particularly severe in young pups), tick paralysis, tick-borne diseases, and heartworm infestation can be fatal for affected pets.
The essential core vaccinations (commonly referred to as the C3 vaccination) can protect your dog against the life-threatening effects of canine parvovirus, distemper and infectious hepatitis. All pups should receive a course of C3 vaccinations starting from 6-8 weeks of age. They should then receive their first booster vaccination at around 6-15 months of age. Thereafter, your adult dog may require a booster every one to three years, depending on the vaccination type being used. Additional non-core annual vaccinations, such as leptospirosis and kennel cough, are recommended by vets on a case-by-case basis, depending on the pet’s lifestyle and the diseases that are prevalent in that area.
The importance of regular check-ups
A bonus of the humble dog vaccination appointment is that it involves a full health-check for your fur-bestie. This gives your vet the opportunity to spot any developing issues (such as dental disease or lumps) even more promptly – hooray! In these diseases and many more, earlier detection usually means less involved treatment, reduced discomfort, and better outcomes for your pet.
For this reason, if your adult dog is only on a three-yearly vaccination schedule, it’s still recommended to book an annual health assessment for them. If your doggo is a senior citizen (8+ years for smaller breeds and 6+ years for larger breeds), it’s best to stay on top of their health even more proactively by booking them in for 6-monthly check-ups. This is because older dogs are more prone to developing insidious health issues such as degenerative disease of the heart, brain or kidneys, where early recognition and management can significantly reduce the affected pet’s symptoms and prolong their lifespan.
In the case of baby doggo’s, puppy vaccination visits (which most commonly occur at 6-8 weeks old, 10-12 weeks old, and around 16 weeks old) allow your vet to check for common puppy health problems. These include inherited or developmental issues (such as a luxating patella, linguoverted canine teeth, or cryptorchidism), infectious diseases (such as flea infestation or intestinal worms), and other health concerns such as ear infections.
Last but not least, regular health checks are a great opportunity for you to run your pet’s home care routines by your vet to ensure that your pet is still receiving the most appropriate parasite control, exercise and nutrition during each stage of their life. After all, your healthcare routines have likely needed a few changes over the course of your life, so why wouldn’t your dog’s?
A vet’s perspective: The senior blood test that saved a life
Benny the Beagle was 9 years old but still had the energy (and appetite) of a pup! However, during a routine senior health check blood test, it was noted that Benny’s kidney parameters were elevated above normal levels.
Benny's owner consented to further diagnostic testing to better assess Benny’s kidney health and function. This involved analysis of his urine and sedation for an abdominal ultrasound.
It was confirmed that Benny was affected by chronic kidney disease, which involves progressive kidney degeneration. While Benny wasn’t showing any obvious symptoms yet, as his kidney function continued to deteriorate he would start to show worsening symptoms of unwellness, such as increased drinking, weight loss, and tummy upset.
Fortunately, because Benny’s condition had been diagnosed early, it meant that he could be started on a proactive kidney health management program. This involved a prescription diet to reduce the workload on his kidneys, regular blood pressure monitoring, 3-6 monthly blood and urine tests, and medications and supplements as required to support healthy kidney function. This treatment would slow Benny’s kidney damage and help him to feel well for longer.
Over a year later, Benny is still feeling great, and luckily, he loves his special diet too!
Daily habits for a longer life: More than just food and water
By now we’ve all heard the saying “You are what you eat”. This holds true for our pets as well! Dogs do best if fed a high quality, complete and balanced diet that is appropriate for their life stage and fed in measured portions. Including some safe “chewy” options in your pet’s diet, such as dental chews, will help to maintain their dental health, as well as keeping them entertained. If you choose to offer your dog homemade or “human” snacks, ensure that you avoid any potentially toxic or dangerous foods.
Your dog should also have a generous supply of fresh water that is changed daily, including a good scrub out of the bowl to remove that yucky biofilm layer!
Just as important as a good diet and hydration is how your dog burns off all that healthy fuel! All dogs should be exercised daily, with the exact amount required depending on your dog’s age, breed and particular temperament.
Quieter dogs will be content with a daily walk, whereas more active breeds will often require safe opportunities for off leash running, structured activities (such as agility training), or higher-intensity games such as fetch. Regular exercise keeps your dog’s joints mobile, their muscles strong, and their brains active with sniffing, exploration and socialisation. It will also help them to maintain a healthy weight.
Lastly, don’t forget to keep life interesting for your pet with regular environmental enrichment and mental challenges. This can include obedience training, food puzzle toys, snuffle mats, lick mats, treat hunts, safe long-lasting chews, and interactive toys. A busy dog is usually a happy dog (and one who is less likely to develop behavioural issues or get into mischief!)
Key life decisions: Spaying/neutering and breed awareness
Did you know that your dog’s genetic spice mix (aka their breed!) will influence some of the healthcare recommendations that your vet makes? This is particularly notable for decisions regarding the timing of your pet’s desexing (spaying/neutering) and any required monitoring or management for inherited diseases.
Desexing your dog can have some significant long-term health benefits, such as the prevention of pyometra (a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus) and dangerous birthing-related complications in females, and prevention of testicular tumours in males. Your pet’s breed (as well as their temperament and your home environment) will influence the age at which your vet recommends that they be desexed, with some breeds doing well with desexing prior to six months old, and others benefitting from desexing shortly after one year of age.
Your doggo’s breed will also influence their predisposition towards certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia in Labradors, breathing difficulties in flatter-faced breeds such as Bulldogs, and mitral valve disease (heart disease) in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. As well as researching your chosen breed, it’s also best to have a chat with your vet about whether your pet requires any special monitoring or management to support their best health and longevity.
Learn about Buddy Dog Insurance and find a level of cover that may suit your canine friend’s needs. With any level of cover you choose, you can also select Routine Care as an optional extra. This way, you will be covered for de-sexing, vaccinations, micro chipping, flea, and tick and worm control among other benefits!
3 Nov 2025