Enhancing Your Dog’s Health & Longevity: Organic Home Care

1. Balanced Diet: Organic dog food is made from high-quality, natural ingredients that are free from artificial additives and genetically modified organisms. Organic proteins are easier to digest and absorb, which can help with weight management and overall health. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, while whole grains offer fiber for digestive health. It’s important to rotate the protein sources (like chicken, beef, fish) and add in various fruits and vegetables (like sweet potatoes, blueberries, pumpkin) to provide a range of nutrients.

2. Regular Exercise: Depending on your dog’s breed, age, and health, they should get at least 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise each day. This can be broken down into multiple walks, play sessions, and training exercises. Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, improves cardiovascular health, and keeps joints flexible. It also provides mental stimulation, which can reduce anxiety and behavioral problems.

3. Dental Care: Brush your dog’s teeth at least two to three times a week using a dog-specific toothpaste. Avoid human toothpaste as it can upset your dog’s stomach. Regular brushing removes plaque and tartar, which if left untreated, can lead to gum disease and contribute to other health problems, including heart disease.

4. Preventing Fleas: Regular grooming with a fine-toothed flea comb can help catch fleas before they become a problem. Washing your dog’s bedding weekly in hot water can kill any fleas or eggs. Natural flea repelling sprays made from essential oils like cedarwood, lavender, or peppermint can be used on your dog’s coat and bedding. However, some dogs may be sensitive to essential oils, so always do a patch test first.

5. Avoiding Allergens: Identifying allergens can be a process of elimination. Start by switching to a hypoallergenic dog food, which typically contains limited ingredients to reduce potential allergens. Monitor your dog’s reaction to see if symptoms improve. Similarly, hypoallergenic materials for dog bedding can help eliminate environmental allergens. Regular cleaning of your home can also reduce allergens like dust mites.

6. Weight Management: Regular weigh-ins can help you monitor your dog’s weight. If your dog is overweight, consider reducing portion sizes, limiting treats, and increasing exercise. Homemade dog food allows you to control what goes into your dog’s diet, making it easier to manage their weight.

7. Mental Stimulation: Training sessions, puzzle toys, and social interactions provide mental stimulation. Training sessions can be short, about 15 minutes, but should be consistent. Puzzle toys that dispense treats can keep your dog engaged and mentally challenged. Social interactions with other dogs or people can also provide mental stimulation and improve your dog’s overall happiness and wellbeing.

8. Heartworm and Stomach Worm Prevention: Maintaining a clean environment is crucial in preventing worm infestations. Regularly clean your dog’s living area and dispose of feces promptly. 

For a natural deterrent against mosquitoes (which transmit heartworms), plant mosquito-repelling plants like citronella, lemongrass, or marigolds around your home. However, these are not a foolproof method and should be used as a supplementary measure.

Adding certain foods to your dog’s diet can help create an environment unsuitable for worms. Freshly grated carrot, for example, can help remove stomach worms from the digestive tract. Pumpkin seeds, rich in an amino acid called cucurbitacin, can paralyze worms making them drop off the gut wall.

Please remember that natural methods may not be as effective as medical treatments in preventing heartworms and other parasitic worms. These methods should be used as supplementary measures rather than replacements for conventional treatments.