15 Things I Wish Every Pet Parent Knew About Raising a Healthy Dog
My birthday is coming up on March 15, and it felt like a good time to reflect a little. Over the years raising my dogs has led me to ask a lot of questions about health, nutrition, and the choices we make for the animals who depend on us.
Today I share my life with Eli and Vida, and now Abel, who joined my family after I married his dad. Today Eli is about 15, Vida is 16, and Abel is 13. Living alongside them has taught me so much about how our daily choices — from nutrition to environment to medical decisions — can shape a dog’s health over time.
So in honor of my birthday this month, here are 15 things I wish every pet parent knew about raising a healthy dog.
1. Aging does not automatically mean arthritis, cancer, or chronic disease.
These conditions have become so common that many people assume they are simply part of getting older. In reality, they are often linked to years of inflammation, poor diet, and environmental exposures. Aging is normal — chronic disease should not be.
2. Ultra-processed food (kibble and canned food) is like eating fast food every single day.
The majority of kibble and canned food is ultra-processed food that undergoes high-heat processing multiple times, which destroys nutrients and creates inflammatory compounds. Real food is biologically appropriate for animals and provides the nutrients the body actually needs to function and maintain health, especially long-term. Add as much real food daily as possible, it will go a long way!
3. Over 70% of the immune system is located in the gut.
When the gut is out of balance, the immune system struggles too. Supporting digestion and gut health is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your dog’s natural defenses.
4. Not all bacteria are bad — your dog actually depends on beneficial bacteria.
Your dog’s gut is home to trillions of beneficial bacteria that influence digestion, skin health, allergies, metabolism, and immune balance. Foods like fermented foods, raw milk, mushrooms, vegetables, and rotating probiotics can help nourish beneficial bacteria.
5. Kibble does not clean teeth.
The idea that crunchy food cleans teeth is one of the biggest myths in pet nutrition. Dental disease is extremely common in kibble-fed dogs because starches and carbohydrates can feed the bacteria that create plaque and tartar.
6. Dogs cannot develop heartworm disease without mosquitoes.
Heartworm parasites are transmitted through mosquito bites, so mosquitoes are required for infection to occur. Understanding mosquito season where you live can help you make more informed decisions about prevention.
7. Environmental toxins affect your dog’s health more than most people realize.
Dogs live close to the ground, groom themselves constantly, and absorb chemicals from their environment more easily than we do. Cleaning products, synthetic fragrances, pesticides, and lawn chemicals can all contribute to toxic burden over time.
8. Over-vaccination has become an increasing concern among many pet parents and some veterinarians.
Core puppy vaccines like distemper and parvo often provide long-lasting immunity that can last many years and sometimes for life. Titer testing can measure antibodies to these diseases and help determine whether revaccination is necessary. While other vaccines may be appropriate depending on a dog’s lifestyle and risk factors, rabies is the only vaccine required by law.
9. Alabama law allows veterinarians to issue medical exemptions from rabies vaccination.
If a veterinarian determines that vaccinating a dog could endanger its life due to illness or medical condition, a medical exemption may be issued. If your dog is seriously ill, it’s important to have this conversation with your veterinarian and advocate for them.
10. Antibiotics can save lives, but they are often overused.
If your dog truly needs an antibiotic, give it. But antibiotics also disrupt the gut microbiome by killing beneficial bacteria, sometimes affecting health years later. So having a plan to support and rebuild gut health afterward is so important.
11. Many flea and tick “preventions” carry FDA warnings.
Most flea and tick drugs work by affecting the nervous system of parasites because they are neurotoxins. Neurological side effects have been reported in many dogs, and cases continue to be reported. Know your dog’s risk and remember there are natural options for prevention. And never underestimate what a strong immune system can do — a healthy dog with a strong immune system is often far less attractive to pests and less likely to develop infestations.
12. Our stress affects our dogs more than we realize.
Dogs are incredibly tuned in to our emotions and often mirror our stress levels. When we’re calmer and more grounded, our dogs usually are too. If your pet seems stressed, it might be time to check your own stress at the door.
13. Chronic disease often begins with inflammation.
The itchy skin, recurring ear infections, and digestive issues that seem minor can be early signs of deeper imbalance. When symptoms are repeatedly suppressed without addressing root causes, they can grow into larger health problems over time.
14. Your dog deserves real food.
Food is nourishment, not just calories. Fresh, whole foods provide nutrients that support the body, immune system, and long-term health.
15. Fresh air, sunshine, and movement are powerful medicine.
Time outside, fresh air, sunshine, and daily movement support both physical and mental health for dogs. And honestly, they’re good for us too — so put your phone down, be present, and enjoy that time with your dog.
Closing
These are just a few of the things I wish more pet parents knew. Even small pieces of information like this can change the way we think about our dogs’ health and the choices we make for them. The more we learn, the more empowered we become to ask questions, think critically, and advocate for the animals who depend on us every day.
Knowledge builds confidence. It allows us to speak for our dogs from a place of education, intention, and love — and there’s no doubt in my mind that the choices we start making today can change the course of our dogs’ health tomorrow.