In my day job as a nurse, I spend a lot of time watching for signs.
I watch for changes in breathing, changes in mobility, and changes in energy. We call these "vital signs" because they tell us the truth about what is happening inside the body.
When I come home and take off my scrubs, I don't stop being a nurse—I just change patients. My "patient" at home just happens to have four legs, bat ears, and a name like Rowdy.
While dogs can't tell us where it hurts or if they're feeling under the weather, the principles of good care remain the same. Here are a few things I've learned on the hospital floor that I apply every day to keeping my dog healthy.
1. Know Your Dog's "Normal"
In the hospital, we establish a "baseline" for every patient. You need to do the same for your dog.
Because our pets are masters at hiding pain (it's an instinct thing), you have to be observant. You need to know exactly what their "normal" looks like so you can spot the "abnormal" immediately.
- Normal Energy: Does he usually meet you at the door, but today he stayed on the couch?
- Normal Appetite: Did he leave food in the bowl when he usually acts like a vacuum cleaner?
- Normal Gait: Is he favoring a leg or hesitating before jumping up?
As a nurse, I know that catching a shift from the "baseline" early is often the difference between a quick fix and a long recovery.
2. Input Equals Output
We tell patients all the time: you cannot heal if you don't have the right fuel. The same goes for our dogs.
If you feed a dog low-quality filler, you're going to get low-quality energy and a dull coat. I look at my dog's nutrition the same way I look at a patient's diet chart. Is he getting enough protein? Is he hydrated? Are we supplementing the things he might be missing?
You don't have to be a nutritionist to know that "garbage in, garbage out" applies to everyone—two legs or four.
3. Mobility is Life
Working in rehabilitation, I see firsthand that movement is medicine. The moment you stop moving, joints get stiff, muscles get weak, and recovery gets harder.
For a stocky breed like a Frenchie (and really, for any dog), joint health is critical. We want them running, playing, and acting "rowdy" for as long as possible. That means:
- Keeping their weight in check so we aren't stressing their knees and hips.
- Encouraging daily activity, even if it's just a walk around the block.
- Using supplements that support cartilage and inflammation control before the limping starts.
4. Prevention is Better than a Cure
This is the golden rule of healthcare. It is always easier, cheaper, and less painful to prevent a problem than it is to fix it.
At Rowdy Boy Pet Supply, we focus on wellness because we want to avoid the sickness. We want to fuel the fun. We want to support the joints. We want to keep the tail wagging.
Your dog gives you their best every single day. The best way to pay them back is to keep a close eye on their "vital signs" and give them the support they need to stay wild, happy, and healthy.
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