Pet Wellness Month: Simple Habits For A Healthier Dog

October is National Pet Wellness Month, which makes it the perfect time to zoom out and look at your dog’s health as a whole: vet care, nutrition, exercise, mental enrichment, and even the cleanliness of the spaces they play in. When the basics are dialed in, dogs feel better, stay safer, and get more good years by our side.

1) Keep preventive care on the calendar

Wellness exams help your vet catch little issues before they turn into big ones. The AAHA life-stage guidelines recommend tailoring care from puppyhood through the senior years so dogs get the right screenings, vaccines, and counseling at the right time. It’s simpler and cheaper to prevent than to treat later.

Quick to-dos this month

•  Book your dog’s annual exam and discuss age-appropriate tests.
•  Ask about parasite prevention and fecal testing frequency.

2) Watch the waistline

Extra pounds strain joints and organs and are linked with chronic disease. Recent surveys suggest roughly one-third of dogs are reported overweight or obese by their owners, and awareness is still a work in progress. Your vet can help you set a target body-condition score, choose a calorie budget, and build in daily activity.

Small habit, big payoff: Measure meals with a scoop, not your eyes. Re-weigh every 2–4 weeks and adjust.

3) Don’t forget dental

Healthy mouths matter. Routine dental exams and at-home care (yes, brushing) help prevent periodontal disease, which can impact comfort and overall wellness. Pair brushing with vet-guided cleanings as needed.

4) Make movement and brain work part of every day

Daily walks, fetch, training games, and puzzle toys support joints, weight control, and behavior. Rotate toys and teach a new cue or trick each week to keep things mentally enriching.

5) Keep parasites and pathogens out of the picture

Picking up poop isn’t just a courtesy. Dog waste can carry germs and parasites that make pets and people sick, including roundworms like Toxocara. The CDC is clear: always pick up dog poop—even in your own yard—and wash hands after handling pet waste.

Beyond the backyard, uncollected waste gets washed by rain and snowmelt into storm drains, raising bacteria levels in local waterways. That’s a public-health and environmental issue communities wrestle with every year.

How Dog Poo Crew helps wellness happen

• Reliable scooping on the schedule you choose, all year, so your yard stays play-ready and parasite risk stays lower.
• Waste haul-away every visit, which keeps odors down and bins cleaner.
• Yard deodorizing add-on for fresher outdoor time.
• Pet-waste stations for HOAs, apartments, and parks to keep shared spaces healthier for everyone.
  Keeping the environment clean is a real part of preventive care—and it means more carefree zoomies for your pup.

6) Build a safe, low-stress home base

Do a quick safety sweep: secure fences and gates, tidy cords and small chewable hazards, launder bedding, and keep bowls and crates clean. Dogs rest and recover better in calm, predictable spaces.

Your Pet Wellness Month checklist

• Schedule the annual wellness exam and discuss life-stage needs.
• Confirm heartworm, flea, and tick prevention is current.
• Re-measure food portions and log weight weekly.
• Add two 10-minute training or puzzle sessions this week.
• Brush teeth or use a vet-approved dental routine.
• Pick up every poop, every time and let Dog Poo Crew handle the heavy lifting.

Ready for an easier, cleaner wellness routine?

Dog Poo Crew has kept Fargo-Moorhead yards poop-free since 2006 with friendly techs, sanitized tools, and zero-contract service. Whether you want a one-time refresh or weekly cleanups, we’ll keep the mess handled so you can focus on the fun parts of pet parenthood.

Get a free quote today and make Pet Wellness Month the start of your cleanest, healthiest year yet. 🐶💚