Whether you think you have a great gun dog, or you have a gun dog who just thinks he/she is great… there’s a few tips that may ensure your gun dog can work for as long as possible.

Make sure your dog gets its yearly check up and vaccination. Your vet will be able to pick up most health problems early enough to start successful treatment, and is the best person to help you keep your dog healthy. Also, make sure that your dog gets its yearly Leptospirosis vaccination to help prevent the deadly disease (spread by waterways, livestock, rodents, and wild animals).

Notice signs of arthritis early. Slowing down a bit? Limping occasionally? Slow to get up on cold mornings? These are all signs of early arthritis. If you treat arthritis early in life (sometimes simply with easy injections or supplements), you can slow down the progression of arthritis- which will let your gun dog work for longer. Discuss arthritis with your vet before it becomes a real problem.

And don’t forget nutrition– For those gun dogs who run many miles and become a bit lean when hunting, consider feeding them a high quality working dog food. Some hunting dogs need the extra nutritional boost to maintain weight and performance.