Important Health Tips For Your Jack Russell

The first step to keeping your Jack Russell terrier healthy is recognizing possible negative effects on their health and understanding the how your Jack’s needs change with age.  Here are a number of things you can do to make sure your dog stays happy and healthy for many years to come.

 

1. Pinpoint Old Age in Your Dog – First, you should figure out at what point your dog is considered to be reaching an older age.  That way, you can adjust their diet and activity levels accordingly. 

 

Usually, this depends on their breed and size:

 

- Smaller dogs (less than 20 pounds) are considered “senior” at 9-13 years

- Medium dogs (21-50 pounds) are at 9-11 years

- Big dogs (51-90 pounds) are at 7-11 years

- Very large dogs might start to reach old age as young as 6 years of age.

 

Jack Russells fit into the “small dog” category above (they average between 14 and 18 pounds), so it is best to start to consider that your Jack is at a “senior” age at around 9 or 10 years.

 

2. Going to the Vet – Make sure to bring your Jack Russell to the vet for a wellness check once each year until they reach old age.  Once they are considered “Senior,” or if they otherwise begin to display signs of aging, you should to double that and start taking your dog to the vet every 6 months.

 

Regular vet visits will help make sure that all of your dog’s shots are up to date.  It will also allow for earlier diagnosis of issues like tooth problems, infections or loss of faculties so that these health problems can be handled.

 

3. Maintaining Weight – You should quickly take action if you find that your dog is gaining too much weight. Obesity in a dog can happen quickly, and it will lead to a number of health problems – including heart disease and liver problems – if you are not careful.

 

The best things you can do are to reduce feeding times and increase exercise.  This even applies to dogs that are older and do not want to go out as often.

 

4. Regular Exercise – Jack Russell Terriers are a particularly energetic breed.  You should take your Jack Russell on at least 2 walks per day of at least half an hour each.  A high-energy game played in a yard/park is also good. If you find that you’re not able to supply the needed exercise yourself, consider hiring someone to help.

 

5. Spaying and Neutering – It is a good idea to have your dogs spayed or neutered for other reasons as well, however you can help prevent may diseases and illnesses that develop with age if you have it done after 6 months of age.

 

6. Keep them Busy – A bored dog will often become lethargic and that will have a negative impact on their health. Continuing to play with your dog, or providing toys that force them to think about solutions and ways to reach treats are all good, especially as they age. 

 

Doing these things can reduce the risk of brain degeneration, psychological problems, and other health issues that tend to crop up extensively as a dog gets older.

 

 

No matter how old they are, your Jack Russell needs many things to stay healthy. In fact, almost none of the things listed above will change from the day you first bring your dog home to the time they turn 12 years old. All dogs have consistent needs throughout their life, they just need to be cared for especially well in old age.

 

From the very first time you bring home a new Jack Russell puppy, you’ll want to establish a set diet, exercise regimen, and clear idea of the supplements, vet visits, and attention that your dog is going to need. Take care of all these things early-on, and you can expect your furry friend to live as long as (or longer than) expected.