Keep Your Dog Healthy
by Larissa Levise
Every member of your family deserves the best health care, and your dog is certainly no exception. If you own a dog or are planning to welcome one to your family, you must be aware of the signs of illness and disease.
Before you bring your new puppy or dog home, take the time to learn about proper canine care. Know the signs and symptoms of potential health problems, and be aware of how you can provide preventative care.
Preventative medicine is paramount in effective health care. Just like children, puppies need to see a health care specialist on a regular basis. At six weeks of age, your puppy should begin a series of four DHLPP/CCV vaccinations. These shots are administered at three- to four-week intervals. Your puppy also needs to be de-wormed often, and should begin receiving heartworm preventative medication at four months old. Heartworm prevention is an ongoing necessity that's vital to providing your dog with a long and happy life.
After your puppy has received these initial treatments, be sure to keep a regular schedule of visits with the vet. Annual checkups are a must for all dogs. The vet will check your pet's teeth and examine the stool. He or she will give perform an overall examination to check for medical problems and will administer necessary vaccinations.
Preventative medicine is the best way to provide a healthy life for your dog. Therefore, you need to know the signs of illness or disease, and be alert for any symptoms.
Dogs often experience skin problems, and can present their conditions in various ways. Skin allergies, common to many breeds of dogs, can cause hair loss and 'hot spots'. Hot spots are sores that appear on the surface of the skin. These sores will ooze and they are very painful. The dog will deal with the discomfort by constantly licking at the area, making the problem even more difficult to treat.
The skin allergies that cause 'hot spots' are often mistaken for flea infestation problems, so you need to know the signs and symptoms to make the right diagnoses. A dog that scratches his neck, head and front legs will generally be suffering from skin allergies, while chewing at the top of the rump is a good indication that fleas are present.
Your pet's stool may hold clues to health problems. Discolored, runny stool can be a sign of trouble and warrants a trip to the vet. While this can be caused by something as simple as improper diet, it can also be indicative of parasites. Both causes are easily treatable and the condition can be quickly reversed. If your dog has parasites, these are easily remedied with proper medication. Another condition, called gastric dilatation volvulus is rare but quite serious. Large, deep chested breeds of dogs may suffer with gastric dilatation volvulus, which occurs with physical exertion following the consumption of large amounts of water.
Your dog is a cherished family member and deserves to receive the best health benefits. It's not difficult to provide good preventative care for your pet, although it may take an occasional investment of time or money. See to it that your dog has a yearly checkup with the vet. It's just as important that you're aware of the signs and symptoms of illness and disease. If so, you and your pet will enjoy a happy and healthy life together.
Author Larissa Levise is a frequent contributor to several web sites, on home improvement and family tree issues. Get your own completely unique content version of this article.
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