Your Dog's Health Is Your Responsibility

Owning a dog can be a very rewarding experience, so you shouldtake the time to educate yourself on the proper care of dogs.The two main areas to focus on while examining dog health aredisease preventative care as well as being able to recognize thesigns of potential problems. Having a little education helps youknow what to look for in changes to your furry friend, allowingyou to seek professional help quickly.Preventative medicine is essential in effective dog care. Aroundsix weeks old puppies must begin a series of four DHLPP/CCVvaccinations spaced three or four weeks apart. Puppies must bede-wormed frequently and started on a heartworm preventativearound four months of age. This program should be indefinitelymaintained, as recommended by your vet. Annual visits to thelocal veterinarian is mandatory to maintain your dog's health.In addition to the administration of vaccinations, the vet willexamine the dog's teeth and stool, and look for any obviousillness. They are also familiar with each breed, as many healthproblems are specific to certain breeds.What kind of dog health problems should I be on the look outfor?It is very important for new pet owners to be able to recognizesigns of potential health risks. Skin problems are very commonand announce themselves in a variety of ways. Skin allergies areextremely common in dogs that may cause hair loss or even hotspots. Hot spots show up as sores on the skin surface that oozeand can be very painful and hard to treat because of the dog'sconstant licking. Skin allergies that cause hot spots are oftenmistaken for flea infestation problems. An easy way to determinethe difference is by watching the dog closely. Always consultyour veterinarian should any things like these show themselves.Chewing the top of his behind is an indication of flea problems,while scratching his head, neck and front legs tend to indicateallergies. Signs of potential health problems are also presentin a dogs stool. If the stool appears runny or discolored youshould call the vet and setup a visit. Parasites as well aschange in diet are usually culprits and are most often easilyremedied. Another uncommon but very serious threat to your dog'shealth is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus. A larger dog can bepredisposed with this condition which ultimately cause theirstomachs to flip if they exert themselves after drinking largeamounts of fluid.Your dog's health should never be taken lightly. It is anenormous responsibility you have takin on but it doesn't have tobe hard. Make sure you take your dog for his annual check up andbe aware of certain health problem. If you follow yourveterinarian's advice completely your dog should lead a happy,healthy, and long life.