Dogs are wonderful companions, but dog health care today isn't as simple as it was years ago. Now you have annual vet visits, endless inoculations and myriad dog health concerns that didn't exist a few decades ago. With advances in dog health care comes more information for owners to absorb, so keep these basic dog health care tips in mind if you don't have time to read a huge dog health care book.
Dog health care should include an annual veterinary check.
There are tons of reasons that your dog health care regime should include an annual veterinary visit. Many vaccinations are administered on an annual basis; an annual veterinary visit is an opportunity for you to discuss dog health care concerns with a professional; and annual visits let you establish a baseline and help diagnose canine ailments. Establish a regular veterinarian for your dog and go in for annual checks.
Examine your dog regularly at home so you can report any abnormalities to your vet at your annual visit. You don't need to be an expert in canine anatomy for good dog health care; get to know the way your dog's body normally feels and operates, and report any changes to your vet at your annual visit.
Must-have annual vaccinations.
Most states and cities have laws governing required vaccinations. Depending on where you live, you'll need to get a rabies vaccination every one to three years. Most veterinarians also recommend an annual DAPP vaccination to protect against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza. This is in addition to vaccinations for leptospirosis, canine kennel cough, and regional vaccinations such as Lyme disease.
Many veterinarians feel that over-vaccinating your dog can cause major dog health care concerns, so you may only need a booster every three years, or your vet may want to titer to check your dog's antibody levels before administering vaccinations.
Dog health care includes diet.
A dog's diet is an important part of the dog health care regime. Studies have shown that foods high in preservatives, additives, fillers and certain types of fat are extremely harmful for dogs. These foods are linked with increased cancer rates and other dog health care concerns. Research your dog's diet to make sure you're feeding him quality dog food, and change your dog's food periodically to avoid developing food allergies or gastric problems. If you're really committed to top-notch dog health care, consider feeding your dog a raw food diet.
Dog health care includes knowing where your nearest emergency vet is located.
Accidents happen. Even the most vigilant dog owner can't prevent dog health care emergencies, so it's a good idea to always know where the nearest emergency vet is located. Take a basic canine first aid class so you can slow bleeding or clear your dog's airway if he's choking. While you shouldn't take your dog to the emergency vet for everything, you should err on the side of caution if your dog has a serious accident or begins behaving erratically.
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