Dog Health Care

You take your dog's health for granted when Fido greets you like his long lost love every time you come home. He gazes at you with compassion and sighs and whimpers when you are sick. He puts up with all your moods and bad habits. So it's natural that you would want him around for a long time and that your dogs health is very important to you. What are some of the things you can do for him?

The very first thing is, unless you plan to breed your dog, is to neuter Fido and spay Fida. Too many unwanted dogs have to be put down each year and we simply do not need any more Fidettes. Plus spaying and neutering will keep your dog from a frantic and unsafe escape and things will be much for comfortable for him and for you. Spaying and neutering are basic to dog health.

Dogs are susceptible to about 60 types of disease, 20 of them transmittable to humans. Make sure your dog's health is protected by vaccinations. The basic shot is the DHLPP, an all in one shot that covers distemper, hepatitis, leptspirosis, parvo virus, and parainfluenza. Make sure Fido also gets his rabies shot and periodic worming. All these shots need boosters but the common practice of giving boosters once a year has become controversial, some vets saying that not only are they unnecessary, but that they can cause disease. Talk to your vet about this.

There is probably nothing that causes more dog misery than the common old flea. If Fido has fleas, he is miserable, scratching, biting, itching. A simple few fleas can flare up into a major allergy. If you see tiny shiny black specs on Fido, these are fleas and he has fleas. He should be treated right away. The best things since sliced bread are the flea and tick insecticides that you buy from your vet and apply between Fido's shoulder blades. The fleas will be dead in about an hour and each treatment lasts a month. There are also flea baths, powders, and lotions.

Routine grooming is good for the dog's mental and physical health, keeping the dog's skin, coat, teeth, gums, and nails healthy. Brush Fido's teeth daily and also brush his hair. Trim nails as needed and bathe as needed. Some dogs do not shed and will need their hair cut periodically.