Owning a dog can be a truly rewarding experience if you take the time to educate yourself on the proper care of dogs. There are two main areas of focus when examining dog health, disease preventative care and recognizing signs of potential problems.
Preventative medicine is paramount in effective dog care. At six weeks old puppies should begin a series of four DHLPP/CCV vaccinations three or four weeks apart. Puppies should be de-wormed often and started on heartworm preventative at four months old.
This program should be maintained indefinitely. An annual visit to a local veterinarian is necessary to maintain your dog's health. In addition to administering vaccinations, the vet will examine the dog's teeth and stool, and look for any obvious maladies.
What kind of dog health problems should I be on the look out for?
It is also important for new pet owners to be able to recognize any signs of potential dog health problems. Skin problems are quite common and can present themselves in a number of various ways. Skin allergies are very common in many dogs and can cause hair loss and 'hot spots'. These 'hot spots' are sores on the skin surface that ooze and become easily infected.
They are also very painful and hard to deal with because of the dog's constant licking. The skin allergies that cause 'hot spots' are often mistaken for flea infestation problems; an easy way to tell the difference is by watching the dog.
Chewing the top of his rump is a good indication of fleas, while scratching his head, neck and front legs indicate allergies. Signs of potential health problems also present themselves in the dogs stool. If the stool appears runny or discolored you may need to visit the vet.
Parasites or a change in diet are usually the culprit and most often easily remedied. Another less common but very serious threat to your dog's health is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus. Large, deep crested dogs are predisposed for this condition which causes their stomachs to flip if they exert themselves after ingesting large amounts of water.
Your dog's health is not something to be taken lightly. It is a huge responsibility you have chosen to bear, but it doesn't mean that is has to be hard. Just make sure you take him for a check up every year and be attentive to any imminent health problems. If you follow your veterinarian's advice your dog should have a happy, healthy, and long life.
Mike Long runs a dog training website that focuses on educating people about the different ways of training your dog or puppy. If you would like to learn more, including additional articles, and training tips, tricks, and ideas, check out his site at http://dogtraininginfo.wordpress.com.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Dog Health and Dog Cystitis and Bladder Problems
- Dog Health - What is the Single, Most Important Thing You Can Do to Keep it?
- Dog Health Tips to Prevent Dog Health Problems
- Senior Dog Health – Great Ways to Keep your Senior Dog Healthy
- How to Make Healthy Dog Food Recipes
- Proper Dog Health for a Long Life
- 5 Ways Homemade Healthy Dog Food Can Help Your Dog
- Healthy Dogs: Three Basics For Raising a Happy Dog
Cats Physiology
By: Alex Vitti | 22/11/2009As a familiar and easily-kept animal, the physiology of cats has been particularly well studied and is generally similar to that of other carnivorous mammals. However, several features of cats' physiology are unusual and are probably due to their descent from desert-dwelling species.
6 Steps to Successful Dog Training
By: Sarah Brown | 22/11/2009Dogs do want to be trained. They have an innate desire to please their master and this is accomplished through training. It is a win-win situation. The dog is happier, knowing how to please his master, and the owner is happy having a well-behaved dog.
Dog Training Mistakes - The Top 3 Worse Mistakes You Can Make While Training Your Dog
By: Sarah Brown | 22/11/2009If you own a dog then you know how difficult your furry friend can be at times. However, with the proper training and a whole lot of patience, your dog can start behaving the way you want him to. Before you start training your dog, there are several common mistakes that many people make when they begin training. I will be going over the top 3 most common mistakes, so pay attention!
Dog Training Information That Will Help You Train a New Puppy Or an Older Dog
By: Sarah Brown | 22/11/2009There is a lot of dog training information available. You will find everything from training a new puppy, to dealing with a barking dog, and just about everything in between. This information will indeed be helpful and necessary if you have a new puppy in your home.
German Shepherd Training Tips - Make German Shepherd Dog Training Easy
By: Sarah Brown | 22/11/2009One of the most beautiful, loyal and aggressive dogs out there is the German Shepherd. There are many owners out there who want to know about German Shepherd training and how they can make their beautiful dog one that guards the home, but is safe to be around children and other pets.
Aquriums for beginners
By: Jamie Johnson | 21/11/2009Keeping an aquarium for a passtime Keeping an aquarium for a hobby Aquariums add delight and freshness to the people's houses and businesses all around the planet. Aquariums are included in restaurants specifically to attract children and customers who come and eat there. People have a habit of having aquarium like a sort of past-time. Since, it adds beauty to the place. The aquarium can be designed in such a fashion that it can be of any shapes like rectangle, s...
Do You Need a Custom Dog House?
By: Bryce Weber | 21/11/2009More than a trend today, custom dog houses have become a necessity for our well-loved pets. And since we love our pets so much, we desire for them to have a unique home just for them. Dogs have been held in high esteem since the beginning of civilization, in fact. Back in 4500 BC in Egypt, dogs were highly regarded as pets and hunting companions. Also in Roman and Greek history, dogs were considered as status symbols and their master's home was their home too. So it is no surprise that...
How to Buy a Horse at Auction
By: Dr. Douglas Stewart | 21/11/2009If you are intending to buy a horse at auction, you need to be able to tell the quality horses from the problem horses. Remember that most horses at auction are sold 'as-is', so you do not have a guarantee and have little legal protection, even if the horse has...
Top Ways To Care For Your Contact Lenses
By: Mike Long | 23/10/2006 | HealthWhen you wear contacts, you need to know how to take care of them. You need to have the know how to keep them in good shape so that you can have them for a long, long time. You need to make sure that you are getting the most that you can from your contacts.
Black Contact Lenses Give Your Eyes an Unusual Look
By: Mike Long | 22/10/2006 | HealthIf you are looking for something unique and crazy, you want to get black contact lenses. This is something that is so exciting and fun that anyone can get a lot of entertainment from it. You will see that you can scare someone with these creative lenses or you can defiantly make a statement with them if you would prefer.
The Basics of Buying Contact Lenses
By: Mike Long | 22/10/2006 | HealthSo many people have to wear glasses. These people have trouble seeing without the help of them on a daily basis. Vision problems generally fall into two groups: those who can not see things clearly at a distance (near-sightedness), or those who can not see things that are close to them (far-sightedness).
Your Dog's Health is in Your Hands - Learn How to Spot the Warning Signs
By: Mike Long | 08/09/2006 | PetsOwning a dog can be a truly rewarding experience if you take the time to educate yourself on the proper care of dogs. There are two main areas of focus when examining dog health, disease preventative care and recognizing signs of potential problems.
Older Dogs Have Special Needs - Learn to Help Them Deal With the Aches and Pains
By: Mike Long | 07/09/2006 | PetsOlder dogs are more common today than ever before due to better vaccines, better nutrition, and better health care; however, despite these advantages, older dogs have specific needs that must be met to insure continued health.
Find the Best Food for Your Dog - But Don't Forget the Water Too!
By: Mike Long | 07/09/2006 | PetsThere are hundreds of choices of dog food on the market today. Everything from wet, dry, high protein, high fat, low protein, and low fat foods fill the aisles of our pet stores. So how is one to choose the right one for their dog?
Dog Crates Give Your Dog a Comfortable Home Within Your Home
By: Mike Long | 06/09/2006 | PetsOne of the many fine dog crates on the market can be the best friend you and your pet will ever have. While it may seem like some sort of "cage" to you and I, your animal will regard it as his own personal indoor dog house, a security blanket of sorts where he can go to sleep or escape.