The information given herein should serve as a general guide to the owners of all dogs. While not meant to be neither a comprehensive work nor a replacement for the advice of your veterinarian, if you follow these simple guidelines you can insure your pet of the longest, most trouble free and happy life that he or she could possibly have. Most certainly, you can extend the life of your dog far beyond what would otherwise be expected simply by following these recommendations.

EXAMINATIONS are the most important part of effective preventative care for your dog. A good examination can detect problems before they arise or while in their earliest phases when treatment can be most effective. We advise a yearly exam for all dogs under eight years of age and twice yearly after that.

A thorough exam will check your dog's eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth and throat, heart, lungs, abdominal organs, skin and coat, feet, including pads and nails, vital statistics, weight and body score, nervous, urinary, reproductive and muscular systems. Because dogs do indeed age at an accelerated rate, the frequency of canine examination is more than that needed for humans.

VACCINATIONS should be given once a year for parvovirus, distemper, coronavirus, hepatitis, Lyme disease, respiratory disease, and once every three years for rabies. Working or show animals have greater exposure risks, but even in your own yard dogs can and do become infected. Having more than one dog also increases the risks of infection. Many of these viruses are airborne or are easily transported on clothes, feet and by insects and birds. These vaccines are usually given in conjunction with the yearly exam. Some veterinarians may advise additional boosters in high-risk areas or for certain breeds. Puppies will need a series of boosters initially starting at 6-8 weeks of age to establish their own immunity to these diseases.

FECAL PARASITE EXAMS should be performed at least once yearly. Worms and other internal parasites are easily picked up simply from sniffing the ground, licking the legs and feet or eating food off of the ground. Puppies can become infected directly from their mothers. Having fleas or eating rodents or birds can transmit tapeworms to your dog. All internal parasites can greatly compromise your pet's health by interfering with digestion and damaging internal organs.

If your pet has tapeworms that are transmitted in fleas or by birds and rodents, you may see small segments on the feces or near the anal area. These look like pieces of rice and may move if they have not dried. ((Tapeworms))

Roundworms, hookworms and whipworms are not commonly visible. A stool exam will allow your veterinarian to identify the worm eggs and confirm the presence of these parasites. ((Roundworms))

Coccidia and Giardia are single cell organisms that can cause severe digestive disturbances but are never visible to the naked eye. Only careful microscopic examination of the stool for identification and the proper medication will eradicate these pests. ((Coccidia))

WORMING in general is not advisable unless specific parasites have been identified. Over the counter wormers on sale today often are non-specific, poorly active and even toxic in some cases. Modern drugs are far safer, and when administered to handle a specific parasite, can be nearly 100% effective. In some cases, when your veterinarian has identified a continuous problem in your area, a regular worming program may be necessary and appropriate under their direction. Some veterinarians will worm all puppies as a general preventative measure.

HEARTWORM TESTING AND MONTHLY PREVENTION is advised in most areas, at least during spring and summer months. Some of the more moist and warmer areas require treatment for nine months or even the entire year. Only one mosquito bite is needed to transmit this disease. A simple blood test and monthly pill can easily prevent your dog from becoming infected. Many animals will harbor this disease until irreparable heart and organ damage has occurred, and only then will they even appear ill. At this point there is treatment but it is quite intensive and cannot reverse the heart damage which has already occurred. ((Heartworms))

PROPER DIET is one of the most important health tips we can give you. Many diets are commercially available and a detailed discussion is far beyond the scope of this part of the program. It is advised that a premium food, preferably lower in calories and higher in fiber be used for most adult dogs. Some dogs have special medical needs for which specific formulations are also available. While there is probably no one perfect food, your veterinarian can discuss the many choices on the market and help you choose the best for you and your pet.

Some people feel they love their animals the most when they give treats of their own food. In reality, table foods often cause obesity, dental disease, gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea), pancreatic and liver disease just to name a few common problems caused by this practice. Seldom will home made diets or the addition of table foods to dog foods serve to improve any dog's diet. Rather, the diet often becomes somewhat "unbalanced" making for less than optimal nutrition. These problems then shorten the lifespan by increasing the risk of internal disease up to 30% for most canines.

Pregnant and nursing dogs, although they do have special needs, often can do well without supplementation if a high quality diet is fed from the onset of pregnancy.

FLEAS AND TICKS can attack even the cleanest pet in the cleanest of homes. They can transmit internal parasites, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and other diseases that can be fatal, some even being a human health hazard. There are pills that can prevent fleas (and possibly ticks) that can be given once a month, special tick repellent collars, sprays and new topicals that your veterinarian would be happy to tell you about. Treatment of the home and yard is also necessary in most cases. ((Fleas)) ((Ticks))

ARTHRITIS is a major reason many dogs are eventually put to sleep, not when their organs fail, but when they are unable to move without pain or even get up the morning! Newer drugs for arthritis can help rebuild damaged joints with few side effects. Chiropractic manipulation of joints and spine and the use of acupuncture are gaining acceptance and can greatly aid the overall mobility of the animal. These are exciting new treatments which, although they can be used to cure or repair damage, can and should be used to prevent degeneration before it occurs. The benefits can be beyond measure for some dogs. ((Arthritis))

MICROCHIP IDENTIFICATION is a newer, more universal method of animal identification. The value of identification that cannot be lost or altered cannot be overstated. This type of identification, while not a guarantee of safety, greatly protects your valuable friend if he or she ever becomes separated from you. Microchips can be easily inserted during any routine visit. They are usually placed under the skin in the area between the shoulder blades near the spine. The chips can occasionally migrate but have never proven to be of any health risk to any dog because of their inert nature. The useful life of the chip is equal to the life of any dog. Most animal hospitals, humane shelters and other animal organizations scan lost dogs for the presence of microchips.

SPAYING AND NEUTERING is most important to prevent more than unwanted litters. In females, spaying will also prevent breast cancers, the second most common cancer type in female dogs, ovarian and uterine tumors, messy heat cycles, aggressive behaviors and the desire to roam away from home. In males, neutering prevents prostate enlargement and cancers, testicular tumors, anal and rectal tumors, as well as aggressive behaviors and the desire to escape and look for females.

Both procedures are better-performed around six months of age, but can be done at any age to provide these beneficial effects. Contrary to some beliefs, the personality of the pet is not altered, but rather, the dog becomes less wild and a more socially acceptable creature. Some people also believe that to let a female have a litter or to allow animals to mate improves their personality. This too is far from the truth, with breeding animals being less social than their spayed/neutered counterparts. 

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©2007 James W. Day D.V.M., P.C.