Canine Health

By: Larissa Levise

Every member of your family deserves the best health care, and your dog is certainly no exception. If you own a dog or are planning to welcome one to your family, you must be aware of the signs of illness and disease.

Educating yourself on proper canine care should always be done before you bring home your new pet. Be aware of the signs of potential health concerns, and know how to provide preventative care.

Preventative medicine is paramount in effective health care. Just like children, puppies need to see a health care specialist on a regular basis. At six weeks of age, your puppy should begin a series of four DHLPP/CCV vaccinations. These shots are administered at three- to four-week intervals. Your puppy also needs to be de-wormed often, and should begin receiving heartworm preventative medication at four months old. Heartworm prevention is an ongoing necessity that's vital to providing your dog with a long and happy life.

Once these initial treatments have been given, your growing dog should see the vet for a checkup once a year. At these annual visits, the vet will examine your dogs stool and teeth, administer any necessary vaccinations, and provide a general examination to rule out medical concerns.

Keeping up on preventative medicine needs is the best way to ensure your dog's health. It's also important to know the signs of potential trouble, and keep a close eye for any existing symptoms.

Dogs often experience skin problems, and can present their conditions in various ways. Skin allergies, common to many breeds of dogs, can cause hair loss and 'hot spots'. Hot spots are sores that appear on the surface of the skin. These sores will ooze and they are very painful. The dog will deal with the discomfort by constantly licking at the area, making the problem even more difficult to treat.

Flea infestations are a common misdiagnosis of skin allergy causing hot spots. Know the signs and symptoms of skin allergies so that you can make the right diagnosis and begin treatment. If your dog tends to scratch his or her neck, head and front legs will usually be suffering a skin allergy. Chewing at the top of the rump is a typical indication of a flea infestation.

Your pet's stool may hold clues to health problems. Discolored, runny stool can be a sign of trouble and warrants a trip to the vet. While this can be caused by something as simple as improper diet, it can also be indicative of parasites. Both causes are easily treatable and the condition can be quickly reversed. If your dog has parasites, these are easily remedied with proper medication. Another condition, called gastric dilatation volvulus is rare but quite serious. Large, deep chested breeds of dogs may suffer with gastric dilatation volvulus, which occurs with physical exertion following the consumption of large amounts of water.

Every member of your family, including your dog, deserves to have access to the very best health benefits. Caring for your pet's health can require an investment of your time and money, but it's not necessarily a difficult task. Make sure that your dog receives an annual checkup, and know the symptoms and warning signs of potential illnesses. Cover all of the healthcare bases, and your dog will enjoy the long, happy life that he or she deserves.

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Contributor Larissa Levise is an author for several web sites, on family history and family video subjects.
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