Theres More To A Healthy Dog Than Just Dog Obedience Classes

Keeping your dog healthy and happy is a lot more involved than taking him to dog training classes and making sure he has food, water, and exercise. Training and socialization are important, as you already know, but your dog will also need regular veterinary care, as well as grooming and possibly boarding, or in-home pet care. If your dog is lucky, he'll get to travel with you, at least occasionally, and there are several simple things you can do to ensure a safe and happy trip.

One of the most important people in your dog's life is her veterinarian. If you start out with a puppy, you'll get to know your vet pretty well in the first year. And of course, accidents and illnesses - minor and major - can occur despite even the best intentions and efforts. The time to develop a relationship with your vet is before such an event occurs.

Routine Care

Your dog will need to see the vet at least once every year for her annual checkup, heartworm, and intestinal parasite tests. In many areas, dogs are routinely tested for Lyme disease in combination with the heartworm test. Depending on your dog, your vet, and your personal preferences, you may also want to have blood work, vaccinations, or titer tests.

Your dog will also need to be spayed or neutered, usually around the age of six months. Leave breeding to the professionals who are committed to improving the breed, and let your kids learn about the miracle of life from a DVD. It's not worth losing your dog in whelp (giving birth).

Also, it's expensive and a full-time job raising puppies. Heat cycles are messy and last for three weeks, usually twice a year, and leave your dog vulnerable to mammary cancer. If you have a male dog, he'll be much easier to live with, and will have a much lower tendency to run away or develop aggression problems if he's neutered. You'll also eliminate the possibility of testicular cancer and prostate cancer as he ages.

Minor problems are bound to crop up in your dog's health. Skin and ear infections are common, as are urinary-tract infections and minor accidents. You are your dog's best friend in more ways than one - it goes way beyond just dog obedience training. It is your careful observation of your dog, his body, and his behavior that will help you catch any health issues before they become serious. At least once a week, thoroughly examine your dog' s eyes, ears, mouth, body, and limbs, noting any unusual appearance, including lesions, pustules, growths, or the presence of parasites like fleas or ticks.