Maintaining Your Dogs Good Health

Just as the old adage, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure holds true when it comes to our health, the saying is also true for the health of our dogs. It is so much easier and less painful to simply take the time to do a little preventative care instead of having to deal with an illness. Preventative care saves considerable amounts of time and money. There are a few health checks that can be done to keep a dog in tip-top shape.


Control parasites

Since dogs spend much of their time outdoors, they are prone to problems with parasites, the most common being round worms, tapeworms, fleas, ticks and mites. Worm parasites cause problems mostly within the digestive tract, and the fleas, ticks and mites cause intense skin irritation, itching and hair loss as well as possible transmission of other parasites. Fleas can cause skin allergies and can serve as transmitters of other parasites. Ticks spread diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease and can make a dog anemic.

Often found in a dogs feces, intestinal worms are usually easy to spot; however dogs may have worms even if they arent readily visible. Parasites are one of the most easily corrected health issues that your dog can face. Your veterinarian can test your dog and if any are present your dog can be treated and then put on a preventative for the future.

Another disease that dogs can be plagued with unless precautions are taken is heartworms. A dog can have a progressive case of heartworms long before any symptoms appear. Symptoms include a dull coat, a hacking cough, difficulty breathing, and Transient Ischemic Attacks (mini strokes). Once the dogs symptoms become this advanced, treatment to get rid of heartworms can be difficult for the dog, and there is no guarantee that the dog will live through the treatment. If the dog does survive the treatment, it can still have some heart damage.

Heartworms are easily prevented if you take precautionary measures. Your veterinarian can put your dog on a heartworm preventative which will afford him a much healthier, happier and more active life.


Take Care of the teeth

Just like humans, dogs teeth need regular maintenance to prevent tartar from building up on them, which can lead to gum disease. This can be achieved in several ways, including using a special toothpaste and brush made just for dogs and performing a light, once-a-day brushing. Also, dry dog food is considered more desirable for the dogs dental health for two reasons. First, it doesnt stay on the dogs teeth as long as wet food does, and second, it tends to scrape off some of the tartar that may have developed on the teeth. There are also certain chew toys and dental toys that help the dogs teeth naturally stay clean and plaque-free.


Grooming helps more than his looks

Regular grooming can help prevent skin irritations and certain bacterial infections. Loose, ungroomed dog hair can become matted, or can be inhaled, which can lead to respiratory and digestive problems. Thats why its important to keep your dog well groomed with regular brushing and bathing. Regular maintenance is easy to do and will help your dog live a much happier life.