What makes a dog healthy?

 

Dogs are loyal and loving pets, no wonder their owners want to keep them healthy.

They are an essential part of our lives, so much so that when we lose them to a fatal illness or tragic accident, it is sometimes difficult to move on.

While we cannot stop certain accidents from happening, we can practice preventive care so that our dogs can live long lives.

What does it mean to give our dogs preventive care?

It simply means keeping our dogs physically healthy.

Preventive care helps in the early detection and prevention of diseases and other health problems before they become critical.

Signs that your dog is sick

Dogs can not verbally communicate to us if they are in pain or not feeling very well, but fur parents can usually tell through their dog’s body language.

If a normally energetic dog has suddenly become lethargic and refuses to eat, chances are something is ailing him.

Other signs every fur parent should watch out for are vomiting, hair loss, eye discharge, coughing, sneezing, and diarrhea.

These signs could be symptoms of a serious illness and it is always a good decision to take your dog to the vet whenever these symptoms are present.

Dog Vaccination

Canine distemper and parvovirus are highly contagious canine viruses and the outcome is often fatal for the dog.

The best way to guard your dog against these viruses is by vaccinating them.

Puppies can have their first 5-in-1 vaccination when they are 6–8 weeks old. The 5-in-1 vaccine protects your dog from Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Parainfluenza.

Another important vaccine that your dog should have is the anti-rabies vaccine.

Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus, which is transmitted through a bite or saliva from an infected animal.

It has a high fatality rate once a dog gets infected and starts exhibiting symptoms.

The best way to guard your dogs against the rabies virus is by vaccinating them.

Puppies can get their anti-rabies shot when they have reached the age of four months.

Spaying or Neutering your dog

Aside from preventing unplanned pregnancies, having your dog fixed has other health benefits.

Spayed or neutered dogs have lower chances of getting breast cancer, pyometra (in female dogs), and testicular cancer (in male dogs). Transmissible venereal tumors (TVTs) are cancerous tumors, and they are highly contagious.

The best way to protect your dogs against TVT is by spaying or neutering them.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm is a serious disease that causes severe organ damage and death in dogs and cats.

The worms are transmitted via a mosquito bite.

They are called “heartworms” because they settle in an infected dog’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Once a dog becomes the host, the parasitic worms are then free to mature and develop into adults inside the dog’s body.

Monthly chewable pills, topical solutions, and an injectable medicine administered every 6 or 12 months are some of the preventive measures available.

Kennel Cough Prevention

Kennel Cough, also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness that affects dogs.

Dogs can get Kennel Cough in places where there are a lot of dogs, such as pet daycare services, dog parks, and dog shows.

If a dog becomes ill with Kennel Cough, isolate the dog immediately and disinfect the kennel for one to two weeks.

For kennel cough prevention, a vaccine against bordetella bacterium, the agent that causes kennel cough, is available.

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Dog parents can consult their veterinarian.

Diabetes Mellitus Prevention

Although dogs of various shapes and sizes can get diabetes, older dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

Dogs with diabetes experience weight loss, are often thirsty, have little appetite, and are prone to infections.

Diabetes is manageable, not entirely curable, and dogs diagnosed with the disease can live a normal and happy life.

The best treatment for diabetes is prevention.

Although Diabetes in dogs cannot be completely prevented, there are steps that dog parents can take now to maintain their dog’s health in the future.

Dog parents can help their dogs avoid diabetes by feeding them a healthy diet, taking them to regular vet checkups, and making sure they get enough exercise.

Cancer Prevention

Researchers for the study “Mortality in North American dogs from 1984 to 2004: an investigation into age-, size-, and breed-related causes of death,” examined 20 years of records from the Veterinary Medical Database.

Its one of the world’s largest veterinary medical data repositories.

They found that the number one cause of death among older dogs is cancer.

The incidence of cancer peaked in the group of 10-year-old dogs, then declined as the dogs got older.

However, dog parents can reduce the risk of their dog getting cancer by choosing a chemically-free environment for their dog.

By making sure dog’s teeth and mouth are healthy, reducing the use of tick and flea products, and spaying their dog after 18 months of age.

Practicing preventive health care for your dog is part of responsible pet ownership.

Dogs are family and we have to safeguard their health and happiness for the rest of their short lives.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. Healthy Supplies Shop is  not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of healthy supplies shop  and we do not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.