The importance of health can’t be overstated, and that goes for your dog as well. When you take on the responsibility of owning a dog, you have to look after the basic and preventative health needs of your pet. You don’t have to become an expert on dog ailments or turn into a hypochondriac; you just need some basic knowledge and take preventative action.
Know your vet and take your dog for annual check-ups; keep inoculations up to date.
It pays to be on good terms with a vet you trust; you never know when you’ll suddenly need him.
Vaccines will not prevent your dog from getting sick, but it will reduce the severity of the disease and increase the chances of survival. Puppies get shots until four months old while older dogs get core vaccinations and others as needed. Annual revaccination is recommended for traveling/working pets. The type and regularity of vaccination will depend on your lifestyle, current diseases and geography i.e. what the dog is exposed to.
Keep an eye on your dog’s general health and know the signs of ill health.
Loss of appetite, listlessness, a high fever and loss of energy are all indications that something may be wrong with your dog.
A continuous discharge from the eyes, ears and nose are also warning signs.
Skin diseases can be very contagious and some, like hot spots or moist eczema, need to be treated by a vet as soon as possible. The reason for continuous scratching will usually be dry skin or parasites like fleas or ticks. These can be prevented by treating the dog with easily applied products available from vets and pet shops.
Be aware of health issues associated with your breed, particularly if you have a pedigree dog.
Some breeds are prone to particular diseases, so it pays to be aware of these. White or light cream dogs are prone to skin problems and can get sunburn. Bulldog breeds with short noses should not be walked during the heat of the day. On this subject, when you do walk your dog on a hot day, be mindful that his paws may get sore and burnt if he walks on a tar road or hot surface for a long distance. Otherwise get him walking shoes…
The diet of some smaller breeds need to be carefully monitored as they tend to have sensitive digestive systems. If you stick to good quality recommended dog food, and don’t feed the dog from the table, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Large breeds like German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Labradors are vulnerable to hip dysplasia; which can be a crippling disease. Be aware of this if you own a large breed (although it can occur in almost all breeds) and see your vet as soon as you suspect your dog is developing the disease.
Be prepared if your dog get injured, or need emergency treatment.
Dogs get injured; from cutting their paw on something sharp to jumping through a glass window while chasing a cat (my Rottweiler Cara was guilty of this). They may get in a fight with another dog, hit by a car or burnt with hot liquid in the kitchen. Obviously prevention is the best cure in these cases, but sometimes accidents do happen.
Dogs may also get themselves in bad situations like getting stuck, although they are less likely to do so than cats,or for instance falling while out hiking with you. In these cases the best is to apply basic first aid and call for help while keeping the patient warm and calm.
Not only puppies chew and swallow all kinds of objes, adult dogs are sometimes just as guilty;or a dog may eat something that is poisonous. In cases like these, it’s best to go to the vet as soon as you suspect something serious may be wrong.
Think about taking out health insurance for your dog.
Like all insurance, health insurance for your pet may be a drag on your budget; until you need it. To have your dog operated on can be expensive. Treating an injury after an accident also can cost a lot of money. So you’ll have to do your homework, see what you can afford and take you and your dog’s lifestyle into account. An active dog that gets out will be more exposed to mishaps than a mostly housebound dog, although they say most accidents happen in the home?
Be aware that the and can be quite expensive for some breeds. You’ll have to decide how much you can afford and weigh the cost up against the risk of paying for expensive treatment. Or, worst case, not being able to let your dog have proper care if something does go wrong.
In need of pet insurance we a have a low cost plan for everyone send an email to insurance@pethobs.com or call us on 4154947340
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