Canine health care
Preventive medicine is taking steps to prevent illness. By following a complete program, you can help your dog maintain good health throughout its life. The most important aspects of a preventive medicine program are a well-balanced diet and regular veterinary examinations. Regular trips to your veterinary surgeon are crucial to the maintenance of your dogs health. Your vet can design a program geared specifically for your dog. Periodic examinations will allow the veterinary surgeon to monitor your dogs progress and adjust the program as needed. In addition, the vet will know of special issues that apply to your geographic location.
Vaccination
Vaccinations are powerful tools that stimulate the immune system, the natural line of defense against disease. Once a virus or bacterium has been introduced and fought off, the immune system remembers it and develops a mechanism to fight it in the future. A vaccine is made from the same agent that causes a disease, but the agent is altered so that it is harmless. The immune system, however, cannot tell the difference between the real agent and the vaccine. This allows the system to build up a defense to the disease without being subjected to it.
Most vaccinations are given when your dog is young. Puppies should receive 2 to 4 shots a few weeks apart. Staggering the vaccinations allows your puppy to gradually build up adequate immunity. Until it has received all of them, your puppy may not be fully protected. Annual booster vaccinations are needed to keep the immune system strong.
Diseases Prevented by Vaccinations
Distemper. This attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. This disease can cause coughing, conjunctivitis, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Despite treatment, it frequently results in death. The distemper inoculation contains several additional vaccines designed to stave off a variety of other diseases. These diseases are listed below.
a. Parvovirus. A viral disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea containing blood. It leads to dehydration and can affect the heart muscle. Parvovirus is difficult to treat and frequently fatal.
b. Leptospirosis. There are two types of this disease; both are bacterial and attack the kidneys, liver and red blood cells. They can be transmitted to people.
c. Canine Hepatitis. A viral disease that attacks the liver. It causes jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. It is often fatal.
d. Canine Parainfluenza. A viral disease that affects the respiratory system. It is rarely fatal but can be debilitating. It can cause a persistent infection that can lower the resistance of the immune system. This, in turn, makes the dog more susceptible to secondary respiratory infection which can be more serious.
Bordetella. Another vaccination is for bordetella, also known as Kennel Cough. It is a bacterial disease affecting the respiratory system. It is rarely fatal but can debilitate the dog for several weeks. The animal may have a hacking cough that often brings up a great deal of phlegm. During this time, the dog may be susceptible to secondary disease.
Rabies. This is one of the most feared diseases, there is no cure. Rabies attacks the brain and the nervous attacks the brain and the nervous system. The United Kingdom is rabies free. Therefore, there is no vaccination programme. At the time of printing, there are very strict quarantine regulations for animals entering United Kingdom.
Neutering:
Neutering is the removal of the reproductive glands, preventing a dog from breeding. While this helps control the dog population, it has medical and behavioral benefits as well. Neutering does not alter the personality of your dog.
Neutering for males is known as castration, it is the removal of the testicles. The most common time to have a male castrated is between the ages of 6 and 12 months.
Advantages of Castration
Prevents unwanted pregnancies and puppies.
Often causes dog to be less aggressive.
Less likely to wander off.
Less likely to have prostate problems as it grows old.
Disadvantages of Castration
Cannot breed
Has to have an operation requiring anesthesia.
Tends to gain weight.
Neutering for females is known as spaying. This is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. The most common time to have a female spayed is between the ages of 6 and 12 months.
Advantages of Spaying
Prevents unwanted pregnancies and puppies.
Prevents bleeding during times in heat.
Greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer, if performed early in life
Eliminates the risk of pyometra.
Disadvantages of Spaying
Cannot breed.
Has to have an operation requiring anesthesia.
Tends to gain weight
Unless you plan to breed your dog, you should elect to have it neutered. The risk is very low and outweighed by the medical benefits.
Nutrition:
Excellent health begins with good nutrition. The keys to good nutrition are plenty of fresh water and the correct quantities of a well balanced diet.
Fresh water
It is crucial that your dog always has access to clean, fresh water. Lack of water can lead to dehydration. This can cause a wide variety of problems. It is a good idea to make water constantly available to your dog and to change the water daily. Adequate water is especially important for puppies and older dogs.
What to Feed:
A well balanced diet begins with the correct food. It is best to use a quality commercial diet which can be bought at supermarkets, at per stores and from your veterinary surgeon. Commercial food companies have spent years in the perfection of their products. The result is that these foods provide the best mix of nutrients and flavor. A home made diet can be well balanced but it will probably be more expensive than a good commercial food and it may leave out important nutrients.
Once you have decided on a type of food, do not change very often. A dogs digestive system does not adapt well to sudden changes. Changing the type of food may upset the system, often causing vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to clean the water and feed bowls on a regular basis. Also food must be stored properly after it has been opened; instructions for this are usually written on the package. Any food that appears moldy or has a rancid odor should be discarded.
Parasites:
A parasite is an organism that lives off another organism to the detriment of the host. A number of parasites affect dogs. Besides being debilitating to animals, some can affect people. As soon as a dog is diagnosed as having parasites, it should be treated promptly and thoroughly.
Roundworms
It looks like small spaghetti. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of growth in puppies. If a dog is heavily infected, worms may be seen in vomit or stools. Transmitted through the ingestion of soiled material, feces or milk, transmitted to humans through ingestion of soiled material and feces.
Tapeworm
It looks like rice grains attached to the anus. Can be fairly mobile and may move around by changing their shape in a slow motion manner. Usually does not show any clinical signs, but can cause diarrhea and weight loss in some cases. Transmitted through ingestion of an infected flea or through eating wild animals such as mice or rats and it can infect to humans if an infected flea is swallowed; cannot be transmitted directly from the dog.
Steps for Prevention
Clean up after your dog.
Insist that others clean up after their dogs. Most worms are transmitted by coming into contact with the feces of infected animals.
Do not let your dog eat raw meant.
Treat for fleas as needed.
Routinely worm your dog every 3 months with a wormer supplied by your veterinary surgeon.
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