Basic Healthcare For your Dog
|
Remember, there are lots of old
wives tales about dog health! If in doubt, ask the
vet. Never give human medicines to pets unless your
vet tells you it's OK. |
Vaccination
Vaccination can protect your dog against
killer diseases, including distemper and
parvovirus. Two initial injections are required, followed by
annual boosters. Your dog
should not be taken outside in areas where other dogs have
been until the vaccination
course is completed. Your vet can advise how long to wait.
However, research suggests it is beneficial for puppies to
socialize (that is, learn to make
friends with other dogs and people, and to cope with a range
of situations and
experiences) while young, before vaccination is complete.
Discuss the risks and benefits
with your vet. Many vets now run puppy classes where puppies
can learn to socialize with
minimal risk of disease. Vaccinations may be
controversial, but the diseases they prevent are still
around and still
kill. If you do not know if your pet has been vaccinated, it
does not hurt to repeat the course. Flea Control
Most dogs get fleas at some point, and they
are most common in summertime. They can
be hard to spot as they spend little time actually on the
dog. Fleas and flea eggs can
survive outdoors in summer. Regular treatment is
recommended, especially for an itchy
animal. A single application of any treatment is not enough
for effective control –
treatment usually needs to be repeated monthly.
The best treatments come from your vet. Pet shop and
supermarket products are less
effective. All dogs and cats in the household need to be
treated as does the home (usually
with a spray, although some treatments for pets help as
well). Regular vacuuming reduces
flea numbers, and the house should be treated after
vacuuming as vibration stimulates
hatching of flea eggs. Pay particular attention to dark
crevices, such as down the sides of
chair cushions and round skirting boards, as eggs accumulate
in cracks. Remember to
read all instructions for treatments carefully before
proceeding. |
