When you start raising a dog, it is important to develop an action plan to maintain the health of your pet. It took years to realize that some very simple things can save you time and energy.

health examination

At the beginning of being with your dog, please take your dog to see a veterinarian for preventive diagnosis and treatment. The veterinarian will conduct a health check on your dog, and you can ask what issues to pay attention to and whether there are any existing health issues. Make sure your dog receives medication for parasites such as worms, fleas, or ticks, as this is an opportunity to ensure your questions are answered. Write down your question and don't forget that veterinarians can also help solve your dog's behavioral problems. Dogs grow much faster than humans, and they cannot express their health issues clearly. Therefore, you should try to take your dog for a physical examination every six months, even if you do not find any obvious problems.

Understand the breed issue of your dog

If you have a dog with a large chest, you need to pay attention to whether the dog is bloating and vomiting, and avoid feeding the dog before exercising. If you have a dog with a flat nose, your dog will be prone to fever. Some breeds may be prone to hip dysplasia, especially if dogs are not fed correctly. If you know what to pay attention to, you should take the initiative and know when to worry. Your veterinarian can assist you, but you can also access the Lida University of Sydney database.

Vaccination

Puppies need to be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks, and then every year or every 3 years, depending on the health characteristics of your dog and requiring discussion with your veterinarian. Despite some illnesses and pains, vaccination is becoming increasingly rare, with occasional catastrophic outbreaks, such as the canine distemper situation in New South Wales. When you receive the vaccine every year, the veterinarian will also check the health status of your dog, which can also draw your attention.

Internal parasite control

The worm examination should start at 2 weeks of age and then be conducted every two weeks until 12 weeks. Afterwards, the dog will be checked monthly until it is 6 months old, and then intestinal worms or heart worms will be checked every 3 months. If you are prone to forgetting your monthly preventive measures, you can also get vaccinated against heart disease once a year, but you still need to undergo intestinal worm testing every three months. A very easy option is to use the interceptor once a month, and you can also give your dog NEXGARD for deworming.

Take care of your dog's teeth

Wiping your pet's teeth with pet toothpaste and a soft brush every day can help prevent periodontal disease that can cause pain, infection, and damage to the heart and kidneys. Once dental diseases are established, general anesthesia is required to clean all surfaces of teeth, so prevention is better. If you don't brush your pet's teeth, chewing on raw meat and bones, dental foods containing additives, and water can also help.

Good dietary habits

The food given to a dog needs to be correct for the dog. Although they often take great risks trying to eat, they should be fed a high-quality and balanced diet. Whether you are preparing food at home or buying pre prepared food, use good protein instead of cheap grains such as soybeans and corn. Consider the impact of diet on your pet's teeth and focus on feeding healthy foods that do not contain artificial ingredients. Some dogs will require a prescription diet to handle pain beyond the available over-the-counter dog food.

If you are a family chef, please seek nutritional advice from a veterinarian or nutritionist to ensure that all ingredients you use are not fed to your dog's high-fat food, excessive human food, or food that is not suitable for digestion. If you eat bones, make sure they are raw. If they are hard bones such as beef, lamb, or pig bones, your pet should eat meat from the bones instead of chewing on them and risk tooth fractures.

Beauty and bathing

If your dog has long hair, it is necessary to brush or comb regularly to prevent possible pain and skin irritation. If your dog has continuously growing hair, traveling every six to eight weeks will be necessary to keep their hair healthy. Unless recommended by your veterinarian, you should not bathe your dog too much every week. Some pets only need a good brush, and may not even need to take a shower, but if you give your pet a bath, please use gentle pet shampoo.

Pet insurance/savings

When you take care of your pet, you are also responsible for its health and medical issues. Once your pet reaches the age of 7, they are considered elderly because their age increases much faster than ours. Pet insurance ensures your peace of mind, and you can provide treatment for your pet at any time. Even a basic dental cleaning will cost about $500, so claiming it can make your pet insurance worth having. If you decide not to use pet insurance, you can also put some money in your bank account or leave some space on your credit card in case your pet needs emergency care.