Preventative Care for Your Pet
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes. When it comes to taking care of the family pet, preventive measures for proper health will not only benefit your pet and save you time and trouble, but will help to avoid unnecessary veterinarian bills, as well.
First Things First
An annual check up by a qualified, professional veterinarian is at the top of the list when it comes to preventive care for your pet. Even if your pet looks fine on the outside, something serious could be going on internally that if caught quickly, could save your pet's life.
In addition to annual check ups, be sure your pet's shots are kept up to date. In the very least, dogs and cats should be inoculated against rabies, distemper, and parvo; this is especially true for pets that spend any length of time outdoors, or around other animals.
Inoculations against hepatitis and leptospirosis might also be required. All the above mentioned diseases are life-threatening and can be easily avoided with a simple vaccination.
One additional word of caution: pseudorrabies is a herpes virus-induced disease of swine that is fatal when transmitted to dogs or cats. To prevent infection, never feed your dog or cat uncooked pork.
Maintaining Good Health
Good health for anyone—man or beast—begins with a relatively clean environment, with plenty of fresh, clean water and a regular, adequate diet both in quantity and quality. Quality, nutritionally balanced pet foods are available in moist, dry, or semi-moist form from pet supply stores and veterinary clinics.
Many pet food choices available in department and grocery stores lack the recommended balance of nutrients. They may be inconsistent in food quality, or contain unbeneficial ingredients and additives. For instance, some grocery store name brands of cat food add trace elements of antifreeze to make the food more palatable.
Educate yourself as to the nutritional needs of your pet. If in doubt, confer with a veterinarian. Check labels carefully for nutritional content. And be aware that as your pet grows and ages, nutritional requirements change.
Dogs require about one ounce of water daily for each pound of body weight. More or less may be required, depending upon level of activity, humidity level, and temperature. Moist dog food contains some water; dogs that eat dry food need more water than dogs that eat moist. Semi-moist foods contain additives and salt which may increase thirst.
Pet Toys and Bones
Appropriate toys free from parts that could break off and become swallowed are an important part of good pet care. Both young and older pets enjoy playing, and toys help to prevent boredom. But be careful about selection. Quality latex, rope, and other chew toys made specifically for pets usually make good, safe choices.
When it comes to bones for dogs, there are pros and cons. Bones help to satisfy the urge to chew, and help keep teeth clean; dry dog food pellets help do the same. Be aware that too much bone chewing can lead to excessive wear on teeth.
Sometimes dogs break their teeth when chewing on bones. Bones that get eaten instead of just chewed are a common cause of “gastritis,” or stomach ache, and constipation. Another risk of bone eating is esophageal obstruction, when pieces of broken bone are swallowed, but are too large to go down the throat.
If you opt to give your dog a bone, select one large enough and hard enough so that they cannot be eaten. Beef marrow Bones or knucklebones are usually the best choices, unless the dog is very small. While parboiling or roasting is recommended to avoid the possible transmission of parasites, a cooked bone is easier to break down than a raw one. Avoid poultry and pork bones, and steak bones, which can splinter. More than one dog has died from a gut perforation caused by a sharp bone splinter.
A Word About Free-Roaming
Care givers who allow their pets to freely roam, especially in town or cities, do their pets an injustice. Pets are domesticated animals; their needs are very different from those of their wild counterparts. Pets who roam freely are put at risk; from getting hit by a car, from poisoning—whether accidental or purposeful, or from injury inflicted by a person or other animal. Pets that become displaced or lost suffer emotionally and physically; many end up dead.
Bath Time
Bathing is an important part of pet care, especially when it comes to dogs. Like humans, dogs have a healthy range of skin PH. Pet shampoo PH varies, depending upon the brand and type you select. If your pet is prone to dry skin or other irritations, check with a veterinarian as to what level of PH is best.
Unless your pet has a specific skin problem that requires a veterinarian-recommended medicated shampoo, use a good quality pet shampoo or a gentle human shampoo, such as baby shampoo. Avoid bar soap and dish detergents, both of which are particularly drying or irritating to pet skin and hair.
How often to bathe your pet depends upon how quickly their hair becomes soiled. A clean pet will be a pleasure to touch and will not have an offensive odor. Some care givers give their pets a regular weekly bath, some every other month, and some only once or twice a year. In general, more frequently bathed dogs have healthier skin and hair, and fewer flea problems than dogs bathed less often.
How to Check for Parasite Infestation
While bathing, check your pet over for any parasites, such as fleas and ticks. Remove any you find by hand. If fleas or ticks become a problem, use a commercial dip, spray, or spot-on to remove them and act against further infestation. Anti flea and tick collars are also available, but should be used only if other methods are unsuitable.
Lice infestation is much less common than either flea or tick infestation. Adult lice are pale colored. They spend their entire life on one host and attach their tiny white eggs to the hair. They can cause intense itching, and can carry certain tapeworm larvae. Kill lice with a thorough bath followed by a dip effective against fleas and ticks.
The demodex canis mite is present in small numbers in the hair follicles of almost all dogs. These mites can be present without causing disease. Other mites, such as saroptes scabiei mites, can infest pets and humans, causing mange, with intense itching and hair loss. This is easily transmitted to other pets. Untreated cases can infect the whole body; veterinary intervention is required.
Important Visual Checks to Maintain Good Health
When bathing, or any time in between, check inside your dog’s ears for visible signs of a problem: ear mites, dirt or wax build up, swelling or redness, as well as whether or not the ear is sensitive or painful to the touch. Ears should be checked and cleaned at least once a month. Never, however, poke or stick anything down into the ear canal, even if you see dirt or wax buildup. To avoid serious injury, only a professional veterinarian should clean beyond the first ½-inch down into the ear canal.
Also, check between the toes of each paw; make sure there is no matted fur, debris, or swelling and/or redness present. Keep a dog’s nails clipped. Proper length is just touching the ground. Longer nails do not provide good traction, cause a dog to stand abnormally, and can sometimes cause pain. Cutting the nails too short (into the epidermis or dermis) can cause bleeding, pain, and risk infection.
Check your pet’s mouth for infected gums, tarter build up, discoloration of teeth, and bad breath. Gums that bleed even though they look healthy can be an early warning sign of disease. If you notice any of these things, check with a veterinarian as to what should be done.
Following preventative measures like these, with prompt care when needed—veterinary or otherwise—will help provide your pet the best health possible.
©2006 Lori S. Anton - written exclusively for Vizsla Puppy Connection
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