Dogs Healthcare Basics
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Reviewing a dog's healthcare basic need guidelines is fundamental for every dog owner. It not only promotes the well-being of their canine companions but also enhances the owner's ability to understand and respond to their pet's needs effectively. Regular veterinary care and responsible pet ownership lead to a happier, healthier life for dogs and a more fulfilling experience for their human companions.
Veterinary checkups
Regular veterinarian visits allow for early detection of any health issues and ensure your dog's vaccinations are up-to-date.
The frequency your dog will need to go to the vet depends on the life stage of your pet (age), and your pet’s overall health.
Puppies will need more frequent visits with the veterinarian until they have reached 16-18 weeks of age.
Healthy dogs over a year of age will need yearly veterinary checkups and receive vaccine boosters when needed.
A senior dog may be recommended to be seen more often, twice yearly for wellness checks. A small dog may be considered a senior at around age 11, medium sized dogs around age 10, and large breeds at around age 8.
Vaccinations
Have a discussion with your personal veterinarian regarding the recommended vaccines for your dog.
Information below obtained from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
And from Salish Veterinary Hospital
Vaccines are products designed to trigger protective immune responses and prepare the immune system to fight future infections from disease-causing agents. Vaccines stimulate the immune system's production of antibodies that identify and destroy disease-causing organisms that enter the body. Vaccines provide immunity against one or several diseases that can lessen the severity or prevent certain diseases altogether. Experts agree that widespread use of vaccinations within the last century has prevented death and disease in millions of animals. Vaccinations protect your pet from highly contagious and deadly diseases and improve your pet's overall quality of life.
- Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses.
- Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented.
- Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed between animals and also from animals to people.
- Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets.
- In many areas, local or state ordinances require certain vaccinations of household pets. For most pets, vaccination is effective in preventing future disease or decreasing the severity clinical signs. It is important to follow the vaccination schedule provided by your veterinarian to reduce the possibility of a gap in protection.
Core Vaccines
Veterinarians recommend that all dogs receive what is called (Core) vaccines.
Core vaccines for dogs are vital to their health based on their exposure risk, the disease's severity, and if it is transmissible to humans. Some core vaccines, such as rabies, are mandated by law, and individual municipalities must receive proof of vaccination to license a dog.
Core vaccines include:
- Distemper
Canine distemper is a contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus can also be found in wildlife such as foxes, wolves, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, mink and ferrets and has been reported in lions, tigers, leopards and other wild cats as well as seals.
Signs of distemper: Initially, infected dogs will develop watery to pus-like discharge from their eyes. They then develop fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, and vomiting. As the virus attacks the nervous system, infected dogs develop circling behavior, head tilt, muscle twitches, convulsions with jaw chewing movements and salivation (“chewing gum fits”), seizures, and partial or complete paralysis. The virus may also cause the footpads to thicken and harden, leading to its nickname “hard pad disease.” In wildlife, infection with canine distemper closely resembles rabies.
Distemper is often fatal, and dogs that survive usually have permanent, irreparable nervous system damage.
Distemper spreads through aerosol droplets, bodily fluids, and feces. Puppies should have an initial vaccine series, then a booster after one year, followed by boosters every three years for the duration of the dog’s life.The distemper vaccine is often abbreviated as DA2PP because it protects against four diseases—Distemper (D), Hepatitis (A2), Parainfluenza (P), and Parvovirus (P). Read more about canine distemper at the AVMA
- Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious virus that can affect all dogs, but unvaccinated dogs and puppies younger than four months old are the most at risk. Dogs that are ill from canine parvovirus infection are often said to have "parvo." The virus affects dogs' gastrointestinal tracts and is spread by direct dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated feces (stool), environments, or people. The virus can also contaminate kennel surfaces, food and water bowls, collars and leashes, and the hands and clothing of people who handle infected dogs. It is resistant to heat, cold, humidity, and drying, and can survive in the environment for long periods of time. Even trace amounts of feces from an infected dog may harbor the virus and infect other dogs that come into the infected environment. The virus is readily transmitted from place to place on the hair or feet of dogs or via contaminated cages, shoes, or other objects.
No specific drug is available that will kill the virus in infected dogs, and treatment is intended to support the dog's body systems until the dog's immune system can fight off the viral infection. Treatment should be started immediately and consists primarily of intensive care efforts to combat dehydration by replacing electrolyte, protein and fluid losses, controlling vomiting and diarrhea, and preventing secondary infections. Sick dogs should be kept warm and receive good nursing care. When a dog develops parvo, treatment can be very expensive, and the dog may die despite aggressive treatment. Early recognition and aggressive treatment are very important in successful outcomes. With proper treatment, survival rates can approach 90%.
Signs of parvovirus: Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Read more about canine parvovirus at the AVMA
- Canine hepatitis
Caused by an adenovirus, is a highly contagious virus that can lead to liver inflammation and impact multiple organs, including the lungs, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, and central nervous system. It spreads through exposure to the bodily fluids of infected animals, such as urine, saliva, and feces. Symptoms include fever, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, eye redness, difficulty breathing, lethargy, loss of appetite, bruising, yellowing skin, and seizures. Puppies should receive their first hepatitis vaccination at 6-8 weeks old, followed by booster vaccinations every 3-4 weeks until they are four months old. Adult dogs need a booster at one year and then every three years.
- Rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is secreted in saliva and is usually transmitted to people and animals by a bite from an infected animal. Less commonly, rabies can be transmitted when saliva from a rabid animal comes in contact with an open cut on the skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth of a person or animal. Once the outward signs of the disease appear, rabies is nearly always fatal.
Signs of rabies: Once the rabies virus enters the body, it travels along the nerves to the brain. Animals with rabies may show a variety of signs, including fearfulness, aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty swallowing, staggering, paralysis and seizures. Aggressive behavior is common, but rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate. Horses and livestock with rabies also may exhibit depression, self mutilation, or increased sensitivity to light. Rabid wild animals may lose their natural fear of humans, and display unusual behavior; for example, an animal that is usually only seen at night may be seen wandering in the daytime.
Although the most common signs of rabies are behavioral changes and unexplained paralysis, rabies should be considered in all cases of unexplained neurological disease. There is no treatment once the clinical signs of rabies appear.
Rabies infection of an animal can only be confirmed after death, through microscopic examination of the animal’s brain.
Many U.S. states require rabies vaccinations due to the severity and transmission of the disease
Puppies should be vaccinated against rabies at approximately 14-16 weeks, then again at one year, and re-vaccinated every 1-3 years for life.
Read more about rabies and your pet
Non-Core Vaccines
Non-core vaccines are administered for dogs depending on your dog's exposure risk. For example, if they are often around other dogs, such as attending dog daycare, or you board them frequently, your veterinarian will recommend specific non-core vaccines to protect your dog against transmissible diseases from other dogs.
Non-core vaccines include:
- Bordetella (kennel cough) – Administered every 6-12 months based on your dog's exposure risk to kennel cough
- Borrelia Burgdorferi (lyme) – An option for dogs eight weeks of age and older to protect against Lyme disease
- Leptospira Bacteria (lepto) – Administered by 12 weeks, with a booster 2-4 weeks later and annually after that to protect against Leptospirosis bacterial disease
- Canine Influenza (dog flu) – Administered around 6 months with a booster in 2 weeks and then annually after that to protect against dog flu
Vaccination Charts
Learn more regarding if your dog may benefit from getting vaccinated with non-core vaccines, talk to a veterinarian or check this lifestyle vaccine calculator from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
Balanced Diet
Provide a well-balanced and nutritious diet appropriate for your dog's age, size, and breed.
Hydration
Always have fresh, clean water available for your dog. Proper hydration is vital for their overall health, especially during hot weather or physical activities. How much water should a dog drink
Exercise
Exercise is important to a dog’s physical and mental health. How much exercise they need varies on several factors, age, size, breed. Puppies generally benefit from multiple short play times or short walks and then rest periods during the day.
An adult dog may need 30 minutes- 2 hours of exercise during the day. Breeds such as Border Collies would need more exercise than for example a chihuahua. Observing your dog’s behavior will give you clues on their exercise needs. If your dog seems restless, displays destructive behavior, gains more weight than they should, these could be signs of pent-up energy and a need for additional exercise.
Conversely if your dog is showing signs of being extra fatigued or signs of discomfort during or after exercise, their exercise plan may need to be modified to be less strenuous.
Grooming Routine
Grooming needs will vary depending on your particular dog. Brush your dog's coat regularly to remove loose fur and prevent matting. Trim their nails, clean their ears, and brush their teeth to maintain their overall hygiene.
Neutering
Neutering your dog will help reduce the overpopulation problem, with less dogs ending up homeless, in a shelter, or euthanized.
Female dogs have a reproductive cycle “estrous cycle” or “In heat” in which they have a bloody discharge for about 10 days which happens twice yearly. This can be a challenge to keep furniture and flooring clean during this time. Neutering (also called spaying) a female dog eliminates this from happening.
Male dogs which are neutered early in life are less aggressive, and not distracted and drawn to the females in heat. Neutered males are also less likely to mark their territory in the house or outdoors.
There has been more research in recent years linking the neutered dogs to higher incidences of certain diseases raising more questions about neutering.
Daily checks
A quick home check of your dog's skin, nails, rear, ears, eyes, nose daily will get you familiarized with your dog's “Normal” and will make it easier to detect any changes to their health, to which you can promptly make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Teeth and nails
Teeth brushing daily is the best, and should be completed 2-3 times a week minimum. Nails should be clipped as often as needed, which can be every 3-4 weeks (as often as needed to prevent their nails from touching the ground when they are walking). See Dog Grooming Basics