Internal Parasites
Worms are one of the most common infestations of dogs, next to fleas.
Tapeworms, whipworms, hookworms, heartworms, and roundworms are all internal
parasites to watch for. Worms can cause a great deal of harm to your dog
include, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, anemia, and perhaps even
death. The worst thing about worms is that most are not noticeable without
some sort of stool examination or blood tests. An annual check for worms is
necessary for all dogs; this will help in controlling or preventing any
infestations.
Dog Diseases
There are many diseases that can affect dogs, just as there are with humans.
However, some breeds of dogs are more prone to certain diseases than others
are. It is important to understand the disease risk of your specific dog
breed and watch closely for any signs. Some diseases that effect dogs
include:
Canine Distemper – This is a disease that is bacterial for the most part and
will effect the nervous and organ system in the body. For the most part,
this disease is fatal, if a dog does survive it will have some form of
impairment, which is why vets require vaccination against the disease.
Rabies – This is generally transmitted from one animal to another via a bite
from an infected animal. Rabies is almost always fatal and can be
transmitted to humans, vaccination is required against rabies.
Other diseases to watch for include Kennel Cough, Leptospirosis, Canine
Hepatitis, Canine Coronavirus, and Canine Parvovirus (Parvo). It is
important to watch your dog for any signs of labored breathing, bloody
stools, coughing, vomiting, fever, weakness, stiffness, nose or eye
discharge, appetite loss, or diarrhea.
Vaccinations
The best way to prevent disease and keep your dog happy and healthy is to
ensure that they receive the necessary vaccinations on schedule.
• At six to eight weeks old, a puppy should be vaccinated against Hepatitis,
Leptospirosis, Parvo, Parainfluenza, and distemper.
• At ten to twelve week sold, your dog should receive another set of the
same shots; these shots are usually given in sets of three to spread out the
protection.
• At sixteen weeks, your dog should receive the same shots again, in
addition to rabies and bordetella vaccinations.
At twenty weeks, a visit to the doctor for the fourth Parvo vaccination.
• At one year, the dog should receive another rabies shot.
• Every year, the dog should return to the vet to receive boosters for
Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvo, Parainfluenza, Distemper, and Bordetalla.
• Every one to three years, another rabies booster is required.
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