Live Life Team
Health is an implicit concern for dogs. Although there have been tremendous advances in veterinary products to treat bacterial and viral infections within dogs, there is still some concerns about inherited conditions ( HYPERLINK “http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk” http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk). Advances in technology have also contributed to the availability of a wide range of DNA test and health control schemes.
There are higher predictions of illnesses that are related to inherited conditions such as polygenic diseases. Some examples of polygenic diseases are hip dysplasia, heart disease, and epilepsy. Some polygenic diseases may also be related to environmental factors as well ( HYPERLINK “http://www.doggenetichealth.org/intro_disease.php” http://www.doggenetichealth.org/intro_disease.php).
Annual check-ups and vaccinations are recommended to maintain the health of a dog. Booster shots are required to maintain your puppy’s health. It is important that a veterinary clinic consultation be made for dogs that show signs of lumps, bumps, unusual skin problems, eating disorders, excessive changes in weight or physical conditions.
Potential health problems can be detected in your dog with regular grooming. Grooming can help you detect unusual skin problems and external parasites such as fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks can carry diseases that are harmful to your pet. There are several products on the market that can protect your dog from infestation ( HYPERLINK “http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalcare/dogcare.asp” http://www.spca.bc.ca/animalcare/dogcare.asp).
Spaying and neutering is primarily done to prevent overpopulation. However, there are also some health benefits as well. Spaying and neutering decreases a dogs desire to roam around, which may be dangerous. It also reduces aggression as well as testicular cancer in males and reduces the risk in females for ovarian and/or uterine cancer.
Exercise is an important part of keeping a dog healthy. A healthy dog usually lives longer and has less of a chance of becoming ill. Proper nutrition is vital to a maintaining a healthy dog. Owners should choose food that is suitable for their dog. It is also important to keep their feeding bowls clean as dirty bowls may contain germs that can make your dog ill ( HYPERLINK “http://www.healthy-dogs.net” http://www.healthy-dogs.net).
