The Basics

Your dog should see the veterinarian for a full check-up, shots and a heartworm blood test every year, and immediately if he is sick or injured. If your pup is sick, don't go to on the internet, call your Vet!

Vaccinations
- Puppies should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine (called a “5-in-1”) at two, three and four months of age, and then once annually. This vaccine protects the puppy from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. A puppy's vaccination program cannot be finished before four months of age.
- Rottweilers, Doberman pinschers and American Staffordshire terriers/pit bulls should be vaccinated until five months of age.
- If you have an unvaccinated dog older than four or five months, he will need a series of two vaccinations given two to three weeks apart, followed by a yearly vaccination.
- Do not walk your puppy or unvaccinated dog outside or let her walk or sit on the floor of an animal hospital until several days after her final vaccination.

Since laws vary around the country, contact a local veterinarian for information on rabies vaccination. In New York City, for example, the law requires all pets older than three months of age to be vaccinated for rabies. The first rabies vaccine must be followed by a vaccination a year later, and then every three years.

Please note, if your pet gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, the vaccination should be given after your companion animal recovers.

Medicines and Poisons
Never give your dog medication that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. For example, did you know that one regular-strength ibuprofen tablet can cause stomach ulcers in a ten-pound dog? Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your pet. If you suspect that your animal has ingested a poisonous substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center for 24-hour animal poison information at (888) 426-4435.

Dog Sedation
Some humans feel the need to sedate their pets when traveling. You may wish to avoid sedating because of health concerns and want your traveling buddy to be able to run, jump and play if we make a stop to see roadside attractions. Always consult with your Vet before administering any medications to your dog. An alternative would be to expose your pet to traveling several times with a positive outcome. If you are driving get them used to the vehicle, if flying, familiarize the dog with the crate so that it is not a new experience come the day of your departure. Provide a space and place that is familiar to the dog and bring items that remind your dog of home. Toys, bedding or a favorite chew toy are a few examples of items that will console the dog and provide an outlet for nervous or excessive energy.

Food Allergies in Dogs
Food allergy is an adverse reaction to dog food where the mmun system mounts an abnormal response to a food ingredient. Alathough many dog food ingredients have the potential to induce an allergic response, proteins are most commonly involved. Food allergy in dogs can develop within weeks to years of eating the food.

Dog food allergies typically manifests with skin or gastrointestinal signs. Occasionally, dogs will present with signs involving both systems. The most common skin signs include itching, scatching, biting and chewing partiularly the feet and face. Ear infections and inflammation can also occur. Vomiting and diarrhea are the most typical gastrointestinal signs.

The only way to confirm a diagnosis of food allergy in you dog, is to feed an elimination diet containing ingredients to which the pet has not previously been fed. The clinical signs should resolve after feeding the elimation diet for 6 to 12 weeks. Consult your vet before changing your pup's diet.

More on dog food and nutritional recommendations.

Dog Dental Health
While many of us may object to our pet's bad breath, we should pay attention to what it may be telling us. Bad breath is most commonly an indication that your dog is in need of a dental check up. Dental plaque caused by bacteria results in a foul smell that requires professional treatment. After a professional cleaning, the teeth and gums may be maintained in a healthy state by brushing the teeth regularly, feeding a specially formulated dental diet and treats, and avoiding table scraps. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on minimizing dental disease and bad breath.

You can clean your canine’s teeth with a dog toothpaste or a baking-soda-and-water paste once or twice a week. Use a child's soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched over your finger.

Some dogs are prone to periodontal disease, a pocket of infection between the tooth and the gum. This painful condition can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Veterinarians can clean the teeth as a regular part of your dog's health program.

Read more on dog dental care and grooming issues...

Bad Breath in Dogs, Dental Disease?
While bad breath caused by dental disease may not be too serious if caught early enough, some odors may be indicative of fairly serious, chronic problems. Liver or intestinal diseases may cause foul breath, whereas a sweet, fruity smell may be indicative of diabetes. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possibility. Any time you notice your pet has bad breath accompanied by other signs of ill health, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, depression, excessive drinking or urinating, schedule a visit to the veterinarian.

Fleas and Ticks
Daily inspections of your dog for fleas and ticks during the warm seasons are important. Use a flea comb to find and remove fleas. There are several new methods of flea and tick control. Speak to your veterinarian about these and other options.

Lyme Disease
Deer ticks, which are prevalent in various parts of the US, are the major carrier of Lyme disease. But some other species of ticks can also carry the disease. Deer ticks are tiny parasites that are difficult to see with the naked eye and can easily hide on people and dogs. When it comes to ticks, don't take any chances! Vaccinate your pet. Avoid tall grassy areas, especially wooded areas inhabited by deer. When outdoors, use an insecticide that your Vet can recomment that is safe for dogs.

If you find a tick, remove it immediately. Try using an alcohol swab, which may irritate the tick and cause it to loosen its grasp. (Dog First Aid kits can be found here) Using tweezers, carefully pull the tick upward wher its mouth parts contact the skin. Try not to squeeze the tick while removing it as this may enhance transmission of the bacteria. If possible, save the tick in a jar for your Vet to access.

Heartworm
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from dog to dog by mosquitoes. Heartworm infections can be fatal. Your dog should have a blood test for heartworm every spring—this is crucial for detecting infections from the previous year. A once-a-month pill given during mosquito season will protect your dog. If you travel south with your pet during the winter, your dog should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some warmer regions, veterinarians recommend preventive heartworm medication throughout the year.

Spaying and Neutering Your Dog
Females should be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—removal of the testicles—by six months of age. Spaying before maturity significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer, a common and frequently fatal disease of older female dogs. Spaying also eliminates the risk of an infected uterus, a very serious problem in older females that requires surgery and intensive medical care. Neutering males prevents testicular and prostate diseases, some hernias and certain types of aggression. It also reduces behavioral problems that include urinating or marking territories.

Motion Sickness in Dogs
Some dogs do get motion sick but it seems rare. One dog breeder suggests feeding vanilla ice cream to an ailing dog. Ice cream will coat and soothe an upset stomach. Consult with your vet if motion sickness becomes an ongoing issue.

Read more on our top tips on traveling with your dog...

Worms
Dogs are commonly exposed to worms and possible infestation—even in urban areas. Microscopic eggs produced by intestinal worms are passed in an infected dog’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms.

The key to treatment is correct diagnosis. This will ensure that the medication is effective against the parasite your pet has. A dewormer that eliminates roundworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your veterinarian can best determine the culprit—and prescribe the appropriate medication.

How do I know if my dog is suffering from the heat or dehydration?
Be aware of your daily environment and the conditioning of your dog. If you are hot chances are your dog is hot. If you suspect that your dog is becoming dehydrated pull straight up on the skin on the back of the neck and release the skin. If the skin does not immediately fall back into place, chances are your dog is dehydrated.