We all know that
preventing disease or catching it in its early stages is far better than
treating it once it has had time to progress to a more severe stage. Preventive
health care on a regular basis will help you do just that, and save you and
your pet from needless suffering and a larger financial burden. This article
explains what preventive measures you can take to keep your dog healthy.
ANNUAL PHYSICAL
EXAM
Just as annual physical
exams are recommended for humans, they are recommended for our pets as well. If
your dog is older or has medical problems, he may need even more frequent
examinations. A year is a long time in a dog's life. Assuming our pets will
live to their early teens, receiving a yearly exam means they will only have
about thirteen exams in a lifetime. That is not very many when you think about
it.
During your dog's
annual physical exam you should review these aspects of your dog's health with
your veterinarian:
Vaccination status
Parasite control for intestinal parasites, fleas, ticks, mites, and
heartworms
Dental health – care you
give at home; any mouth odors, pain, or other signs of disease you may have
observed
Nutrition – including
what your dog eats, how often, what supplements and treats are given, and
changes in water consumption, weight, or appetite
Exercise – how much
exercise your dog receives including how often and what kind; and any changes
in your dog's ability to exercise
Ears and Eyes – any
discharge, redness, or itching Stomach and intestines – any vomiting, diarrhea,
constipation, gas, belching, or abnormal stools
Breathing – any
coughing, shortness of breath, sneezing, or nasal discharge
Behavior – any behavior
problems such as barking, 'accidents,' or changes in temperament
Feet and legs – any
limping, weakness, toenail problems
Coat and skin – any hair
loss, pigment changes, lumps, itchy spots, shedding, mats, oranal sac
problems
Urogenital – any
discharges, heats, changes in mammary glands, urination difficulties or
changes, neutering if it has not already been performed
Blood tests – especially
for geriatric dogs, those with medical problems, and those who are receiving
medications
VACCINATIONS
How often?
You may have heard about
the current controversies regarding vaccinating dogs and cats. Some researchers
believe we do not need to vaccinate annually for most diseases. But how often
we should vaccinate for each specific disease in adult animals has not yet been
determined. We do not know how long the protection from a vaccine lasts. It may
be 5 years for one disease and 3 years for another, and less than 2 years for
another. Almost all researchers agree that for puppies we need to continue to
give at least three combination vaccinations and repeat these at one year of
age. They also agree that rabies vaccinations must continue to be given
according to local ordinances. Against what diseases? Experts generally agree
that the core vaccines for dogs include distemper,canine adenovirus-2
(hepatitis and respiratory disease), canine parvovirus-2, and rabies. Noncore
vaccines include leptospirosis, coronavirus, canine parainfluenza andBordetella
bronchiseptica (both are causes of 'kennel cough'), and Borrelia burgdorferi
(causes Lyme Disease). Consult with your veterinarian to select the proper
vaccines for your dog or puppy. Researchers at the Veterinary Schools at the
University of Minnesota, Colorado State University, and University of Wisconsin
suggest alternating vaccinations in dogs from year to year. Instead of using
combination vaccines (vaccines against more than one disease), they recommend
using vaccines with only one component, e.g., a vaccine that only contains
parvovirus. So, one year your dog would be vaccinated against distemper, the
next year against canine adenovirus-2, and the third year against parvovirus.
Then the cycle would repeat itself. Other researchers believe we may not have
enough information to recommend only vaccinating every 3 years. As with cat
vaccines, manufacturers of dog vaccines have not changed their labeling which
recommends annual vaccinations. Again, each dog owner must make an informed
choice of when to vaccinate, and with what. Consult with your veterinarian to
help you make the decision. For more information on vaccines, see Vaccines,
Vaccination, and the Immune System of Dogs.
HEARTWORM TESTING
When and how often pets
should be tested for heartworm infection is also a matter of debate. In making
a decision on when to test, we must consider how common heartworm disease is
where the pet lives, what heartworm preventive the pet is receiving, and how
long the mosquito season lasts. The American Heartworm Society (AHS) advises
all adult dogs being started on a heartworm preventive for the first time
should be tested. In addition, all dogs should be tested annually for heartworm
infection. In the past, if a dog had been on preventive methods routinely, it
was not considered necessary to test every year, perhaps only every two to
three years. Because of reports of animals on preventives that still contracted
heartworms, the AHS recommends a more conservative testing routine. It may be
too difficult to document when an animal hasn't been checked in three years,
and therefore, annual testing will ensure that an infection is caught in plenty
of time to effectively manage it.
CONTROL OF INTESTINAL PARASITES
As with vaccinations and
heartworm testing, you will find different opinions on when or if fecal
examinations should be performed and when or if pets should receive regular
'dewormings.' Decisions on testing and worming should be based on circumstances
such as: the age of your dog the likelihood your dog is exposed to feces from
other animals whether your dog is on a heartworm preventive that also controls
intestinal parasites if your dog has been previously infected if you plan to
breed your female dog if there are children who play with the dog Regular
deworming is recommended by the American Association of Veterinary
Parasitologists (AAVP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
and the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC). Puppies* Initiate treatment
at 2 weeks; repeat at 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, and then put on a monthly
heartworm preventive that also controls intestinal parasites. Using a
year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product
decreases the risk of parasites.
If not using such a
product, worm at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age and then monthly until 6 months of
age. Nursing Dams Treat at the same time as puppies. Adult Dogs If on a
year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product, have a
fecal test performed 1-2 times per year and treat appropriately. If not on a
year-round heartworm preventive/intestinal parasite combination product, have a
fecal test performed 2-4 times per year and treat appropriately. Also monitor
and eliminate parasites in pet's environment. Newly Acquired Animals Worm
immediately, after 2 weeks, and then follow above recommendations. * Drs.
Foster and Smith suggest that owners of newly acquired puppies should obtain
the deworming history of their new pet and contact their veterinarian to
determine if additional deworming is needed. Roundworms and hookworms of dogs
can cause serious disease in people, especially children who may not have good
hygiene habits. Treating your dog for worms is important for your pet's health
as well as your own. Many veterinarians would agree that at a minimum, dogs
should have an annual fecal examination performed. Fecal examinations are
advantageous. By having a fecal examination performed, you will know if your
dog has intestinal parasites. If she does, you may need to change her environment
and access to other animals. You will also know what type of parasites she has
so the proper medication will be selected to kill all of them.
GERIATRIC OR 'SENIOR'
SCREENING
Many veterinarians are
starting to recommend screening tests for our older pets. Just as we have our
cholesterol and blood pressure checked more often as we grow older, it is
suggested our older pets need some routine checks too. Diabetes mellitus,
kidney disease, and some hormonal diseases occur much more frequently in older
animals. To test for these conditions and identify them before severe and/or
irreversible damage is done, blood tests and sometimes radiographs are helpful.
An abnormal result means we can diagnose and treat the condition early. Normal
results are helpful in giving us a baseline with which we can compare future
results. Many of our older animals are also on medications and may require
tests to evaluate the medication level and/or potential harmful effects on
various organs. Oral health is also extremely important in our older pets, so
they may require more frequent dental check-ups. If you have an older dog,
discuss these options with your veterinarian. In summary, annual exams along
with recommended blood screening in older animals, vaccinations, heartworm testing,
and parasite control will help your dog live a happier and longer life.
