| Dogs have long been known as "man's best | | | | evidence of them on your dog. Luckily, there |
| friend". If you own a dog, you've likely | | | | are a number of very effective flea and tick |
| already discovered the truth of that | | | | medications which are not only safe but easy |
| statement. Our dogs bring us hours of joy and | | | | to use. These products can help keep your dog |
| companionship, provide unconditional love, | | | | free of fleas and ticks and assist you in |
| and ask very little in return. But your dog | | | | keeping your dog healthy and happy.Keeping |
| does rely on you to provide the care required | | | | your dog free of internal parasites, |
| to keep your dog healthy, safe, and | | | | frequently called "worms", is another task |
| happy.Fortunately, there are many simple | | | | which is necessary to keep your dog healthy. |
| things you can do to help maintain your dog's | | | | Finding out whether your dog is infected with |
| health.One of the most important things you | | | | worms is as easy as collecting a small fecal |
| can do for your dog is to make sure your dog | | | | sample to be tested by your dog's |
| is kept up-to-date on all necessary | | | | veterinarian. Do not assume that your dog has |
| vaccinations.Vaccinations, often simply | | | | no worms because you do not see them in the |
| called "shots", work to protect your dog | | | | stool. Your dog's veterinarian has special |
| against many different illnesses which could | | | | laboratory techniques which find the worm |
| be quite serious, even fatal, for your dog | | | | eggs in your dog's feces. These eggs are too |
| should your dog catch these diseases. When | | | | small for you to be able to see. If your |
| your dog is fully vaccinated, these diseases | | | | dog's veterinarian finds worms in your dog's |
| no longer pose a significant threat to your | | | | feces, there are medications which can safely |
| dog. Your dog's veterinarian can easily help | | | | and effectively be used to rid your dog of |
| you determine which vaccinations your dog | | | | these worms. Your dog's veterinarian can |
| needs and how often your dog needs to be | | | | provide the proper medication for your |
| vaccinated. This will vary depending on your | | | | dog.Besides preventing the birth of unwanted |
| dog's individual lifestyle, your dog's risk | | | | puppies, spaying or neutering your dog has a |
| of exposure, your dog's age, and your dog's | | | | number of health benefits for your dog |
| previous vaccination history. If you are | | | | also.Female dogs that are spayed at a young |
| unsure which vaccinations your dog needs, or | | | | age are less likely to develop breast cancers |
| are not sure whether your dog is vaccinated | | | | later in life and cannot develop the serious, |
| properly, please contact your dog's | | | | life-threatening uterine infections that |
| veterinarian at once.Another very simple | | | | unspayed female dogs frequently suffer |
| thing that you can do for your dog's health | | | | from.Neutered male dogs are less likely to |
| is to make sure your dog is protected against | | | | develop prostate problems later in life. In |
| heartworms. Heartworms are, as the name | | | | addition, your dog's personality and behavior |
| suggests, worms which live inside of your | | | | will only improve when spayed or |
| dog's heart. They can cause a great deal of | | | | neutered.Lastly, regular physical |
| damage to your dog's heart in a very short | | | | examinations by your dog's veterinarian can |
| period of time. Your dog can be exposed to | | | | help detect subtle signs of illness in your |
| heartworms very easily through the bite of a | | | | dog before the illness becomes serious. |
| mosquito.Fortunately, preventing heartworms | | | | Often, early intervention and treatment can |
| is easy and safe, through the use of | | | | solve medical problems even before your dog's |
| medications which only need to be | | | | health begins to suffer as a result of them. |
| administered on a monthly basis. If your dog | | | | In some instances, early intervention and |
| has not previously been tested for | | | | treatment may drastically prolong the life of |
| heartworms, a simple blood test performed by | | | | your dog.Copyright 2006 The Pet Med SiteLorie |
| your dog's veterinarian can determine whether | | | | Huston has been a veterinarian for over 20 |
| or not your dog is already infected before | | | | years, working with both dogs and cats. She |
| starting the preventive medication.Fleas and | | | | emphasizes the use of routine preventive pet |
| ticks are another risk to your dog's health. | | | | health care to keep your pets healthy and |
| Both fleas and ticks can cause significant | | | | safe. Lorie is the owner, editor, and |
| health problems for your dog. Your dog can | | | | webmaster of The Pet Med Site where you will |
| also carry these insects into your home where | | | | find a library of information pertaining to |
| they may also pose a health threat to you and | | | | pet health care, including free audio |
| our family. You should check your dog's skin | | | | recordings describing the secrets to keeping |
| and hair coat regularly for evidence of fleas | | | | your dog or cat healthy. |
| and ticks and act immediately if you find | | | | |