Dog Vaccinations & General Care of Your Dog

Make sure to continue with the annual dog vaccinations of your dog in order to maintain his general health as well as deworming the dog as your veterinarian indicates. If you are interested in your female dog becoming impregnated, it's important to give her this protection before, so that her puppies will be born healthy and free of parasites and immunized until they are able to receive their own dose of vaccinations and create their own defenses. Remember also to occasionally check your dog's mouth paying close attention to:

• The color of the dog's teeth.
• Any signs of excess tartar.
• The color of the dog's gums: if your dog's gums are pink they are fine, however if they are red, this is a sign of irritation
• Chipped or broken teeth
• Bad breath. (Halitosis)

Another thing that must be checked in a dog is his coat. Run your hand softly over the dog's neck and coat to feel if the dog has any abnormalities such as lumps, lesions etc. It's usually convenient to do this during the dog's bath time, or when you are brushing your dog's coat, as it is easier to notice these abnormalities better during these sessions.

Another important thing to keep an eye on is your dog's weight; something you can do is to compare his weight with other dogs of his same breed. Here are the ways to identify if your dog is thin, at a normal weight, or obese:

• Thin: Dogs that are thin (with the exception of some that are naturally that way) have pronounced ribs. If you can see the ribs, the vertebrae of the column, or the bones on the dog's hip – your dog is underweight. If your dog is getting a balanced diet, and you notice this, make sure to consult it with your veterinarian in order to detect the cause. There are other diseases that can cause a dog to lose weight such as digestive diseases, heart disease etc.
• Normal weight: If you are able to see your dog's ribs a little, but not the bones on his column, or the bones on his hips, then your dog is at a normal healthy weight.
• Obese: The easiest way to identify this problem is by touching your dog's abdomen and hips. If you cannot feel his hips at all – your dog is overweight. This is something very common in dogs that are more relaxed and that do not get sufficient exercise.