Veterinarian Dog Medicine

Keeping your canine friend happy and healthy is one of the key responsibilities of a good dog owner. More so than any other pet, dogs require daily care and interaction and their well-being depends not only on physical maintenance but also on things like adequate and appropriate exercise, and regular training and socialization.

Choosing a good dog veterinarian medicine practitioner is a pre-requisite to good health care for your dog. Make sure that not only is the veterinarian of medicine dog experienced in dealing with canine health problems but is also familiar with your particular breed of dog as many breeds will have specific health issues. Ideally, this should happen before the puppy or new dog is taken home, although a visit within 48 hours of arrival is acceptable. The vet will give the dog a thorough examination and advise you on the best treatments for worms, fleas and other parasites, as well as any vaccinations needed. All puppies should start life with a suitable vaccination schedule, usually starting at 8 weeks and continuing until about 16 weeks, with further annual boosters thereafter. This will protect him from serious canine diseases such as distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus. He will also check the eyes, ears and teeth for any problems and examine the internal organs, such as the heart and lungs. Choosing a dog from a responsible breeder is the first step to having a healthy pet. Do not buy a pet-store puppy on impulse make sure you do your homework on temperament, exercise requirements, size, and genetic diseases and take your time to find a reputable breeder who will provide puppies from healthy, good-natured parents. Alternatively, you could adopt a dog that has been vetted by an animal shelter and passed for health and temperament.