Bringing home a new puppy or adult dog is always an exciting time for any family. While most of the days spent with your lovable pooch will be filled with playtime and cuddles, it’s not always an easy walk in the dog park. Daily routine care and regular veterinarian exams are a vital part of being a responsible pet parent. Establishing a routine for your dog’s overall care and keeping an eye out for any abnormal behaviors will keep your canine companion playful and happy and could even possibly extend their life expectancy. What you do today to better the health of your dog will only help them in the future.  

So, you might be asking yourself “What steps do I take to keep my dog healthy?” or “What behavioral changes should I be looking for?”. Well, we are here to help guide you through the topics that keep a wag in your dog’s tail.

Yearly Routine Veterinarian Care

Wellness Exam

Depending on the health and age of your dog, having their veterinarian conduct a physical exam annually or biannually should be a top priority to maintain their health. This will allow your vet to observe the overall physical condition of your dog including things like feeling for lumps, listening to their heart and lungs, checking for any abdominal or joint discomfort, watching how your dog moves and stands, dental issues, and so much more. During this exam, you should expect the vet to ask you a lot of questions about their diet, exercise routine, and of course, any concerns you might have. Should the vet detect anything abnormal they will often suggest additional tests to diagnose or rule out any underlying health conditions.

Vaccinations

Keeping your dog up to date on vaccinations is standard practice during any routine wellness exam. Depending on your location, the vet might recommend that your dog receive additional vaccinations for Bordetella, leptospirosis, DAPP, or canine influenza. However, in most states, you are legally required to vaccinate your dog against rabies. Most puppies are rabies vaccinated between 14-16 weeks old and then due for a booster in a year. Re-vaccination for rabies will depend on your location and should happen every one to three years.

Fecal Exam

Fecal exams are vital to maintaining your dog’s health and should be conducted every twelve months or as needed. Your vet will either send your dog’s stool sample to a lab or conduct an in-office read using a microscope to check for any internal parasites. There are several types of internal parasites the vet will check for, including Roundworms, Tapeworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, Giardia, and Coccidia. Most parasites have similar clinical signs such as lethargy, weight loss, or diarrhea but some have other characteristics that include a pot-belly appearance, skin irritation, bloody stool, or visible worms in their feces. These parasites can easily spread from one animal to another, so it is important to get your dog routinely checked and have them on a monthly preventive that will effectively stop the majority of internal parasites from taking hold should they encounter them.  

Eye Exam

Your dog’s eye health is important and should be examined by your veterinarian during their annual wellness exam. During the exam, your vet will be assessing the eyes for possible illness or trauma. Any signs of a potential problem may require additional tests or a referral to a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. 

As a pet parent, it is also important to monitor eye health in between vet visits and know if your dog’s particular breed is predisposed to certain eye conditions. For example, breeds like the Collie, Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, and Australian Shepherd are prone to a condition known as Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA). While CEA is not a common condition, early detection of the disease in young puppies will allow your vet to develop a treatment plan to reduce the deterioration of their sight. Other common issues include corneal ulcers, dry eye, entropion, glaucoma, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Ear Exam

Your vet will want to examine your dog’s ears during their annual visit. They will be looking for any signs of infection, ear mites, inflammation, discomfort, smell, or discharge. Certain breeds like the Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, and the Golden Retriever are predisposed to ear infections due to their ear's ability to trap moisture, allowing yeast and bacteria to grow. Other breeds like the Bulldog are susceptible to environmental allergies which can cause inflammation.

Making sure your dog’s ears are properly dried after a bath or swimming can reduce the risk of infection. Always monitor your dog and call your vet should you notice any signs of ear pain or constant scratching. Breeds like the Poodle, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Doodle (Poodle designers), and many others are known for hair growing in their ear canals. Their ear canals require this hair to be plucked to prevent matting and infection. Breeds with ear hair typically require regular grooming and your groomer should remove this hair during their appointment.

Heartworm Exam

Heartworms are an internal parasite that is spread from the bite of an infected mosquito. While most parasites are easily transmitted from one dog to another, heartworms are not contagious but no less serious. Mature heartworm larvae will grow and duplicate, taking over residence of your dog’s heart, vessels, and even the lungs. Clinical signs include coughing, fatigue, and poor body condition. Heartworms can be treated but can be expensive which includes medication, rounds of injections, and exercise restrictions. The good news is that heartworms and a variety of other worms can be prevented with a monthly pill prescribed by your vet. Your vet will still want to pull bloodwork yearly during your dog’s wellness exam to confirm that they are free of heartworms.

Monthly Routine Pet Care

Heartworm Preventatives

As mentioned, heartworms are an internal parasite found in pets when bitten by an infected mosquito. Heartworm infection should be taken very seriously as it can cause your dog to suffer needlessly and can be lethal if left untreated. The good news is that they are preventable. Yes, you can protect your dog even if they are bitten by a mosquito carrying the parasite. There is a wide range of medications that your vet can prescribe. These are typically taken every month and bonus, most cover other parasites like hookworms and roundworms. There are also newer medications on the market that will prevent fleas and ticks while also protecting your dog from heartworms.

Flea and Tick Preventatives

Fleas and ticks are external parasites that thrive from biting and feeding on your pets. These pests can reproduce quickly and can lay their eggs on your pets, furniture, carpet, and the ground which can make them difficult to eradicate. One female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day and a female tick can lay well over 2,000 eggs before she dies.

Flea and tick prevention will not only help safeguard your dogs and cats but will also protect you and your family from the diseases they can spread. There are at least 15 tickborne pathogens that the CDC reports as being transmissible to humans including Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. While fleas carry fewer diseases, they have been known to spread typhus and plague and are the cause of what is commonly known as Cat Scratch Fever (CDS).

To prevent flea and tick infestation in your home, monthly preventative can be given to your dog and cat. Preventatives come in both topical and oral medication. It is important to speak with your vet to decide which medication is best for your pet. For active infestations, it is important to thoroughly clean your home and use pet-approved cleaning products that aim at ridding you of these pests.  Make sure to also bathe your pets with flea and tick shampoo and use a flea comb during the bath for easy removal. Ticks should be carefully removed with tweezers or by pinching as close to the skin surface and pulling straight out. Avoid twisting to prevent a tick’s mouth from remaining embedded under your dog’s skin after removal.

Bathing and Grooming

Routinely bathing and grooming your dog is a sure way to keep them happy and healthy. How often you should bathe your dog will depend on their breed. While most breeds should be bathed every one to three months, others might suggest every four to six months. For example, the parent club for the Samoyed recommends bathing them at least twice a year. That is not to say that you can’t wash a Samoyed more should they become dirty between baths.  Routine bathing will reduce dog odor, remove buildup, and keep your dog clean. However, it is important not to overbathe your dog as it might strip their skin and coat of necessary oils that might cause dry skin and hair breakage.

Grooming, whether professional or in-home, will also vary by breed. Breeds like the Poodle that have hair or breeds like the Cocker Spaniel that has fur that grows long will require professional grooming. A trained groomer will be able to trim nails, clean the ears, express anal glands, and bathe and trim your dog’s coat in the style of your preference. For breeds like the Labrador Retriever or the French Bulldog, in-home grooming is the most practical and cost-efficient when taking care of their coat, but they can still see a professional if needed. However, whether you have a dog with hair or one with fur, you will need to brush them every few days to prevent visible shedding or coat tangles.  

Daily and Weekly Routine Pet Care

Dental Care

To maintain your dog’s oral health, it is recommended that you brush their teeth about three times a week. Make sure to only use pet-safe toothpaste and dental products when brushing their teeth. Using dental additives in your dog’s water and providing them with dental chews will also help reduce bad breath and give an added boost to their dental care routine.  

Exercise

Just as important as any vet exam, grooming, or preventative, is making sure your canine companion receives adequate exercise. Canine exercise comes in two forms: mental and physical stimulation. Both are integral to your dog’s overall health and happiness.

Mental stimulation is a way to keep your dog’s mind sharp and engaged. Activities such as teaching your dog new tricks, scent walking, introducing new environments, or playing “go find it” are sure to release plenty of dopamine from their brain. Having enriching toys like dog puzzles and interactive toys will also help keep your dog busy when you don’t have the time to play with them.

Physical stimulation will vary by breed, but it will also depend on the dog itself. Chances are if you bring home a high-energy breed like a Doberman Pinscheror a Siberian Husky you will have a dog that is ready to go at a moment's notice. However, just because you get a Husky doesn’t mean that your dog will always be raring to go. Like us humans, each dog has its individual personality, and physical outlets should be developed around that. Some of the best energy outlets include walking, running, swimming, or playing with toys. Agility training or doggy playdates are also some fun ways for your dog to get that necessary exercise while also feeling rewarded.

Meals and Water Access

A feeding schedule is beneficial and will create a routine for your dog. Feeding them twice a day is recommended, so approximately every 12 hours. Most dog food brands will have food measurements listed based on weight and the majority of puppy foods will also include age. Having your dog on a regular schedule will allow you to control their portions and will aid in weight management. Access to fresh drinking water at all times is also beneficial for proper hydration. Make sure to always keep their water bowl clean to prevent bacteria from accumulating, especially if you have multiple dogs.

While routine care for a dog might seem a lot to manage, these steps are often easy to incorporate into your daily, monthly, and yearly routines. The care you give your canine companion today will lead to a longer and healthier life.

If you’re looking for the perfect puppy to add to your family, browse our available puppies for sale or contact us today!