Preventative Healthcare For Dogs

Your dog’s health is positively or negatively affected by the preventative care you do or do not provide. Vaccines are critical, but there is more to it than that. It’s also about parasite control, regular check-ups, diet, exercise, and more. Each of these plays a part in protecting your dog from avoidable health issues. A solid preventative care routine can significantly boost your dog’s length and quality of life by warding off diseases before they become serious concerns.

I completely understand that finances are a real factor. However, I want to encourage you that investing in preventative health for your dog today can save you from big, unexpected bills, or worse, heartache in the future. By catching diseases early or preventing them outright, you’re doing your wallet—and your dog—a huge favor.

We did not understand how susceptible our miniature poodle was to pancreatitis and we nearly lost him. Money-wise, we were lucky that this happened to us when we were living in Kyiv, Ukraine. Our dollar went much further there and we were able to afford the 24-hour care he received. If we had been living in the States at the time it would have made a difficult situation even harder with the added financial pressure. Preventive care is the way to go.

Creating a Proactive Health Plan for Your Dog

A big part of keeping your dog healthy is putting together a proactive health plan. Vet visits are important, but it’s also about the choices you make for your dog every day.

Every breed is unique. Learn about your dog. Learn about the breed in general, and get to know your dog’s personality. It’s crucial to consider these factors when designing their health routine. For example, a high-energy 3-year-old border collie will, obviously, have different exercise needs than an aging 13-year-old poodle. Some dogs can self-feed and not over-eat. For Brady, we only put food out at meal time because he would eat all day. Understanding your dog and what words best for them is key.

Vaccinations and Medications

When designing the right health plan for your dog, start with the basics: vaccinations. Dogs need certain shots to protect them from diseases like rabies or parvovirus. Your vet can help you know which ones and when to get them done. Sticking to the recommended schedule is far better than treating or living with the consequences of these illnesses. My mother told me about a heartbreaking time when she and my dad had a dog before I was born. They did not get the vaccines because they could not afford them. That dog died from parvo in my mom’s lap.

Depending on where you live, flea, tick, and heartworm prevention may be important. During my childhood, we had another dog who got heartworms as a puppy. In those days they recommended that you only give the pills during the months when mosquitos were most active, so we hadn’t started his treatments yet. He spent several days in the hospital getting rid of the worms. The trauma and expense of that time were far more than if we had given him the pills year-round, as we do for Brady now.

Dental care

However, preventative care isn’t all about injections and medication. Dental health is very important too. Keeping your dog’s teeth clean can prevent many other health issues. Things as minor as bad breath and bleeding gums, to more serious problems such as tooth loss or abscesses. Poor oral health is even linked to diseases as serious as diabetes or heart disease.

We were not as vigilant about Brady’s teeth as we needed to be early in his life. However, after he needed to have some teeth removed, we started making a yearly cleaning part of his routine. He has not had any teeth removed since. Recently we added a supplement, called Healthy Mouth, to his water that helps prevent plaque buildup.

Diet and Exercise

A good diet is not just for humans; a well-balanced meal plan keeps your dog in tip-top shape. Your vet can recommend a good quality food that includes protein; vitamins and minerals for skin, coat, and bone health; carbohydrates and fats for energy. Before Brady’s pancreatitis, we thought we were doing the best for him by making his food ourselves. but we didn’t get the balance right. There is value in getting quality food that is prepared correctly with everything your dog needs. Since coming home from the hospital he eats a prescription diet, and he is healthier now than ever, even with diabetes.

Finally, we can’t overlook the importance of exercise. A solid routine helps fend off obesity and its related health complications. In addition, while you’re throwing that ball or taking a brisk walk, your dog’s mental health gets a boost too. A dog that requires a lot of exercise or mental stimulation can exhibit signs of anxiety such as obsessively chasing their tails, excessive barking, or destroying property when they aren’t getting what they need. It’s all interconnected. Brady’s exercise needs have decreased in the last couple of years. It is good timing in our travels because Bangkok is very hot during the day and shade can be hard to come by where we live. But, he still enjoys his early morning explorations around our neighborhood and another longer walk in the evening. Sometimes he brings us a toy and asks for a game of fetch. It’s good to have a routine, but also pay attention to what your dog is telling you they want, and take advantage of the opportunity for a bit of extra fun. It’s good for you both.

With these proactive steps in play, you’re setting the stage for a healthier life for your dog. The next phase of preventative care is team-building with your veterinarian, which we will explore in the next section.

Develop a Relationship with Your Veterinarian for Optimal Dog Health

Routine vet visits are crucial, but it goes beyond the occasional checkup. It’s about building a relationship with a vet you trust – because that’s going to make a difference in your dog’s health journey. The right vet is someone who understands your dog’s unique needs, provides guidance tailored to those needs, and helps you feel confident in your pet care decisions.

Preventative healthcare isn’t just about vaccinations; it’s also about understanding what is normal for your dog so you can catch any deviations early. This is why health screenings and diagnostic tests become relevant. These tests are genuinely necessary because some conditions are silent prowlers that only show symptoms when they’ve already taken hold. These tests are your early warning system. Taking your dog to see their regular vet whenever possible helps the vet make recommendations specifically to meet their unique needs and keep your dog as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

When looking for a veterinarian for your dog, look for someone who keeps up with current healthcare guidelines as new research and data become available. You want to ensure your dog benefits from the latest health wisdom.

Everywhere we live we develop a relationship with our vet. In Bangkok, we have to leave Brady for several weeks in the summer when we travel back to the US to see friends and family, or a week at a time when we travel on holiday. Two times, medical issues have come up for him while we were away. Our relationship with our vet has been invaluable. We communicated through text messages and got advice on what to do. Then we felt reassured knowing our dog sitter took him to someone who knew Brady and was someone we trusted. Our relationship with the vet gives us great peace of mind when we are gone.

(Speaking of travel, when you travel with your dog, having a copy of their medical records with you is a good idea. Hopefully, you will never need them, but you don’t want the doctor in that situation playing a guessing game about your dog’s history.)

Once you have a vet you trust, use them as a resource for discerning myth from fact and providing clarity. When you hear something from a friend who read an article somewhere, don’t make any big changes until you ask your vet about it. Thinking that certain breeds don’t get sick or that table scraps are harmless treats are just a couple of the myths that can harm your dog’s health. You don’t need to make a special appointment. In Thailand, I send text messages when I have questions. They answer when it is convenient. In the US, I email my vet when I have a question that doesn’t require a visit. If it’s not a pressing need, I keep my questions in Notes on my phone so I have them at our next appointment.

I hope that this peek into the world of preventative dog healthcare has informed and equipped you to take the best possible care of your dog. Remember, the goal isn’t just about preventing illness; it’s about enhancing the quality of life for both of you. So, keep an open line with your vet, stay informed, and enjoy a vibrant life with your healthy, happy dog.

I’d love to hear from you. What successes have you had keeping your dog healthy? Do you have a story about a time your relationship with your vet made a big difference? Please leave any comments or questions below.