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Answers to Common Dog Health Questions
Your dog's health is a serious matter. The following dog health questions and answers will not only help you take better care of your pet but will also allow you to recognize if his health requires immediate attention.
The following list contains answers to some common health questions that a new owner may have. I hope you will find it useful.
I will be adding new questions and answers on a regular basis, so come back again and come back often!
Without wasting any more time…
Common Dog Health Questions
- Why does my dog have bad breath?
- Why does my dog scratch all the time?
- How much exercise does my dog need?
- Is there a difference between cheap and expensive dog foods?
- What are the signs of a sick dog?
- Will neutering / spaying change my dog's behavior?
- How often will I need to take my dog to a vet?
- Do I need to brush my dog's teeth?
- Can I tell if my dog is sick by the temperature of his nose?
- How often can I bathe my dog?
- How often will I need to vaccinate my dog?
Why does my dog have bad breath?
Bad breath can be a sign that your dog has worms. If you would like to learn more about symptoms, treatment and prevention of worms in your dog, visit worms in dogs page.
Excess plaque and calculus deposits on your dog's teeth can also cause bad breath. If you don't stop it, tartar buildup can lead to periodontal disease and gums and bone infections.
The best way to keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy (and his breath fresh) is to brush them regularly and to buy him a good dog chew toy.
For more information on dog teeth care, visit dog teeth cleaning page.
Why does my dog scratch all the time?
There are several causes of excessive dog scratching...
- Fleas / ticks
- Dry skin
To learn more about fleas and ticks, visit home remedies for fleas and dog ticks pages.
Improper diet, wrong shampoo and allergies can bring out dry skin and other skin conditions that cause excessive scratching. Visit dog skin care to learn about proper skin care for dogs.
How much exercise does my dog need?
Unfortunately, this is one of the most neglected dog health questions.
There is no simple answer to this question… The amount of exercise depends on the breed, size, and age of dog.
A larger dog will need more exercise than a smaller dog. Some breeds, because of their genetics, need more exercise than other breeds of the same size.
Take your dog for a walk at least 3 times per day. 15 to 30 minutes is enough for most dogs.
Dog agility is a sport that was modeled after equestrian jumping competitions. Even if you are not interested in having your dog compete, you can pick up 1 or 2 excellent exercises that your dog will enjoy. If you haven't heard about dog agility, visit dog agility training page.
Finally, talk to your veterinarian about an exercise program that's appropriate for your dog.
Is there a difference between cheap and expensive dog foods?
Another common dog health question…
What differentiates a good dog food from bad?
Cheap dog foods use low quality protein sources and a lot of preservatives.
Some dogs can't easily digest them. Because of that, the food just goes through their system with only small amount of nutrients being absorbed. To get the same amount of nutrients from cheaper dog food as from premium dog food, your dog will need to eat more (and you will spend more).
In general, better dog foods are not sold in supermarkets. Petco, Petsmart and numerous independent stores will have much better selection of premium foods.
First of all, get the food that's appropriate for your dog. If your dog is a puppy, buy him food formulated for puppies. The same applies to adult dogs. Read the label and make sure the food satisfies your dog's needs. Then, make sure the label says "complete" and/or "balanced".
Brands like Iams, Eukanuba and Hills Science Diet are all excellent.
So is Azmira (this is the brand I buy for Bo).
It's a super premium food that:
- Uses human grade ingredients
- Uses real meat without hormones and no byproducts
- Contains vitamins and minerals
- Is economical: a 50 pound dog needs only 2 cups per day
After the pet food scare we had in March of 2007, it's even more important to pay attention to what we feed our pets with.
What are the signs of an ill dog?
This is one of the most common dog health questions from new dog owners.
With time, you will get to know your dog pretty well. If, all of a sudden, you notice that his behavior changes, he may be sick.
The following symptoms are cause for concern and if they don't disappear in a day or two, contact your veterinarian…
| Loss of appetite | Diarrhea | Vomiting | |
| Weight loss | Depression | Doesn't want to go for walks | |
| Sleeps less / more | Stops playing |
And if you notice that your dog is in a lot of pain, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Will neutering / spaying change my dog's behavior?
Of all the dog health questions people ask me, I think the subject of neutering and spaying is the most misunderstood…
Dog neutering involves surgical removal of both testicles. Spaying involves removal of ovaries and uterus. Both procedures are painless.
Getting back to the question, yes, both procedures will affect your dog's behavior. But the change will be for the better. Some of the positive changes in behavior that will result due to these procedures are…
- Decrease in aggression
- Dogs that underwent these procedures will become more focused and easier to train
There are health implications as well. Visit dog neutering and dog spaying pages to learn more.
How often will I need to take my dog to a vet?
It all depends on your dog's age and general health.
Younger puppies need to be vaccinated more often than older dogs, so vet visits will be more frequent. Older dogs will usually need to see a vet once a year, unless your dog has some medical condition that requires more frequent visits.
For a sample schedule, take a look at puppy vaccination schedule.
In general, your vet will let you know how often you will need to bring your dog to see him or her.
Do I need to brush my dog's teeth?
Not one of the more common dog health questions but a very important one nevertheless…
By cleaning your dog's teeth on a regular basis, you will not only keep his gums and jaw bones healthy, but you will also be able to eliminate cleanings done by a vet, which are done under general anesthesia and are costly.
Always use a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs – never use human toothpaste on your dog.
Chew toys will also keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy. To learn why a chew toy is more than a toy, as well as what toys are dangerous, visit dog chew toys page.
For more information on dog teeth care, visit dog teeth cleaning page.
Can I tell if my dog is sick by the temperature of his nose?
Like the previous one, this is not one of the most common dog health questions...
The answer is no, you can't.
A cool and wet nose doesn't mean your dog is healthy and a warm nose is not a sign of a sick dog.
Dog's nose is one of 2 body parts through which dog's sweat (paws are the second). When a dog sweats, to cool himself, his nose will feel cool and moist. If the outside temperature is such that a dog does not need to cool himself, his nose will feel dry.
How often can I bathe my dog?
This is not really a dog health question, but I felt it was useful to answer it here anyway...
On the average, once a month is about right, but use your judgment.
Some breeds are prone to oily skins and coats. Wash them more often. If you have a dog with thick double-coat, wash him less often.
If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, regardless of type of coat he has, you will need to wash him more often than a dog that spends most of his time indoors.
But don't wash your dog more often than you need to. You will see (and smell) when your dog needs a bath!
If you are concerned about your dog's dry skin, use a good moisturizing shampoo like HyLyt Essential Fatty Acid Shampoo.
It will not only clean your dog's skin and coat but will also moisturize his skin.
For more tips on skin and hair care, visit dog skin care page.
And, under no circumstances wash your dog with human shampoos.
How often will I need to vaccinate my dog?
This is one of the most common dog health questions.
There are many factors that will influence vaccination schedule for your dog. One of them is where you live. Your veterinarian will determine the best schedule for your dog.
To learn more about vaccination, visit puppy vaccination schedule page.
I hope you found preceding dog health questions and answers helpful. For more information on dog health, visit dog health problems page.
If you have any dog health questions you would like me to answer, use the Contact form and I will try to answer it within 2 days.
I hope you will find this information useful and it helps you to recognize some common health problems your pet may be experiencing. However, if you suspect your pet is ill, immediately contact your veterinarian. He or she will be able to help you decide the best course of action when it comes to caring for your pet.
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