Fern's Guide to Pet Care

Dog health care

Grrrrr!! I told Master that he mustn’t use the dreaded “v” word. Though I suppose it would be difficult to talk about dog health without using it. Good hints and tips, though. Those ticks can be really uncomfortable in the wrong place. Wags!!

Dog health care is such a vast realm that you really need specific problems to focus on. Among the more general dog health care problems, though, are fleas, worms and other parasites. If these are not promptly taken care of, other troubles may result. Worms and external parasites sap the dog’s of nutrients and energy. Don’t forget that one of the major problems that neglected dogs suffer from, dog health care providers tell us,  is the scale of their parasitic infestation.

Puppies need worming as early as two or three weeks with and again at four or six weeks of age. Unless your breeding them, though, this should be done long before the puppy comes to your home. Dog health care specialists claim that puppies don’t become immune to worms until they reach the age of six months. They also say that the worm larvae can pass from mother to puppies.

Fleas are another dog health care problem we need to discuss. They have been accused of carrying tapeworm eggs and infesting their host with them. Fleas and lice, though, are relatively easy to deal with; thanks to the many shampoos, collars or special treatments like Frontline, this dog health care issue has become piece of cake. Anti-flea sprays, powders, collars or any other products can be purchased from many pet care shops.

Ticks are another problem you need to be wary of if you walk your dog in the countryside. A long-term anti-parasite treatment (such as a flea collar or Frontline) will keep your dog clear of these pests, but if you rely on shampoos, keep checking the skin for unexpected ‘bumps’ or ‘spots’. Ticks can be carefully removed with tweezers and a little drop of something to paralyse them, but if you don’t know what you are doing get your vet to help you.

If you need to wash your dog, by the way, used a dog shampoo, not the one you use on your hair.  A human shampoo will take all the grease out of your dog’s fur. This means your dog’s skin will have to secrete extra amounts of oil to compensate.

Make sure that you keep your dog away from potentially harmful substances – like human chocolate, surprisingly enough. Dog health care specialists point out that rapid intervention in poisoning cases is crucial in saving the animal’s life. If you think your dog may have ingested some toxic chemical, try to give it some fresh milk as a first aid measure and call your vet immediately. For more dog health care tips you can read this guide: