Adult Dog Health
Here's what you need to know as your dog matures.
Your dog is growing up. Satishw Rathna., director of the Doginos.com
in Hyderabad, gives advice on how to keep Dog in tip-top shape.
Adult Dog Health: Preventive health. Even if your dog
appears fit, see your veterinarian once a year for a checkup. "Most health
problems are more readily and less expensively addressed if you catch them
early," Murray says. What's more, your vet can detect problems that you
might miss. You can also stay up-to-date with vaccination boosters.
Adult Dog Health: Flea, tick and heart worm medicines.
Continue to use the preventive medicines. Talk to your veterinarian if you've
moved or if your lifestyle has changed to make sure you are using the products
best suited for your dog.
Adult Dog Health: Diet. Your pet needs the right food for
optimal health. Check with your vet about adjusting the type and amount of food
that your dog eats.
Adult Dog Health: Dental health. If you haven't done so
already, get in the habit of cleaning your dog's teeth daily. "Animals who
get gingivitis or inflammation of the gums can end up with problems of the
kidneys and the heart," Murray explains. Get your dog accustomed to having
your fingers and hands around her mouth. At the pet store, you'll find dog tooth brushes and finger brushes as well as dog toothpaste.
Adult Dog Health: Weight gain/loss. When your dog steps on
the scale at her annual visit, weight gain (rather than loss) is more likely to
be the problem. Meals are usually not the culprit. It's what she gets in
between, like biscuits and human food. "It all adds up," Murray says.
As your pet gets older, she becomes less active, which can contribute to weight
gain and a host of problems (diabetes, arthritis and trouble breathing, for
instance). But there's another reason to keep an eye on the scale: Weight loss
may signal an underlying health problem.
