While owning a dog can be fun for you and your entire family, you also will want to make sure that it always receives the care that it needs to ensure that they live a long and healthy life. Here, our veterinarians in Citrus Heights mention some of the key things you can do to keep your dog healthy.
Your Dog's Health
Getting a dog means big changes for you and your family. You will have a new member of the family to not only love but also care for. Dogs will show you unconditional loyalty and adoration for the duration of their life, but you will need to make sure that you are providing them with all of the care and protection possible in order for them to live a long, healthy life. Our Family Friends Veterinary Hospital vets are available to help provide lifelong care for your dog. Here are some things that will help you provide the best care possible for your dog.
Your Dog's Nutritional Needs
In order to stay in top physical condition, your dog will need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes all the necessary vitamins, proteins and fiber with little to no junk food or fillers. Your Citrus Heights vet will be able to suggest the food that your dog should be eating based on their lifestyle, any medical conditions and their size or breed. These are all factors when it comes to caring for your dog and deciding what type of food would be best for them.
Weight Management For Your Dog
Your dog's health can be greatly affected by their weight. Serious conditions that can seriously affect your dog's longevity such as diabetes and joint pain are more likely to develop as your dog becomes obese. By ensuring that your dog stays a healthy weight you are making sure that they avoid the negative effects of these and other serious conditions. Our veterinarians in Citrus Heights will be able to suggest the types of food you could be feeding your dog as well as the recommended daily amount in order to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. One of the key factors in managing your dog's weight is managing how much food they eat daily.
The Importance Of Daily Exercise
While we commonly think that all dogs need lots of time outside to play, that is not the case with every breed. The size, breed, age and physical capabilities of your dog will all have an effect on how much exercise your dog needs. If you have a larger working breed of dog then you may want to ensure that you get them out often for playtime and running, while if you have a smaller more relaxed breed then they may only want to go outside when absolutely necessary. When you are bringing home a new dog, you should make sure that you are aware of its physical needs and that it will be a good fit for your family. Your veterinarian in Family Friends Veterinary Hospital will be able to suggest ways of helping your dog get enough exercise as well as any games you could play with it.
Routine Physical Exams
Routine physical exams are a simple way for the vets at our Citrus Heights animal hospital to assess your pet and determine if they are in need of any diagnostic testing or preventive care in order to protect your pet. Routine veterinary exams at Family Friends Veterinary Hospital in Citrus Heights are highly recommended and a great way to ensure that your pet lives a long and healthy life. Your veterinarian will use this physical exam to fully inspect your dog and discover anything that may be related to any potential conditions that your dog may be experiencing. You could use this time during your visit to ask your Citrus Heights vet any questions that you have about your dog or their behaviors. Your vet will then spend the time after the examination explaining any concerns that they have and any diagnostic testing or diagnosis that they have.
Learn More About Wellness Exams
Vaccinations
Routine vaccinations are a simple way to protect your dog against various serious and life-threatening conditions and diseases. These vaccinations will help to prevent various serious disorders and diseases that your dog is at risk of during any stage of their life. Your veterinarian in Citrus Heights will suggest the vaccines that are best suited to your dog and their needs and lifestyle. In most states, it is the law that your dog must receive the rabies vaccine. Rabies is a virus that is usually fatal and can be easily transmitted making it extremely dangerous, but there are other serious diseases such as parvo, distemper, and panleukopenia that are also entirely preventable using routine vaccinations.
Find Our Dog Vaccine Schedule Here
Parasite Prevention
Parasites and diseases can be easily transmitted from Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes, potentially infecting you and your family as well. Some of these parasites and diseases are very serious and life-threatening, luckily, they are also entirely preventable through various methods. Speak with your vet in Citrus Heights to discuss the different types of parasite prevention and what is best suited to help protect your dog.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.