DOGS ABC

Dog Health

A responsible dog owner's primary concern is the health and happiness of their dog. While it might seem like a daunting task, it's really simple to safeguard your dog's health by following a few simple steps. The downside to protecting you're your dog's health is that the most important, early steps cost money. The up side is once you've taken care of those, maintaining good dog health is relatively cheap and simple. I've broken down dog health subjects into a variety of categories, starting with what I consider to be "must do's" for good dog health. Obviously, even if you don't do them your dog will continue to exist and you may not be breaking any laws, but the chances of them staying healthy are greatly reduced. If you're concerned at all about maintaining good dog health, get them done. The payout for an initial exam, shots, a year's worth of heartworm treatment, and spaying/neutering will be about $500, give or take. If you don't think you can afford to get that stuff done, then to be perfectly frank you really can't afford to own a dog. While it might sound like a lot, it's a bargain compared to the cost and heartache of an unwanted litter or treatment for a disease that could have been prevented by a shot or a pill. As a side note, if you want to give a home to a dog but can't afford the cost of spaying / neutering, many local shelters can provide information about low cost veterinary care so always check with them before giving up. I don't know of any Animal Warden who wouldn't rather take ten minutes out of his day to provide that information than put an animal to sleep. Anyway, back to the things I consider musts for proper dog health and safety. "Must Do's" Spaying / Neutering Core Vaccinations Heartworm Prevention Poisoning Prevention