Preventive Health Care For Dogs

Preventive Health Care for Dogs

Canine preventive health care is anything done medically to prevent diseases in dogs. It involves flea control, parasite prevention, and vaccinations, among other things. It covers products that you can administer to or give your dog to prevent disease down the road.

At La Jolla Veterinary Hospital, we understand the importance of sound preventive health care practices for dogs. It is the most effective way to keep your canine companion happy and healthy.

Understanding Preventive Health Care for Dogs

Canine preventive health care involves a multifaceted veterinary care approach. It includes a medical evaluation of your dog’s overall health, the risk of diseases, and other health issues. Based on the evaluation’s findings, your vet will recommend preventive healthcare protocols tailored to your dog’s risk factors and health status.

Importance of Preventive Healthcare for Dogs

When it comes to canine health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The cost of preventive health care is significantly less than the cost of treating a problem or disease. Furthermore, early detection and treatment of a developing health problem increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Many dog diseases are preventable. Most are treatable and curable when detected early enough. But left unchecked or unaddressed, many can quickly become expensive and difficult to treat. Some of them can become incurable.

Hence, we strongly encourage you to take proactive steps to protect your dog’s health and life. We partner with dog owners to ensure optimal health for our canine patients. After all, a happy and healthy dog will remain a loving and loyal member of your household for many years.

How Often Should Your Dog See Your Veterinarian for Preventive Healthcare?

The first thing to understand is that dogs age significantly faster than their human companions. So, it makes sense for them to see their doctor more often than humans.

It is an oversimplification to equate one dog year to seven years of a human’s life. According to some animal experts, one calendar year for your canine companion may equal up to 15 human years, depending on your dog’s breed. That is due to the way dogs mature.

Preventive Health Care Guidelines for Dogs

At La Jolla Veterinary Hospital, we recommend preventive health care protocols that revolve around routinely scheduled examinations of seemingly healthy dogs. That is one of the most effective ways to maintain optimum health.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association developed preventive healthcare guidelines for dogs and cats. Some of the preventive health care protocols you should discuss with your veterinarian include:

• A comprehensive discussion of your dog’s medical history and lifestyle.

• Regular physical examinations of your dog, even if they are healthy.

• Annual blood testing.

• Parasite prevention.

• Regular dental care.

• Weight management.

• Immunizations.

• Neutering or spaying.
  
  

Your dog cannot talk, so they cannot tell you what is bothering them. Furthermore, their innate canine survival instincts make them hide their illnesses to avoid appearing vulnerable or weak. Thus, we recommend preventive health care to keep your canine friend healthy and happy.

For more on canine preventive health care, visit La Jolla Veterinary Hospital at our office in La Jolla, California. Call (858) 454-6155 today to schedule an appointment.