Preventing Infections Always make sure you give your dog his vaccinations because that is the numbers one reason why dogs no longer die in massive numbers from infectious diseases. All puppies should start a course of "core" vaccinations against diseases as soon as possibleonce they reach eight weeks of age.
So many puppies are born with worms because mothers pass parasites into their puppies in the first milk. Fleas are one of the most common canine parasites. They cause itchiness and an also spread roundworms. Ticks are troubleson because they are capable of transmitting lethal infections. To prevent unwanted puppies, consider getting your male neutered or your female spayed. So many unwanted puppies are killed each year because no one wants them. If you choose not to fix your dog, you need to be vigilant when your female is in heat, and if you have a male, always keep a close eye on him, because he may want to try and escape. |
Allegies Dogs are caused by allergens in the envirnment. Only 15% is caused by food! Dogs are most commonly allergic to human dander. Go figure, right!
Immune-mediated diseases have also come up lately. Cocker Spaniels are particularly susceptible to hypothyroidism, which is where the immune system decides that the thyroid gland is "foreign" and destroys it. This leads to medical and behavioral problems. To reduce the risk of allergy give your dogs fatty acids and wash their coats to get rid of any mold spores and such. |