Canine Well-Being
Essential Health Tips for Dog Owners

To keep your pup healthy, you should follow the AAHA-AVMA canine preventive healthcare guidelines:

• Annual vet exams (depending on the individual needs of your dog more frequent visits might be needed)

• Oral examinations during the vet exam

• Annual heartworm testing

• Annual internal parasite testing

• if needed: early disease screening test, genetic screening tests, other diagnostic tests

• Year-round broad-spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas

• Vaccinations (Rabies, Canine distemper, Canine parvovirus, Canine adenovirus-2)

• Microchipping

• Spaying / Neutering

Vaccinations

Vaccinate appropriately, based on your dog’s lifestyle and environment

Core Vaccines:

• Rabies

• Distemper

• Adenovirus

• Parvovirus

• +/- Parainfluenza

Vaccines based on a dog’s lifestyle and risk:

• Leptospira

• Lyme disease

• Bordetella

• Canine influenza

• Rattlesnake toxoid

Preventive Care

Use veterinary-recommended flea-, tick-, and intestinal parasite-preventive medications.

Maintaining a dog's dental health is crucial for their overall well-being.

• Daily brushing with dog-specific toothbrush and toothpaste is the most effective method for keeping a dog's teeth healthy between dental cleanings.

• Brushing several times a week is also effective if daily brushing is not feasible. You can find a guidance in our Members area.

• Using dog dental wipes every 2-3 days can help remove plaque from the outside of the teeth.

• Regular vet check-ups, at least once a year, are recommended for assessing a dog's teeth and gums.

• Dogs should be taken to the vet sooner if they exhibit signs like bad breath, broken teeth, discolored tartar-covered teeth, unusual chewing or drooling, or mouth pain, bleeding, or swelling.

• Dog dental treats can be a palatable and effective alternative to toothbrushing.

• Dental treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) can help maintain a dog's oral health.

• The VOHC recognizes dental treats in two major categories:

  • Rawhide chew treats (e.g. Purina Veterinary Diets Dental Chews) and

  • Edible treats (e.g. GREENIES Regular Natural Dog Dental Care Chews)

• Some dog foods are specially formulated to support dental health, with dry kibble being generally better than canned food.

• Hard treats that could damage a dog's teeth, such as antlers or synthetic/natural bones, should be avoided, according to the American Animal Hospital Association guidelines.

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