Dogs Health Problems are Quite Often Handed Down by Unhealthy Parents or Unhealthy Conditions at Breeder
Dogs health problems are usually the last thing on your mind when you and your family take that momentous decision to have a dog as a pet. The kids are all excited and you are probably researching the characteristics of different breeds. But take a little time and think about the possible health problems of the various breeds on your shortlist. Health should be an important consideration when choosing a breed.
Golden retrievers for instance have fewer dogs health problems. In general they are healthy pets. The few health issues that can crop up can be easily treated by a vet or prevented by early vaccinations. In fact most of the health concerns may never surface if you choose a good breeder who has healthy and pedigreed Golden puppies.
Reputed and Experienced Breeder
The process of finding a healthy puppy without the normal dogs health problems as a pet starts with finding a knowledgeable and committed breeder. When you pick up a healthy puppy with healthy parents, its half the battle won
Make a list and ask all the right questions: You have to interrogate the breeder a little bit and ask a lot of incisive questions. Your primary concern has to be the health of the parents since it has a direct bearing on the dogs health problems of the puppies.
- Are all documents and health certificates pertaining to the parent dogs of the puppy in order.
- Certificates are required on specific parameters such as healthy heart, eye health, and hip clearance certificates from a recognized institution like the OFA or PennHip. If the parents have healthy hips, it minimizes the chances of the puppy developing a hip joint condition called Hip Dysplasia
- What about the pedigree of the puppies. Can the breeder provide the pedigree for 3 to 5 generations to help avoid dogs health problems?
- Ask if the breeder has taken care of first shots and vaccinations that newborn puppies have to receive in the initial weeks
- Carefully scrutinize if hygienic conditions have been provided by the breeder for the puppies in the litter. Puppies can get infested with worms and internal parasites if the breeder does not maintain a clean facility
Common Ailments and Dogs Health Problems in Golden Retrievers
- Hip Dysplasia- Developmental bone and joint disease
- Distemper- Infectious disease that requires vaccination. It can be fatal and it affects respiratory functions and nervous system
- Fleas- Skin ailments are often caused by fleas, a skin parasite. Fleas cause irritation, itching, inflammation and open sores. Flea medication prescribed by your vet should provide relief
- Skin Allergies- Allergic reaction to dust in the house, pollen in the garden. The tendency to get skin allergies increases if the parents or previous generations have a history of allergies.
- Worms-Internal parasites such as hook worms, round worms, ring worm. If you keep a watch for symptoms, you can have it treated before it becomes a major problem. At times hook worms can be handed down and infest a puppy as a new born because of the mother, simply by drinking mother's milk.
- Ear Problems- Painful infection in the ear canal due to bacteria and yeasts
Learn More About Dogs Health Problems
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs Can be Avoided
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Symptoms of worms in dogs crop up gradually over a period of time. Watch out for these common symptoms and make sure you get your pet the right medicines and treatment at the earliest. more...
Fleas can be quite troublesome but Flea medication for dogs gives pretty good results. But do you know that the rest of your home is infested as well. Find out how you can drive them out. more...
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