Keeping Your Dog Healthy

 

Ensuring your dog is healthy is no easy task. From what they eat to annual veterinarian visits and lots of care in between, there is a lot to understand and maintain so your dog can live the best life possible. If you have questions on how to keep your dog, healthy, feel free to email us at info@bickellfoundation.org or make an appointment with our official veterinarian partner Heal  in Chicago at (773) 888-5091. 

 

Spay & Neuter Information

There are many misconceptions about altering your dog, which is why being informed about the health benefits of altering your pet is so important. A dog who is spayed (for females) or neutered (for males) typically live much happier, longer and healthier lives. According to the Humane Society of the United States, neutered dogs live 18% longer than unneutered dogs and spayed dogs live 23% longer than unspayed dogs. The longevity of altered dogs is due to their reduced risks of contracting reproductive cancers. Unspayed female dogs have a far greater chance of contracting reproductive cancers and developing a fatal uterine infection called pyrometra. Spaying your female dog also eliminates their heat cycle which means your dog won't have to go through painful bleeding, crying or nervous behavior associated with the monthly heat cycle. Unneutered male dogs are less likely to not only contract cancer but will also not mark their territory or space. Lastly, with the amount of unwanted "pit bulls" resulting from unaltered pets you are making the most conscious decision possible in order to prevent more unwanted dogs who are ultimately euthanized. Spaying and neutering is a win win for your pets health and in preventing more unwanted pets from being killed in shelters. 

 

The procedure for a spay or neuter is very common and the most frequent surgery done by veterinarians every day all around the world. We recommend your veterinarian runs a pre-anesthetic blood panel prior to surgery to make sure your dog doesn't have any underlying issues that could affect them while under anesthesia. You should not feed your dog past midnight the evening before his/her surgery. Do not feed him/her in the morning - only water. After surgery you will want to give your dog two weeks to rest and heal. For a list of places to get your dog spayed or neutered in Illinois, click here. Outside of Illinois? Conduct a Google search in your area for spay/neuter clinics. 

 

Vaccines

Vaccines can provide vital protection to your dog from serious and sometimes deadly diseases and viruses. Core vaccines that should be started at puppyhood are canine parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis and rabies. These core vaccines should be started at six-eight weeks of age to prevent puppies from contracting deadly illnesses. Non-core vaccines that are given to puppies and dogs depending on contraction risks are bordetella, borrelia, and leptospira. You should always consult with your veterinarian about your dogs’ vaccines and the appropriate time for them to be given. Vaccines can pose an allergic reaction just like vaccines given to some humans might. If your dog experiences a reaction to a vaccine contact your veterinarian immediately. Once a dog has had his or her core vaccines you can also administer a titer test to determine the longevity of existing vaccines in your dogs' system. This could prevent any over-vaccination issues that could occur. It is important to bring your dog in for a yearly check-up to make sure there aren't any other issues your dog is having. 

 

Microchipping

Microchipping can also come with its set of misconceptions but are overall important to keep your dog out of harms way. We never think our dog could run away from us but it unfortunately happens. Especially with dogs labeled as "pit bulls," a microchip can make the difference between life and death. Depending on the laws in different communities a "pit bull" could be banned. If a "pit bull" wanders in to one of those banned areas with no identification they could immediately be euthanized after their stray hold is finished. When a dog is taken to an animal control facility, veterinarian or private shelter he/she will be scanned for a microchip which will be attached to your name, address and phone number. Each microchip is coded with an identification number that is registered with the microchip company who holds all your information. Implanting a microchip in puppies, adult or senior dogs is a very simple and seamless procedure. It takes about 5 seconds and gives you more of an opportunity to ensure your pet is returned safely to you. Consult your veterinarian or local humane society on microchipping and setting up an appointment. 

 

Food

With so many commercial and raw food brands out there dog owners are often overwhelmed on what is the best food for their pet. Since every dog is different and might have a particular food allergy or immune issue there are foods for every kind of dog and their needs. With that said, there are more high quality diets that can give your pet better coat, teeth and immune system health. These diets include food from brands such as Fromm, Stella & Chewy's, Orijin, Evo, Canidae, Merrick, Nature's Variety, and Primal. These brands sell food with higher quality ingredients and little to no fillers such as soy, corn or wheat which can be difficult for dogs to digest and are usually poor for the overall health of dogs. 

 

Flea, Tick and Heartworm Prevention

Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can pose serious threats to you and your pet. These bugs can transmit fatal diseases including lyme disease (which humans can catch), plague (which humans can catch) and heartworms. It is imperative that you protect your dog from these little intruders by using flea and tick preventative medicine which is applied to the dog's coat once a month. Additionally, you should administer a heartworm preventative monthly. A mosquito biting a dog causes heartworm disease. The mosquito transmits the disease that travels through the bloodstream and inhabits the dog's heart. If left untreated, heartworms can take the dog's life. The disease can be treated but it is a very long and often painful treatment. The best way to keep your pet healthy is prevention. Consult your veterinarian who can prescribe you the preventative medications.