With the rapid development of the economy, people’s living standards have risen in tandem, and more and more pet dogs have become part of families, enriching our daily lives. It is therefore of great importance for both dogs and their owners to have a correct understanding of the potential diseases that can affect pets and to adopt scientifically sound preventive measures. With this in mind, we’ve compiled some tips on disease prevention and everyday health care for dogs—let’s take a look!

I. Prevention of Dog Diseases

Vaccination

Prevention is the cornerstone of managing canine diseases, and the most critical preventive measure is the timely and proper administration of vaccines. Vaccines are intended only for healthy dogs and should never be used as a substitute for medication. It takes about 10 days after vaccination for the vaccine to become fully effective; therefore, dogs should not be bathed during this 10-day period. Throughout the entire immunization process, it is best to keep dogs indoors and minimize contact with other pets.

Regular deworming

Parasites are a significant and highly common threat to dogs’ health, which is why regular deworming is essential. Many young puppies harbor intestinal parasites; when present, these can manifest externally as loss of appetite, weight loss, and stunted growth, along with diarrhea or constipation. Pet owners can often detect parasites by examining their dog’s feces, but this method is most reliable for puppies. In adult dogs, parasites may not show up in the stool, yet that does not mean deworming is unnecessary.

II. Daily Health Care for Dogs

Observe all parts of your dog’s body and its stool, and schedule regular veterinary check-ups.

Inspect the ears: primarily check for parasites and any unusual odor.

Inspect the coat: Focus on whether there are parasites in the dog’s fur, as well as any red rashes or areas of hair loss.

Examine the eyes: Pay close attention to whether the dog’s eyes are bright and responsive, whether there is any abnormal discharge from the cornea, and whether there is evidence of infection. Also observe the pupillary response. In a healthy dog, the conjunctiva is pink; if it becomes flushed or shows signs of congestion, this indicates an underlying condition.

Examine the nose: primarily assess whether it is sensitive and moist, and determine whether the nasal discharge is serous or purulent.

Oral examination: primarily assesses the condition of the teeth and tongue inside the mouth and checks for halitosis.

Examine the lymph nodes: Locate and palpate the lymph nodes, primarily in areas such as the chin, neck, and shoulders. Gently press on them to check for enlargement or palpable masses.

Examine the abdomen: Palpate the abdomen to check for abnormalities such as distension or masses.

Examine the stool: Look for parasites, diarrhea, constipation, or other abnormalities in your dog’s feces.

In addition to promptly observing your dog’s external physical signs, regular professional veterinary check-ups are also crucial. After all, some conditions have very subtle early symptoms; by the time obvious signs appear, it may already be too late. This not only leads to higher medical costs but also causes greater suffering for your dog—and in severe cases, can even threaten its life.

Ensure the dog’s environment is clean.

A dog’s living environment directly affects its health. To provide a clean and healthy space, pet owners should designate specific areas for the dog to play and rest, regularly clean the doghouse and all of the dog’s belongings, promptly remove feces, and keep the surroundings tidy and sanitary. At the same time, it’s important to minimize the pet’s contact with other potential sources of infection.

Pay attention to dietary health.

Do not feed excessive amounts of meat and animal liver.

Many pet owners believe that dogs need a large intake of meat, so they eagerly buy and feed their pets copious amounts of processed meat products such as ham sausages and animal liver, while neglecting nutritional balance. This monotonous feeding pattern can lead dogs to develop a strong preference for—and even dependence on—meat and liver, fostering picky eating habits. Moreover, excessive consumption of meat products can impair a dog’s digestion and potentially result in gastrointestinal dysfunction. Dogs are omnivores and, like humans, require a well-rounded, balanced diet that includes fresh vegetables. However, unlike people, dogs cannot be easily trained to follow rules or understand dietary principles; therefore, it is essential to strictly control the amount of meat-based foods they consume, gradually reform their eating habits, and prevent them from becoming picky eaters.

Dogs should not share food with humans.

Dogs have a different physiological structure from humans; many foods that are safe for people, such as chili peppers and garlic, are unsuitable for dogs and can instead lead to digestive upset, acute enteritis, diarrhea, and other problems. In addition, seafood like fish and shrimp can severely irritate a dog’s digestive tract. Therefore, no matter how much you adore your dog, you should never feed it the same food as humans—always provide separate, individual meals for your pet.

Reduce feeding bones

Dogs often love to chew on bones, so many people casually toss leftover bones from meals to their pets. However, excessive bone consumption can lead to constipation, and swallowing sharp bone fragments can injure the digestive tract. Therefore, when feeding bones, it’s best to offer small amounts frequently rather than a large quantity at once, and always avoid giving overly sharp or brittle bones.

Ensure appropriate outdoor activities and sunlight exposure for your dog.

Nowadays, many dogs are kept in apartment buildings, and their owners often lack the time to take them outside, resulting in very few outdoor outings. This practice is not ideal: dogs need adequate sunlight to support healthy circulation and metabolism, and regular outdoor activity is essential to prevent rickets and osteochondrosis. Moreover, a pet’s mood can indirectly affect its overall health; frequent interaction and outings help keep pets happy and well-adjusted.

In short, dogs have become close companions and family members for many people, and caring for them is ultimately caring for ourselves. Raising dogs properly and scientifically—by addressing all aspects of their health and well-being to prevent a wide range of diseases—is crucial, both for the dogs themselves and for their owners.