Why Prevention is Better Than Cure: Health and Wellbeing for Dogs
· Updated
Prevention is always better than treatment as it saves stress, discomfort, and improves long-term health outcomes.
This is particularly true when it comes to our dogs where appropriate preventative care can transform their health and wellbeing - and also help to keep unexpected vet bills to a minimum.
The main areas where we protect our dogs with preventative healthcare measures are vaccinations and anti-parasitic treatments. Modern vaccinations can protect our canine companions from a wide range of potentially life-threatening diseases including:
- Parvovirus
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Leptospirosis
And these have a long track record of safety! Without up-to-date vaccinations, dogs are at risk of contracting and spreading serious disease which can be devastating for the individual animal and those they're in contact with, but also lead to costly health care bills for their family.
Anti-parasitic treatments protect dogs from external and internal parasites including:
- Roundworms
- Tapeworms
- Fleas
- Ticks
Although rarely indirectly life threatening, these parasites can lead to significant long term harms including weight loss, poor condition, digestive upset, skin diseases, anemia and more. Preventatives such as deworming and flea and tick medication can significantly reduce these risks and help keep dogs in good health.
In addition to these routine preventative medications, there are also many other ways that the risks of ill health can be reduced: regular veterinary check ups are important as these can pick up issues such as:
- Excess weight
- Dental disease
- Skin problems
- Digestive health issues
- and many more!
And, for dogs identified as being at higher risk of specific problems such as diabetes or liver disease, routine blood tests can be an invaluable tool to monitor their internal health and allow targeted healthcare measures to be implemented.
Alongside these veterinary exams and health screens there are now a number of complimentary tests that can be that can help to support health issues and recommend appropriate preventative changes to lifestyle diet and supplementation programs. T
hese tests include DNA analysis which can spot genetic factors and may lead to increased risk of specific health issues, hair sample tests which look at vitamin and mineral levels and the new field of microbiome analysis.
Microbiome analysis, or fecal analysis, is a relatively new technique but is fast becoming an important tool for the assessment of dogs. Health experts recognized the importance of the gut microbiome in many areas of health, from the gut to the brain.
The process involves taking a small fecal sample from which bacterial DNA is extracted in a lab, and is analyzed and used to provide detailed information about many areas of the dogs internal health; from the overall health of their digestive system to how it supports digestion of the their diet, and to its impact on their skin, joints, and even behaviour.
Finally, it's important not to forget the role of diet in preventing long term health issues as it is increasingly clear that an appropriate healthy diet with fresh whole food ingredients can be fundamental to minimizing the risk of many diseases and health conditions.
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As modern pet parents, we have many amazing tools available to help us keep our treasured dogs fit and healthy. From routine vaccinations to advanced microbiome tests, the future of our pets' health has never looked brighter!
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*Originally published in Cotswold Life, this article by Dr. Joe Inglis, a UK-based Veterinarian and expert in animal nutrition, has been republished here, with minor edits, with the author’s express permission.