After you, your veterinarian is the single most important person in maintaining you beloved pets health. The old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", is never so true as when applied to your pet. A happy, healthy pet starts with a good preventative health care program. As soon as you acquire a puppy you should schedule a puppy health check with your veterinarian. The veterinarian will give your puppy a thorough examination and discuss with you the future care of your puppy. When you go to the veterinarian write down a list of questions that you would like answered, do not be afraid to ask questions. Veterinarians love to answer questions, when it comes to keeping your puppy healthy. During your first visit things like diet, internal parasite control, flea and tick control and disease prevention will be discussed. A vaccination and examination schedule will be prepared and spaying or neutering of you puppy will be discussed. Vaccination schedules are designed to the incidence of disease in your particular area, so some of the following vaccinations may not be included in your puppies vaccination schedules. Routine fecal examination will be done on your pet to determine the need and efficacy of the internal parasite prevention program. Heartworm a potentially fatal parasite, that is spread by mosquitoes will be discussed, Your pet may need to have a blood test to make sure he is free from the heartworm parasite before being placed on the heartworm preventative. Hour dog's vaccination schedule depends on several factors: the age and health of your pet, and the area you live in. Here are some of the most common vaccinations given to dogs.

Bordatella Bronchiseptica (Kennel Cough) this is a bacterial infection, sometimes called infectious tracheobronchitis that can cause a severe bronchitis that produces a loud hacking cough. This disease is easily transmitted between unvaccinated animals. All good boarding facilities require this vaccination before allowing you to board your pet at their facility.

Corona Virus is a virus that infects the intestinal tracts of dogs and puppies it can cause severe diarrhea and is very contagious.

Distemper is a highly contagious often fatal viral disease, it especially dangerous to puppies.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that can cause kidney disease, it is transmitted by wild animals, through water sources.

Borrellia Burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme's disease. It is a complex disease the affects the immune system and is transmitted by ticks. Common symptoms are lameness, lethargy and in appetance and a low grade fever. Most clinics routinely run screens for this disease during their annual check up.

Parvo Virus is a viral disease easily transmitted to puppies and often fatal. The disease symptoms include, vomiting, inappetance and a foul smelling sometimes bloody diarrhea.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected mammals and is transmitted to pets and humans by bites, or possibly by contamination of an open cut with saliva. Treatment is critical for a person who has been infected by rabies, because there is essentially no cure. Although recently one person did survive rabies with severe disabilities. Although rabies is decreasing as a human disease because of a better rabies vaccination program for pets and public education about the disease, it is still a disease of significant public health concern. You must take steps to protect you whole family from this threat. Last year over 8000 animal, most of them wild, were diagnosed a having rabies in the United States. Skinks, bats, raccoons, foxes, cats, dogs and some farm animals are most likely to get and pass rabies. Rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits are rarely infected. Rabies does not occur in cold blooded animals and birds.

Along with annual vaccinations your pet should have a routine dental examination, as it has been shown that dental prophylaxis can extend the life and improve the quality of life of your pet. Dental exams are more important as your dog ages, but good dental hygiene habits started while your dog is a puppy can save you a lot of time and money in the long run.

Establishing a good rapport with your veterinarian can be the most important part of owning a pet and routine health and vaccinations has been proven to make your pets life longer, happier and healthier.