We are all told that our dogs should be vaccinated. But do you know what your dog’s being vaccinated against, how often it should be done, or if he should even be vaccinated at all?Vaccinations are given to dogs to reduce the risk of them contracting dangerous and potentially fatal diseases. They work by stimulating the immune system to protect itself against disease.A healthy animal is injected with a weakened or killed disease agent; once introduced into the dog’s body, it is recognised as being foreign and antibodies are produced to destroy it. Should the same foreign body appear again, the body will remember it and again produce an attack team of antibodies to get rid of it. It is possible for dogs to develop immunity to some diseases without being vaccinated, but to do so they need to have contracted the disease and survived it.
Regular grooming is extremely important for your canine friend. Not only does it keep dogs’ coats clean and manageable, it also enables you to do a quick health check to ensure your pet stays in tip-top condition. We have teamed up with professional groomer Mark Davies to give an introduction to dog grooming — so you can keep your pet looking spick and span.
Developing aches and pains is to be expected when animals get older. But how do you know if your dog is suffering from arthritis? A long-term condition, which deteriorates with time, arthritis requires ongoing management to help affected dogs remain as comfortable and mobile as possible.
