Many canine health problems can be prevented with a good diet, an appropriate environment and routine veterinary care. Regardless of the dog's age and apparent health, a veterinarian should see all dogs at least once per year. A trained veterinarian can detect problems that most people cannot, and once the dog is showing symptoms it may be too late to do anything about the problem.

Vaccines

There are two common vaccines that most dogs should be given: Distemper and Rabies. The Distemper vaccine is usually a combination vaccine that includes: distempter, adenovirus, leptospira canicola, parainfluenza and parvovirus. Puppies are usually given a 2-3 series of shots of the Distemper combination. The first series is good for one year, and most boosters are good for one year. However, some vet clinics are starting to give three-year Distemper boosters.

The initial Rabies vaccine is usually given around 4 months, and is good for one year. Rabies boosters are good for 1-3 years, depending on the laws of the local municipality.

Other vaccinations to discuss with your vet are: the kennel cough vaccination and Lyme disease vaccination. These diseases may or may not be required or recommended based on you and your dog's activities and lifestyle.