How can I check my first dog's health at home for peace of mind?

Hello. The very best thing to do is make an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough health check-up. Your veterinarian will listen to Dash's heart & lungs, look at his eyes & ears, palpate his abdomen, conduct a fecal analysis looking for intestinal worms & parasites, & recommend when appropriate vaccinations should be given. At this time, your veterinarian will discuss diet, possible neuter surgery & preventatives to protect your puppy from heartworm infection. It sounds like a lot, but for a puppy to be & stay healthy it is important. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congratulations on your first dog! I recommend to first have harry examined by the veterinarian and have any vaccines, antiparasitics...etc updated. Bring in his vaccine records if you have them. Then I recommend to start reading about dog behavior and training. Your local library is a wonderful resource for books. Read books about golden doodles, golden retrievers and poodles but keep in mind that all dogs are individuals. Also read about dog training. One trainer I like in particular is Victoria Stilwel. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

This is a very good question! It is always wise to be proactive about our pet's health. If you ever have concerns about how your dog is doing then a call and visit to your vet can help to set your mind at ease. Things to watch for that would indicate health problems include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite and energy level, unusual behaviors and limping. Discuss food recommendations with your regular veterinarian. Brands such as Purina, Hills and Royal Canin all have veterinarians on-staff to ensure their food is top quality and nutritionally balanced. If you are feeding a good balanced diet then supplements of vitamins and minerals are not necessary.

The best way to determine whether or not Simba is in good health would be to schedule a physical examination with your veterinarian. If he's an older dog screening lab work is sometimes helpful as well. If you have particular concerns about his health you could post your question again with more details.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that is a great idea! Bring a stool sample with you. The Vet can go over her vaccine schedule, get her started on flea/tick and heartworm prevention and discuss having her spayed. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. With Moonlight, I recommend you take him to the vet for a check-up. Your vet will likely recommend vaccines and deworming, along with flea and tick prevention. You can also ask your vet what the best food to feed Moonlight is, as this will vary from location to location. You should also get Moonlight neutered at 4 months of age. Best of luck with Moonlight!

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