Someone once said, "The dog is the only animal that has seen his God." And that God is you! Your dog accepts you without question, adores you without reservation and relies on you to keep him or her fit and healthy. You can easily live up to those expectations by following some simple steps.

When you get your new puppy, it is of utmost importance to bring him or her in to get a comprehensive physical exam, so that you can be sure you have a healthy dog. We will give you good advice on proper nutrition, housetraining, a vaccine schedule to protect against potentially devastating diseases, as well as starting your puppy on parasite treatment and heartworm prevention. Puppies will need to be seen at least monthly for the first several months of its life in order to properly protect it against disease and to be sure he or she continues to be in good physical shape. Starting out with the best advice on training is critical to be sure you have a happy life together.

Since dogs have shorter life spans than we do, they mature and age much more quickly. Their first two years of life are equivalent to our first 24 years. Each of their years thereafter is equal to four of our years. That is why it is crucial to examine your dog every year, so that we may be able to discover small changes in their health before it becomes a critical situation. There are obvious economic savings in treating any disease state before it becomes a major problem, as well as giving your pet the best quality of life possible.

Remember that one of the keys to a happy life is regular exercise of your dog. Structured exercise is best, where your dog is exercising with you. Running, walking, playing fetch or catch, hunting or pursuits like flyball or agility training are wonderful stimulation for your dog's mind as well as the body. You both benefit from these outings and doing any of these regularly keeps your dog's waistline better under control.

Dogs are very sociable animals and need to have ample time with their owners. Putting your dog outside by himself is not much of a life for him and can lead to other behavioral issues. Playtime with other animals, as well as with you can keep your dog happier and less likely to suffer stress. Socializing needs to start at a very young age, usually before 8 weeks of age. It is the best time to learn to interact with children, adults, and other pets. It is a good time to get your dog used to strange noises or riding in a car.

It is always important that we be sure that your dog is on heartworm prevention in this area of the country. It is a widespread parasite disease, carried by mosquitoes and spread by getting just one bite. We will check for this disease every year in order to be sure that your dog has not been infected. We will also check for intestinal parasites as well, to be sure that your dog has not picked up any that could potentially cause disease or spread to someone in the household.

Dental health is another area for which we constantly examine, in order to prevent pain and loss of appetite.

Other areas that we consult with you about include your dog's weight and metabolism. Good nutrition often leads to healthier, more problem-free skin and haircoats.

Once your dog advances into his or her senior years, it is important to examine them more than once a year. Often we will recommend doing blood profiles or urinalyses in order to assess the organ functions. Again, these geriatric visits allow us a better chance of seeing subtle changes in their health. Dogs can be quite adept in hiding symptoms of disease and can't always tell us when they don't feel well.

We would love to care for your dog throughout its lifetime. We enjoy sharing the close bond you feel for your dog and want to make your dog's life as happy and healthy as possible.