When you adopt a new dog, you'll have many purchases to make to secure all of the items you'll need to maintain him. Of course you'll need dog food, a bed, grooming tools, a leash and collar. You'll also need to find a reliable veterinarian and make sure he receives the essential immunizations. If you have a pup, he'll need a series of DHLPPC vaccinations. All dogs need to be vaccinated for rabies, at least. And once those shots are taken care of, you'll need to make sure you have a supply of the regular medicines you'll need for him. Even if you have gotten yourself the healthiest, most upbeat puppy, there are particular medicines you just can't do without.
What medicines are utterly necessary for your pet? Well, perhaps you've heard of Heartgard and equivalent treatments to protect dogs against heartworm. Heartworm is a foul parasite. They are indeed long, thin worms that can invade your dog's vascular system and sooner or later kill him after he first becomes very sick. You DON'T want this to happen to your pet, and reports of heartworm have been documented in every state of America. Heartworm is a seasonal issue, so you need to confer with your vet about how often and when to give your pet heartworm medication, but by all odds do it.
The next most common, and likely most crucial, medication for dogs are flea medications like Frontline Plus. Fleas themselves will not kill your dog. Mainly they cause him unbelievable discomfort, and can invade your household as well. However, fleas carry other parasites in their spittle that they can then pass on to your dog. Tapeworms are just one example of parasites contracted this way--and tapeworms infest human beings, too. You should certainly make sure to keep your dog's flea medications updated.
These 2 medications are the basic ones that pretty much every dog needs. However, if you have an senior dog or dog with special requirements, you'll need to talk to your veterinarian about other medicines for him. For instance, if your dog has arthritis or other persistant pain, you'll need a pain reliever like Deramaxx for him. So take care of yourself and your dog by keeping current with all necessary medications.
