There are several common questions about dog vaccinations and what dog owners need to know about them. One of the most common questions about puppy vaccinations is whether your puppy should get a vaccination during the first week of their life.

All dogs should be vaccinated during the first five or six weeks since they were born but, if the vaccinations get missed for some reason then the vaccination against the parvovirus infections can be given and this should help to protect your puppy against various diseases.

The bordetella disease vaccine and also the lyme disease vaccine often leave dog owners wondering if they should be given to their pet dog or puppy. Well, these vaccines are usually considered to be optional but the parvoviral vaccine should not be used in first week of life because it can interfere with the maternal antibody levels gained from the milk of the mother.

Is it OK to have a pregnant bitch vaccinated? The answer is Yes. A pregnant dog may be vaccinated against viral diseases and this can aid in the protection of the puppies when they are born due to the beneficial maternal antibodies which can be passed on to the young puppies

A lot of people wonder if giving the rabies vaccine to dogs is beneficial and the answer is that yes, it can be very good to help protect your dog from Rabies. If you do have your dog vaccinated with the Rabies protective vaccine it will usually be given at around the age of thirteen to fifteen weeks of age and it should be repeated again in around fifteen months or so and then again every three years. Rabies is a terrible disease in both animals and humans and you should ensure your dog gets vaccinated against it if you live in a part of the world where Rabies is a problem.

Canine distemper is another nasty disease and vaccination can prevent its development in your dog. This disease is more often seen in some countries than others but vaccination is usually considered to be a very important protection for your dog and its health in the future.

Vaccination against leptospirosis can be given at around 6 to 8 weeks of age with a repeated vaccination of your puppy at 10 to 12 weeks followed by one more injection at somewhere between the 13th and 16th week to give full protection.

I don’t know about you but there have been times when I suddenly feel a lot of pain and I’m not entirely sure on what to do about it. How much more difficult it must be for our pets. I mean, they cannot even articulate what it is specifically that ails them, how much more find out the things they need to relieve them of the discomfort. Therefore it is largely up to us to study and understand what we can do to help our dogs the best way possible.

Canines that are in pain exhibit symptoms that are pretty much the same regardless of the reasons that may have caused it. These dogs will often whimper, refuse to eat or drink, be depressed, tremble and shake and show signs of laziness. When these symptoms manifest, it’s time you visit the vet and get a proper diagnosis of his condition.

Fortunately, dog pain relievers are made available in pet stores and canine sites that will really help your pet. Expect the vet to prescribe an NSAID or non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug with a supplement to relieve pain. However, if you can’t get to your vet right now, or if you need immediate help for your dog’s condition, here are some simple dog pain relief at home remedies you can try.

One of the fastest ways to help your dog is to manage his daily movements so that he doesn’t have to do anything that will further aggravate whatever condition he is in. Settle him down in a comfortable place where all his doggie toys, water bowl and food dish are. Limit physical activity to regular trips to the bathroom for now.

If the cause of his discomfort is an area of swelling, get an ice pack and apply it on the spot for about 15 to 20 minutes. This reduces swelling effectively. Let it rest for a while and then apply the pack again. Do this for the next 2 days or until the swelling goes down. Don’t use warm compress for any inflammation. Warm compress is good only for relieving muscle tension.

Never ever administer prescription drugs like Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Advil and Acetaminophen as dog pain relievers. Human medications have stronger substances that can be very dangerous to dogs when administered in large amounts. Aspirin may seem mild to you but it causes the dog to have ulcers. Furthermore, it thins out the blood, an especially dangerous thing for animals undergoing surgery.

Another excellent dog pain relief at home is this: massage. It sounds simple enough but it helps tremendously in reducing the canine’s pain. Massage stimulates better blood flow and eases muscle tension that the dog connects to pain. Get a few drops of any aromatic oil and gently massage it to the sore muscles of the dog.

I understand how hard it must be for you to know that your dog is experiencing pain; but you are doing in your part by taking him to regular medical check-ups and maintaining a good and healthy diet. Do your best in making sure he is strong and healthy and it will inevitably be that way before long. Enjoy!

Every pet owner should know where to find effective dog pain relievers for their beloved pets. Find valuable tips for dog pain relief at home when you visit HealthyHappyDogs.com today.

Ticks and fleas are a common problem which can frustrate you and your dog, and they can potentially cause severe health issues. There are many different powders and sprays out there, but with their chemical-based formulas, they could be harmful to the pet’s health or to yours.

Don’t worry – those powders and sprays aren’t your only means of defense against these tiny tyrants. You can fight them off with natural remedies that are safe for everyone and can be effective for your dog.

Check the shelves at the pet store. They sell many products that are entirely produced from natural ingredients. They have no chemicals that could be unsafe for your pets or family, but they have ingredients that are very effective in getting rid of the pesky pests.

Some powders and sprays don’t contain any chemicals either. You can find shampoos and special flea brushes to remove them from our dog’s coat. There are some treatments that you can apply directly to the dog’s skin that won’t harm the dog in any way, but will kill the fleas.

You can always choose a flea collar which repels fleas without any chemicals coming in contact with the skin.

Take extra care to clean your dog and your home. Bathe and brush your dog at least once every week. Make sure to vacuum your carpets and keep your dog’s bedding clean.

Warm, humid areas are perfect for fleas to lay their eggs, so they should be vacuumed often. It’s advisable to sprinkle a little Borax or a bit of laundry detergent on your carpets before you vacuum.

These products kill fleas and eggs, which you can then vacuum. Make sure your pets and any children aren’t around when you do it. Even if they are not harmful, a little caution never hurts.

There are some homemade treatments that many pet owners claim to work very well. It might be best to consult your veterinarian first.

Garlic and Brewer’s yeast seem to be effective. Be careful when you use them. Keep your grass cut and your bushes edged, so that it will be more difficult for fleas to get on your dog.

With some of these tips, you can avoid using chemical treatments that could be harmful to your dog. And also, if you use environmentally safe products, you and your dog will enjoy a healthier life.

Interested in tips for living a healthy lifestyle? We’re your healthy living guide to eating well and living an active life.