It’s certainly fulfilling to be a dog owner, but it’s hard if you don’t know everything about your pet, and it can get confusing if you have a lot of questions about dog health. To help you along, we are answering some of the most important questions about dog health you may already be asking.

Question #1: How can I tell if my dog is sick?

When a person is sick, you can usually see it in his appearance or you notice an overall dip in his mood and energy. Your dog is the same way, although it always helps to be certain in its case. That’s why it’s best for you to really pay attention to any changes to aspects such as your pet’s behavior and eating habits.

Every single change in your dog’s daily routine, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is worth taking a closer look at. Take note of aspects like his appetite, his liquid consumption, urinary frequency, general appearance, sudden weight loss, and drops in energy level. More drastically, you should be able to notice if he refuses his food. Is he vomiting? Does he limp or have difficulty getting around? Any of these symptoms should ring warning bells and require a trip to the vet.

Question #2: How often should I have my dog checked at the vet?

Taking your dog on annual checkups is advisable. It should be more frequent than that if your dog is still very young, or has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring. As he gets older, starting around the age of six, take him to the vet twice every year. This is so any health problems that may come with age may be detected and fixed straightaway, and that the right course of action may be taken to ensure good and continued health as he matures.

Question #3: Should I have my dog neutered/spayed?

This is another problem that many dog owners have. Unless you’re planning on putting up a breeding facility, it is highly recommended that your dog be neutered (if it is a male) or spayed (if female) once it has reached six months of age.

This makes them less aggressive and can also boost their health. A male’s chances of getting prostate and testicular cancer falls to almost zero, while the same rate holds true for females getting mammary cancer.

Spaying significantly reduces their risk of contracting a form of diabetes, as well as womb infections or pyometra. It prevents overpopulation or the swelling in numbers of poor, unwanted puppies in rescue shelters.

Another advantage of this is that it saves you the trouble of having to deal with the horde of male dogs trooping to your house each time your female dog is in heat.

Question #4: Is excessive drooling normal?

Dogs drool. This is perfectly normal. But relative to his size, a good tip would be to take note of whether or not there is a sudden increase in his salivary output as this could be an indication of periodontal disease, tongue injuries, or even cysts, in which case you must take him to see the vet immediately.

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