Most dog owners treat their pet like a member of the family. If you are a dog owner, you would most likely do everything possible to keep your dog healthy and happy. A good start would be to know the basics of dog health. Let's face it. Dogs are good companions and also provide enjoyment that it is just important to keep them healthy in every possible way.

Here are just some of the important tips on dog health and how they can be kept in their best shape. Just like humans, dogs' health starts with proper nutrition. Feeding your dog with high quality food that has the essential nutrients is the ideal way to keep him healthy and alert. Poor quality food or lack of food, on the other hand, has the opposite effect. It can actually contribute to the deterioration of your dog's health, or even worse, might result to illness. Know how to determine quality from waste. Cheap dog food is usually loaded with grains (and even ash) which have been over-cooked so that your pet can digest them. This kind of food is not able to provide the right amount of nutrients that they still have to be supplemented with vitamins and minerals.

Dogs are carnivorous animals, so what they really need is mostly meat. From time to time, you could also give vegetables and a modest amount of grain-based dog food. Just make sure that the bulk of their diet should be meat, and only high-quality meat. Note though that there are manufacturers of pet food that are allowed to use meat from sick or disabled dead animals, the kind that is not suitable for human consumption. This type of meat is commonly used in cheap dog food. So, if you can afford to buy dog food that is of high quality, it is better that you do so, to prevent risking your pet from any disease.

Dogs, like humans also need to stay in shape. It is therefore important, as a dog owner, that you find time to get your dog some exercise. It might just also be good for you, too. Try walking him twice a day, one in the morning and another one at night, and it might just be able to resolve a potential problem that your dog might already have - obesity. Let's face it, we normally think that we give our dogs a favor when we give them food whenever they beg. What we don't realize is the fact that the more we give them food, the higher are the chances for them to have health problems. Note that overweight dogs are more susceptible to sickness and usually end up with shorter lives than slimmer dogs. It is then a must that we watch our pet's diet, giving them only the right amount of food everyday. Following this routine religiously will not only keep your dog healthy and happy but also do you a favor in saving on veterinary bills.

While we may be doing our best to ensure our dog's health, it is still sometimes inevitable that they get sick from time to time. Good thing though, treatments are already available to cure common canine sickness. Distemper, for one, is a deadly viral disease among dogs. It is transmitted through the saliva, urine and stool from other dogs that have acquired the disease. Common symptoms of distemper are runny nose, sneezing, coughing, diarrhea and lack of appetite. If your dog or puppy manifests any of these symptoms, it is best that you take him to the vet immediately. Delaying the treatment could just cause more problems and may lower the chance of your dog's survival. Vaccine for distemper is administered once a year. It is recommended that you inquire about this from your vet.

Still another disease is, rabies. It is a disease that affects the dog's central nervous system. The mode of transmission is usually through bites from infected animals with signs and symptoms appearing anywhere from 30 to 60 days after exposure. Rabid dogs tend to be hostile and can be dangerous to handle. Like distemper, dogs can be protected from rabies through yearly vaccination.

Another common disease among dogs is leptospirosis. It is usually caused by bacteria that directly affect the liver and kidneys. Common symptoms include runny nose, loss of appetite, vomiting, loss of appetite, stiffness and a change in bowel movement and urinary habits. Note that dogs with leptospirosis can infect humans. There is also a vaccine against this disease, and if your pet shows any of these symptoms better take him to the vet immediately.

Dogs, like other animals, get infected with internal parasites too. Worms or internal parasites come in many forms. Roundworms usually reside the some of the dog's organs like the heart, lungs and liver, then they eventually find their way to the dog's intestine where they eat the dog's ingested food. You can suspect that your dog might have internal parasites when it frequently shows persistent hunger, is bloated with gas, or has diarrhea. Hookworm, on the other hand, is another internal parasite common among dogs. They are quite microscopic but are commonly found in great numbers. They feed on your dog's blood and causing him to have anemia. Symptoms of hookworm infection include gas, diarrhea, and weight loss.

Thanks to veterinary medicine, dogs with worm infection can easily be treated.

Observing your dog regularly is the best way to prevent the spreading of the disease. Rule of thumb is, once you notice him manifesting the above-mentioned symptoms, don't make any further delay and bring him to the veterinarian at once.

Ensuring our dogs' health not only keeps them happy but also adds more years into their lives.