Your dog should see his veterinarian at least once yearly for a medical exam and vaccinations. It is not only very important for your pup to receive his vaccinations to protect him from diseases, but it's important for your vet to do a thorough exam to uncover anything that might be going on, that is not obvious to you as the pet parent. Just because your pet does not look or is not acting sick, does not mean something might not be going on with his general health. This is also the time to discuss with your vet anything unusual happening with your dog, or anything that is not normal such as decrease in appetite, changes in behavior, etcetera.

Your veterinarian is going to do a physical exam checking for lumps, bumps, sensitivity and anything else that might be out of the ordinary. Although as a good pet parent you have your dog on continuous year-round heartworm preventative, your vet should still do a heartworm test at the annual exam to ensure your dog is in fact heartworm negative, as there isn't a medication in existence that is 100% effective.

Not every dog will get every vaccine every time. Your vet will talk to you about which vaccines your dog should have based on his age and overall health. There is only one vaccine that is absolutely required by law, and that is the rabies vaccine. There is now a 3 year rabies vaccine available in addition to the 1 year rabies vaccine that has been standard for so long.

Some of the important vaccines your dog should receive will protect against:

*Parvovirus - This deadly disease is highly contagious and very easily passed from one dog to another. Symptoms include vomiting, fever, lethargy and bloody diarrhea. If caught in time, dogs often make a full recovery. The younger the dog is, the more deadly it is. So catching it in time can mean the difference between life and death, a very painful death, for your dog. More commonly referred to as Parvo, this disease is very common among puppy mill dogs and dogs from backyard breeders.

*Coronavirus: Causing diarrhea and dehydration, this disease is highly contagious, especially among young and old dogs. Although not often fatal, it's still very serious.

*Distemper: Very common among feral dogs, this illness can cause nasal and ocular (eye) discharge, coughing, fever and vomiting. This disease is fatal if not treated.

*Leptospirosis: This disease causes fever, vomiting and lethargy. Renal failure as well as sudden death is common with this disease.

Another important, but not quite as vital, vaccine your dog might get protects against Bordetella, also known as Kennel Cough. Bordetella is contracted from places such as dog parks, kennels and grooming facilities and the main symptom of this illness is coughing.

You can talk to your vet about the individual health needs and requirements of your dog to decide which vaccines he will receive. By making sure your dog receives all of his vaccines and physical exam once yearly, you are reducing the chances you will have to bring him back to the vet before the next annual exam. And that's good for you, your pet, and your wallet.