Dogs need regular maintenance to keep things in perfect working order. By doing the basics, you can prevent many serious problems from developing. Here is a list of what every dog needs to stay well.
Nutrition. Whether your rescue dog is a puppy or an adult, you need to feed him well. This means a good quality food with meat protein listed as one of the top two or three ingredients on the packet. Premium foods are more expensive, but are also more concentrated so you can feed your dog less. Cheap food are usually based on cereals, and your dog may not thrive if he eats them.
Parasite Control. This means internal and external parasites. Internal parasites include intestinal worms and heartworms. Intestinal worms can cause diarrhea, weight loss, a poor coat and even anemia, so you need to worm him regularly. Heartworm can cause heart failure and lung disease, and can be fatal. Your vet will be able to advise you on whether or not heartworm is prevalent in your region, and how to prevent it.
Ticks can cause serious illness in your dog, either by spreading disease such as lyme disease, or by causing paralysis. Fleas drink blood and have been known to make a dog so anemic, he dies. Shampoos are not very effective in the long term control of external parasites, but both fleas and ticks can be controlled with topical treatments which are applied to your dog's clean dry coat.
Vaccinations. Vaccinating your dog is critical in preventing serious illness. There is a basic vaccination schedule which protects against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and the two components of canine cough, parainfluenza and bordetella. Depending on where you live, your vet may also recommend vaccinating against leptospirosis or lyme disease.
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