Health
Tazy health: prevention and warning signs
What to discuss with your vet, how to prepare for an appointment and when your dog needs urgent help.
A preventive care plan
At a routine check-up, discuss vaccinations, parasite prevention, weight and teeth. Tell your vet about walks, travel and contact with animals. These details help tailor care to your dog's age, health and lifestyle.
Observations for the appointment
Tell your vet about even small changes in behaviour. Note what changed and when, so that you remember it at the appointment.
A microchip and current contact details
A microchip holds an identification number; it does not transmit your dog's location. Check that the number is registered and that the owner's contact details in the relevant database are current. Update the record after changing your phone number or address. You can ask your vet to scan the chip during a check-up.
Dental care
Introduce tooth brushing gradually, with rewards, aiming to make it a daily habit. Use toothpaste made for dogs. If your dog resists, do not restrain it by force. A painful mouth needs a veterinary examination: continuing to eat does not rule out dental problems.
When to seek urgent help
Difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, sudden severe weakness or paralysis, or a swollen abdomen with unproductive retching require immediate veterinary attention. A dog hit by a car or injured in a serious fall needs an examination even if it looks normal.
Heavy bleeding that does not stop also needs urgent help. Call the nearest veterinary clinic and explain what happened; if breathing is affected, call on the way without delaying departure.