The Life of My Dog Dingo

A surprising number have clients have worried if the tests and procedures we are recommending are needed or if they are just a money grab. This a fear you do not need to have. Everything recommended by our veterinary team is to ensure the best care is provided to your pet and our pets as well. To prove it I figured I would let you in on what this technician’s dog goes through in a typical year.

Dingo the dogDingo is my 11-year-old cattle dog, and to say that he is my reason for living would be an understatement. To help him live the best and longest life he can I do a lot of things to give him the upper hand on ageing.

Every year, and if I’m being honest sometimes more, Dingo gets his blood taken for testing. These tests check for infection, malignancy, organ function, and other issues to ensure he is as healthy as he can be, and to detect any issues early on.

Dingo is also on monthly prevention to protect him from heartworm, ticks, fleas and intestinal parasites.

Once a year he gets another blood sample taken to check for heartworm (which is spread by mosquitos) and 3 tick-borne diseases (one of which is Lyme disease). Why spend money on this test if he is on monthly prevention to prevent these diseases? Just like the human birth control pill, the medication is not 100%. This test allows me the peace of mind that nothing has gotten through and infected my baby boy.

Once a year his vaccines are updated to protect him for Rabies, Lyme, Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus and Leptospirosis.

With his age comes age-related issues. One of these issues, for example, is mobility. To help with his mobility I have him on a vet recommended joint diet and monthly injections to support joint health.

Dingo the dog standing on a motorAnother age-related issue is dental problems, which is why Dingo gets his teeth checked once a week by myself to monitor for tooth fractures and periodontal disease. All concerns and then brought to my veterinary’s attention and any problem teeth are removed with a dental procedure. During this procedure, the rest of his teeth are checked for any issues lying under the gum line with dental radiographs. This way I know no problem teeth that can cause him pain is left in his mouth. The rest of his healthy teeth are cleaned and polished to help prevent any periodontal disease.

Tumours can also come with age. Any and all Dingo’s lumps are checked and sampled by my veterinarian and if they are a concern, they too are removed. Ones that are currently not a problem are monitored regularly to ensure no changes occur.

All of these tests and procedures are my personal decision, and it is my way to help keep my little boy blue living his best life. As it is my goal for him to be the oldest dog to ever live.

Written by Jessica