When you bring a dog into your home, you are adding a member to your family. Feeding, grooming, and vaccinating your dog are all important steps for ensuring they are healthy and happy, but other tasks may be needed, as well. The job of a veterinarian is to keep your dog, and other pets, healthy, so trusting them for care and advice is best. Here are a few things your veterinarian wants you to know about your dog:

Physical Exams Are Imperative

Scheduling appointments for vaccinations and checkups when it is time for a refill on flea, tick, and heartworm prevention may seem like enough, but regular physical exams are imperative, too.

Your dog ages faster than a human in a course of one year, so they will experience numerous physical changes that should be addressed by the vet.

During this wellness exam, the veterinarian will be able to check your dog's oral health, weight, skin, coat, and digestive health. Visiting the vet each year is also a great time to ask questions and discuss concerns regarding your dog's health and behavior.

Skipping the annual exam can be detrimental to your dog's health, so make sure to schedule these wellness checkups each year.

Hypoallergenic Breeds Are Not Allergy Friendly

Many people suffer from allergies. The itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and coughing related to allergies cause a great deal of discomfort. In fact, this discomfort has caused many people to adopt hypoallergenic dog breeds.

Hypoallergenic dog breeds supposedly produce less dander, which will not affect the quality of your indoor air. For allergy sufferers, these dog breeds would seem like a smart idea. However, recent studies have shown hypoallergenic dog breeds have no benefit for allergy sufferers over traditional dog breeds.

If you have brought a poodle, labradoodle, or another hypoallergenic dog breed into your home but are still experiencing allergy symptoms, you are not alone. Just because you think your dog is not supposed to shed, some hair and dander will enter affect your home an health.

Food Does Not Equal Love

Every dog breed is different, so your larger breed of dog may need to eat more than a miniature dog. However, if your dog is overweight, you are feeding them too much.

You may think a few extra treats here and there or some human food from the table is no big deal, but this extra food can add up to a serious obesity issue. Dogs who are overweight have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and arthritis.

You should stop trying to show your dog love with food because you are only doing more harm than good.

Your veterinarian cares about your dog's health and wellness, so you should listen to their advice. To learn more about wellness exams, allergy issues, and diet for your dog, contact your vet clinic today.