Dog Owner Essentials
Dog Owner Essentials and Veterinary Resources
Getting Your Dog to the Vet:
Is it stressful for you and your dog when getting ready to go to the vet? Here are some dog owner essentials and tips on getting your dog prepared for a trip to the veterinarian. Get Your Vet Visit Checklist
Safety Tips for Your Dog:
Every dog owner essentials list should cover seasonal and holiday safety to keep pets out of harm’s way:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Lost Pet Prevention
- Top Toxins
- Spring Hazards
- Summer Hazards
- Fall Hazards
- Winter Hazards
- Healthy Holiday Gifts for Pets
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant Guide
Canine Tick-Born Disease:
High Risk Tick Area: 
Dog owner essentials include awareness of tick-borne diseases. We live in an area where ticks are prevalent. These parasites can transmit many diseases including Ehrlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. Symptoms of these diseases can include lameness, fever, anorexia, swollen joints and possible kidney impairment. As you see in the map, our region has one of the highest incidences of Lyme disease in the country. Year-round flea and tick preventatives are dog owner essentials. There are topical, oral, and collars to choose from, and your veterinarian can help you select the best choice for your pet and family.
Another dog owner essential Lyme disease prevention is the Lyme vaccine. The veterinarians at Longwood Veterinary Center recommend the annual vaccine for all dogs. It is also recommended that our canine patients perform an annual blood test to detect for exposure to Lyme, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma. Diagnostics and treatment vary and will be discussed with you upon results.
Canine Heartworm Disease:
Mosquitoes transmit heartworm larvae. If pets are not given preventatives, those larvae can develop into adult worms. This can lead to heart failure, lung disease, and sudden death if left untreated. Signs include cough, exercise reluctance, reduced appetite, etc. Heartworm prevention is a dog owner essential and can help protect against this disease. Talk to your veterinarian about heartworm prevention options to include in your dog owner essentials toolkit.
Recommended Yearly Preventatives:
Adding flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives to your dog owner essentials list is key to keeping your dog safe year-round.
- Heartgard (chew) — Heartworms and some Intestinal Parasites
- ProHeart 12 (injection) — Heartworms
- ProHeart 6 (injection) — Heartworms
- Simparica (chew) — Fleas, Ticks, and Intestinal Parasites
- Simparica Trio (chew) Fleas, Ticks, Intestinal Parasites, and Heartworm Prevention
- Nexgard (chew) — Fleas, Ticks, and Intestinal Parasites
- Advantix (topical) — Fleas and Ticks
- Seresto Collar — Fleas and Ticks
- Drontal (tablet) — Intestinal Parasites
What To Feed Your Dog:
There are many choices in dog food, and finding a healthy, balanced diet can feel overwhelming. Our recommendation for dog owner essentials when choosing a food is to look for a label that validates its nutritional adequacy claims using feeding trials. This is well explained in the statement below:
Click here to learn more
“Nutritional Adequacy Statement or “AAFCO Statement:Every pet food label must contain a statement and validation of nutritional adequacy. AAFCO regulations allow two basic methods for pet food manufacturers to substantiate claims. Formulation Method — Requires the manufacturer to formulate the food to meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for dogs and cats. This method is less time consuming and less expensive because feeding trials with pets are not required, only a calculation of the nutrient levels. An example of an AAFCO statement using the formulation method would be: “Brand ABC Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Profiles for maintenance of adult cats.”
Feeding Trial Method — Requires the manufacturer perform an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial using the food as the sole source of nutrition. Gold Standard or preferred method. Documents the pets’ performance when fed the food. An example of an AAFCO statement using the feeding trial method would be: “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Brand X Dog Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs.”
Companies that validate nutrition information via feeding trials include Royal Canin, Science Diet, and Purina.”
Generally speaking, we also recommend you feed a diet formulated for puppies until your dog is approximately 10 months of age. After this time you may slowly transition to an adult formula over a 4-6 week period. Dogs over 7 years of age may benefit from a senior formulated diet that contains supplements like glucosamine and omega-three fatty acids.
Dietary recommendations will be discussed at each health visit while we assess your pet’s weight and assign a body condition score. Our hospital believes in the benefit of nutritional management of disease and we carry prescription diets as part of a multi-pronged approach to disease management.
Risks of Grain Free Diets:
Read our blog post written by Tufts University Veterinarian Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN about the risks of grain free food.
Read Blog Post
Dog License:
Registering your dog is a dog owner essential for identification and compliance in your area.
Chester County, PA
Delaware County, PA
Newcastle County, DE
House Training:
Access dog owner essentials tips and guidance on house training from the Humane Society of the United States.
Humane Society of the United States
Teach Your Dog to Ring a Bell
Crate Training:
Crate training is also a helpful dog owner essential to support your dog’s sense of security. Guidance is available from the Humane Society.
Humane Society of the United States
Medicating Your Pet:
Pharmacy
Your veterinarian may prescribe oral medication for your dog or puppy. Do you know how to successfully medicate your pet? Here are some helpful hints from Vet Street.
Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth:
Dental care is a key dog owner essential to your dog’s overall health.
Veterinarian Approved Instructions
Collecting a Urine Sample:
Senior Care Recommendations:
Regular health care is especially important for older pets, making senior care a crucial dog owner essential. Catching diseases early can often lead to better outcomes.
Special Considerations for Senior Dogs
Understanding Your Pet’s Test Results
Pet Bereavement: Coping with the Loss of Your Pet
Losing a pet is challenging. Dog owner essentials include resources to help you and your family cope during this difficult time.
Samhsa
Penn Vet
Lap of love
Boarding Kennels:
For when you need to be away, finding trusted boarding options is a dog owner essential.
Wyeth Meadows Doggy Inn
Best Friends Pet Care
Wagsworth Manor Pet Resort
Vixen Hall Kennels
Dogtopia of Elsmere
Rebel Ridge
Pet Sitting Services:
If you prefer in-home care, consider these dog owner essentials in pet sitting services:
Pet’s Best Friends
Safe at Home
For the Love of Dogs LLC
Groomers:
Regular grooming is a dog owner essential for keeping your pet healthy and comfortable.
Best Friends Pet Care
Muddy Paws
Dashing Dogs Grooming Studio
Red Paws Mobile Pet Spa
Plush by Sarah (302-867-0460)
Lee Ann Pierce (610-932-8490)
Recommended Trainers:
Training is a vital dog owner essential for a well-behaved and happy dog. Here are some recommended trainers:
How to Hire a Dog Trainer
Dog Training Club of Chester County
Academy of Dog Training
Greenwood Dog
Positive Results Dog Training
Recommended Behaviorists:
Dr. Carlo Siracusa, VHUP: [email protected] | 215-898-6681
Dr. Hagar Hause and Dr. Jacqueline Wilhelmy, Metropolitan Veterinary Associates
[email protected] | 610-666-1199
Dr. Laurie Bergman, Hickory Veterinary and Specialty Hospital
610-828-3054
Dr. Gilbery-Gregory,Mt. Laurel Animal Hospital
mlahvet.com | 856-234-7626
Veterinary Behavioral Trainers:
All of these trainers like to have a behavioral diagnosis and plan by the veterinary behaviorist in order for treatment to be successful. However, it is not required.
Kathryn W. Tedesco, IACP-CDT, In Us They Trust, LLC | inustheytrust@[email protected] | 610-613-7227 (LVC Client)
Sandy Issler, Ph. D, KPA-CTP, Pawsitively Golden Dog Training
[email protected] | 302-528-9490 (LVC Client)
Kelly Keskett, KPA-CTP Certidfication and Fear Free Certification
[email protected] | 484-402-4454
Nancy Fitzgerald, CPDT-KA CBCC-KA, Positive Results Dog Training LLC
[email protected] | 302-761-9125
Angie Hersher, KPA-CTP
443-553-5027
Dog Walking:
Local Retail Shops:
Community Service Organizations:
The mission of Canine Partners for Life is to increase the independence and quality of life of individuals with medical, physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities by pairing them with a professional, trained service and companion dog. We are proud to support Canine Partners for Life by annually donating preventative health care or any surgical or medical care that some of their special dogs may need while in training. Learn more about the important roles these special dogs play in people’s lives.
Fear Free Happy Homes:
Fear Free Happy Homes is an online community offering education, tips, and deals to brighten your pet’s lives. Environmental enrichment and strengthening the human-animal bond, along with ways to reduce stress and anxiety are topics commonly addressed. Sign-up here.
Contact Us
Let's Chat
Message/Question
Our Hours
Newsletter
Follow Us
Directions
Serving near me
Kennett Square, Unionville/Willowdale, Chadds Ford, Greenville, Centreville, Glen Mills, West Chester, Avondale, West Grove, Hockessin, Talleyville, Pike Creek, Newark, Coatesville, Atglen, Oxford