Some people balk at the idea of getting a dog because they don't want to have to deal with taking it out at least three times a day and all the other responsibilities that come with pet ownership.

What these people don't realize is just how much you get back from having your own dog. The return in love, companionship, and unintentional comedy is ten times what you put into having a dog.

With that being said, there certainly are many responsibilities that come with having a dog. Just like people, dogs get sick as well.

Of course, there are many preventative measures you can take to keep your dog healthy. Again, just like people, diet and exercise are big factors in your dog's health. Your pup needs to be out running around and having some fun, not just cooped up in your apartment all day. If you have a nearby dog park, or another area where your dog can run around off leash, you need to make sure you utilize it.

Diet is just as important as regular exercise. It is always tempting to allow your dog to clean your plate after a meal, but they should really stick to specially formulated pet food. Pet foods are made specifically to give your dog all the vitamins and minerals they need, and eating a lot of €people food€ typically just leads to an overweight animal.

Even if your dog gets plenty of exercise and eats a great diet, however, your pet still might require medication for a chronic or temporary ailment. Don't panic, just speak with your veterinarian and make sure you follow their instructions. Here are some common pet medications that you might possibly encounter.

Medications for Bones and Joints

Because of over-breeding, some types of dogs are more prone to genetic defects than others. When you have a narrow gene pool like that, it allows these diseases to fester and multiply. That is why €mutts€ are often among the healthiest dogs.

One of the most common genetic defects that many purebred dogs encounter are problems with their joints. This is especially the case in much larger breads of dogs.

A great product to help your pet maintain healthy joint and muscle function is Rejuvenate Plus. Rejuvenate plus is designed specifically to help your dog become more mobile once again.

The key ingredient in Rejuvante Plus is esterified creatine (each capsule contains 400 mg). This is made to bolster the tissue levels of creatine in your dog's body. Creatine is an essential amino acid that is key to the function of muscles and joints.

Within just five to seven days you may start to see noticeable improvements in your pet's activity. However, do not reduce the recommended dose, or increase your dog's exercise levels until a veterinarian approves it.

Treatments for Heartworm

Dogs are always getting into things, so if you have a pet it is awfully likely that one day they might get worms. This is nothing to panic about, but it is something to have treated quickly.

Heartgard Plus is a chewable medication that doesn't just treat hookworms and ascarids, but it also helps to prevent canine heartworm disease. This medication gets right down into your pet's intestines and rids the body of harmful parasites. It can even be used to get rid of several different types of mites.

Heartgard Plus is most effective when you give your pet their dose at the same time each and every day. Also, do not up the dose on your own and do not administer it more times than you should. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is key to the success of the medication that you do not skip or miss any doses.

Slowing Down the Aging Process

As human beings grow, old our brains start to slow down. That is why many older people try to keep their brains active and moving with things like crossword puzzles.

Animal brains age too, but they can't exactly pick up the New York Times to keep their brain moving. Senilife is a nutritional supplement that helps to improve the quality of your aging pet's life.

The ingredients in Senilife are designed to delay the appearance of common behavior problems related to old age. It will also reduce the number of dependencies related to age that often occur between pets and owners. This medication helps maintain the function of neurons and also improves circulation in the brain.

Even if you treat your dog wonderfully all of its life, there will still probably come a time when your pet requires some sort of medication. When they do, make sure you listen to your vet about precisely how to administer the pet medication.