If you would like for your favorite dog to live a long, happy and healthy life, a lot of this will come down to the level of medical care that you provide. In order to give your dog the best medical care possible, you will need to find the help of veterinary care that will be the most professional, experienced and suitable to their needs. In order to make the most of this decision, read below and apply these tips so that you can get the ideal health and veterinary care for your pet. 

Find a veterinarian that you're comfortable with and stock up on the best equipment.

By sitting down with a number of veterinarians, you will have the opportunity to find the professional you feel the most comfortable with providing care for your dog. Ask about their license, education, credentials and years of experience to be sure that you are finding the best health care professional for your pet's needs. You should also see whether or not they accept pet insurance plans, so that you can offset some of the costs. When searching for the right veterinarian, make sure that their facilities are clean and cared for and that they are great at communicating medical issues to you. 

In addition to finding the best vet, you'll need to protect your dog by purchasing a quality leash for walking, fencing and other boundaries to keep them safe in your yard and consider getting them microchipped for easy retrieval if your dog goes missing. 

Make sure to get your dog vaccinated regularly

Vaccinations are an important staple in a dog's life as soon as they are born. Veterinary research has expanded and these medical professionals are aware of a number of diseases that are common to dogs of different sizes, breeds and types. For instance, in the first 6 to 8 weeks of the dog's life, it will need vaccinations for ailments like hepatitis and distemper. As time goes on, you'll need to take your dog in for periodic rabies, parvovirus and other necessary vaccinations. 

Groom, exercise and care for your dog on a regular basis

If you really want your dog to stay healthy, you need to pay careful attention to the regular care that you provide. This means feeding them nothing but high quality dog food and taking the dog on walks regularly so that they get plenty of sunshine and exercise. Make grooming and washing a priority as well to keep ticks, fleas and other pests away. The better you care for your dog, the better life expectancy they will enjoy. 

Follow these tips so that your dog gets all of the medical care that it needs. For more information, contact a company like Covington Veterinary Hospital PC.