While it is important to have regular veterinary check-ups for the health and well-being of your dog, it is equally important for owners to be informed about the health issues intrinsic to the Irish Setter and the latest research and protocols that are available to the general public. Even a topic so seemingly simple as proper nutrition can be confusing -- and the wrong information detrimental to your dog's health -- so I thought I would include information here that might be helpful.
Health
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (H.O.D.)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
Vaccine info
What Everyone Needs to Know About Canine Vaccines
Taking The Risk Out of Puppy Shots
Food info
Spay and Neuter information
The subject of spaying and neutering is a difficult one for many, particularly because there is conflicting information about the best time to do it. No one will deny that there are simply too many unwanted dogs, and spaying and neutering animals that will not be used for breeding is a step towards responsible ownership. If you do plan to show your dog in the conformation show ring, please remember that the animal cannot be spayed or neutered until its competition career is finished. Obviously, if your dog is to be a pet and you have no aspirations to the conformation show ring, the decision should be one of when and not if. Recent research indicates that spaying or neutering a dog too young can have detrimental and devastating effects in the future.
3 Reasons to Reconsider Spay/Neuter