Keeping your furry friend healthy is easier if you understand and know about the medications and preparations that are most often prescribed by veterinarians. Many of the most commonly prescribed dog medications are preventatives. Others are meant for treating common conditions that affect dogs and their health. Take a look at some of the top medications that can help keep your dog healthy and playful throughout his life.

Heartworm can kill your dog. The parasites are carried by mosquitoes, and can infect the heart and permanently damage it. Heartworm prevention is one of the most important things you can do for your dog's health.

Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs is a once a month heartworm treatment that will protect your dog and keep him or her safe from the dangers of heartworm. It will also treat and control hookworms and roundworms for up to a month. Anyone who has tried to worm a dog on a regular basis will appreciate the ease of having the task of prevention reduced to giving the animal a single tablet once a month during heartworm season. The Heartguard tablet is specially formulated to be palatable to most dogs, so there's no fighting to get a nasty tasting pill into your dog's mouth and holding his jaws closed until he swallows.

Osteoarthritis is a common ailment in older canines caused by a lifetime of wear and tear on the cartilage in the joints. The stiffness and soreness can seriously affect your once playful pet, making it difficult for them to get to their feet and painful for them to move, run, play and climb stairs. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there are medications that can make your pup's life less painful and restore his quality of life.

Cosequin is a nutritional supplement that promotes joint health and may prevent or delay the onset of osteoarthritis. It is formulated with high quality chondroitin and glucosamine, essential amino acids that are found in health joint fluid. Cosequin has been proven to maintain joint health in controlled, published studies. The all natural supplement can be used to improve joint health in dogs that already have compromised joint function, or given as a nutritional supplement to protect joints before damage happens.

Rimadyl Chewable Tablets are one of the most commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory and pain relievers for dogs. The NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) reduces inflammation and pain due to osteoarthritis. It is also commonly prescribed by veterinarians to reduce pain and soreness after surgery. Rimadyl tablets are designed to taste good to dogs, so you won't have to fight to get it into your pet, making it easier to give the tablets according to your veterinarian's directions.

Diarrhea is not unusual in dogs, but it can be a concern and can also cause further problems. Diarrhea can be caused by emotional stress like a move or boarding in a kennel, by illness or antibiotics given to treat another illness or by eating inappropriate foods. One of the dangers of diarrhea is a resulting imbalance of intestinal bacteria that can create other infections and illnesses.

Fortiflora is a natural supplement made by Purina for dogs with diarrhea. It contains a probiotic that encourages the growth of healthy, needed bacteria in your dog's intestinal tract. The live active cultures promote a healthy balance of intestinal flora in your dog, and promote a healthy immune system. It also contains high levels of vitamin A, E and C to promote overall health and well being. Fortiflora is specially formulated by one of the leading makers of pet foods to be tasty and palatable for dogs, so it will be easy to treat your dog and ensure his future health.

Fleas, lice and ticks are one of the perennial problems faced by any pet owner. These dangerous critters are more than just an annoyance, though. All three can transmit serious diseases to your pet, and can be responsible for allergic dermatitis that makes your dog miserable. Flea infestations can be impossible to eradicate, and can affect your entire family, while various types of ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other serious illnesses that can affect your dog's heart and other organs. Battling fleas can be a major undertaking for a dog owner, but there are medications that make it far easier.

Frontline Plus is a topical treatment that kills fleas, ticks, lice and their larva and eggs, and prevents reinfestation for up to a month. The topical treatment collects in the hair follicles and is released throughout the month to kill fleas, larva and eggs within minutes, and prevent fleas from reinfesting your dog's coat for thirty days. It also kills all stages of ticks, including deer ticks, which carry Lyme disease, before they can transmit the disease.