Dog meds have come so far from when we were young. Now, with just a chewable, dogs don't get heart worms or flea's. W/O the flea's much of their odor is gone and we don't get flea's in our homes. Just keeping your dog or cat inside now is much more widespread and we get closer to them and learn their indivdual personalities. Referring to them as a family member is an understatement.
One of my previous co-workers stated he would never get another dog because he could never be as loyal to the dog as the dog be to him.