COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR DOGS
Your dog probably knows how to beg for a treat, but they do not know how to talk about her health – or tell you when they are in pain. Unfortunately, pet canines may be facing a wide range of the dog health problems. Fortunately, many of the most serious that can be prevented with vaccinations and regular treatment.
Here are the top 10 dog health of our four-legged friends are facing and distemper symptoms to watch out for.
Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease in which parasites infect the heart and arteries of a dog. Dogs exposed to larvae through a mosquito bite and, if left unchecked, the larvae can grow into large worms. Symptoms of heartworm disease vary from coughing to lethargy, collapse, and depression (not moping or greeting you at the door), says Bonnie Beaver, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A & M University. Heartworm infection can develop into heart failure and death. Although not always successful, the treatment options include drugs to kill the parasites and, in advanced cases, surgery. Fortunately easily preventable heartworms. Options include daily oral medication, topical, a simple once a month pill and, injections
vomiting and diarrhea
There are many possible causes of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, but the most common is infection such as parvovirus. Others are eating inappropriate foods or swallowing of objects. “Dogs often eat little toys, clothing, chocolate or gum wrappers,” says Beaver. “Xylitol [a sugar substitute] shut down the kidneys can. A pound of fat can cause pancreatitis.”
An isolated bout of vomiting and diarrhea in dogs is usually not a cause for alarm, but if your dog vomits repeatedly or for more than a day, take it to your veterinarian. Please note that symptom such as vomiting or diarrhea in blood, dark or black diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss, fever, or a change in the appetite. To prevent dehydration, give your dog plenty of water. After an attack of vomiting, try soft foods, such as boiled potatoes, boiled rice and skinless chicken. To combat diarrhea in dogs, the general rule is to avoid feeding your dog food for 10 to 24 hours or until your vet gives you the go-ahead.
Obesity is a common pet health problem. Overweight dogs face a higher risk of joint pain, diabetes, and liver disease: As with humans, obesity can have negative health effects on your dog. “We feed them a lot of high-calorie foods and they do not give enough exercise,” says Beaver.
Is your dog at his best weight? If he is, you should be able to feel his spine and ribs without pressing. When looking at your dog from above, you should see a noticeable “waist” between the lower ribs and the hips; you should be able to see the stomach, moving upward from the bottom of the rib cage to the thighs. If your dog does not meet these standards, ask your vet to help you to plan a diet and exercise.
Another common pet health problem in dogs is infectious diseases, especially canine parvovirus and canine distemper. Canine Parvovirus is highly contagious and potentially deadly, contracted through contact with the feces of a very sick dog. The symptoms may include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and lethargy.
Distemper is a virus transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog urine, saliva or blood. It affects a dog’s respiratory system and also her stomach and the central nervous system, and even the eyes, in particular, the membranes that cover the eyes and the lower side of the eyelid. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing and difficulty breathing, fever, anorexia, vomiting or diarrhea, discharge of thick mucus from the eyes and nose, and also possibly seizures.
Early prevention can protect your pet. “These and other common infections in dogs can be prevented by proper vaccination.
Kennel cough is a highly contagious form of bronchitis that causes inflammation in a dog larynx and trachea. “The most common cause is exposure to other infected dogs, or at doggie daycare, the groomer’s, or a kennel,” says Beaver. “In most cases, treatment is to let it run its course, to give dog antibiotics.” You can also try using a humidifier or taking your pet in a steam-filled bathroom.
Lower Urinary Tract Problems
Some common problems in dogs urinary incontinence, among others, bacterial infections, bladder stones, and even cancer. Symptoms include the need to urinate more frequently, producing small amounts of urine, blood in urine, incontinence, straining or crying in pain when trying to urinate, vomiting, and fever and weight loss. Treatment options include antibiotics, changes in the diet, and, if necessary, surgery to remove a tumor or bladder stones.
Periodontal disease, an inflammation of the gums, is very common in dogs, affecting an estimated 80 percent of dogs by the age of 2. It is linked to heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and other serious dog health problems. Symptoms vary from fetid breath difficulty eating and facial swelling, says Beaver. The treatment may consist of the removal of dental plaque, and possibly teeth. Dental dog to prevent health problems, Beaver recommends regular checkups with a veterinarian dentist, giving your dog rawhide chews, and regular brushing of your pet with dog toothpaste (your toothpaste can upset the stomach of a dog).
The majority of skin problems in dogs are due to, skin infections, parasites and allergies. “Probably the most common skin problem in dogs, demodectic mange, which is caused by a mite that lives in the hair follicles of a dog.
Common parasites that involve the skin include fleas, mites and scabies mites that cause scabies. Ringworm is a common infection of the skin; it is a highly contagious fungal infection that can cause hair loss or scaly patches or short hair. Allergens such as pollen, mold and dust mites may cause itching and rashes. Dogs can also develop allergies to common dog food ingredients such as soya, maize, wheat, beef or chicken, which led to skin problems. And some dogs just can cause skin irritation licking an area too much, perhaps boredom or stress.
Broken bones, also called fractures, are a common problem in dogs – often activities like jumping out of a window, said Beaver. Symptoms include limping, not moving, and a reason to suspect trauma (as the dog was a road, for example). The treatment consists of surgery, a splint or a cast.
A common form of cancer in dogs is skin cancer. There may be white patches on top of the nose and ear. Other symptoms of cancer in dogs are lumps, swelling, ulcers, rapid weight loss, lameness, sudden loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating, lack of energy, and black stools.
Treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. As in humans can be used a combination of approaches, and the stage of the cancer, the type of disease and the aggressiveness of the treatment can affect the result.
Regular visits to the vet and preventive measures can keep your dog in top pet health. And if you notice unusual behavior or symptom, getting prompt attention at the office of the veterinarian will often mean a speedy recovery from distemper.