5 Most Common Dog Health Issues

Taking care of your dog gives you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty and friendship. It requires not only feeding them and exercises possibilities, providing safety with high-quality collars, handling them or housing, but also systematically tracking and inspecting their health. Doing this, you will have a rewarding and long-lasting relationship with your canine companion.

When humans go to a doctor 30% of the time we don’t even collect the prescription. And if we do, half won’t even take or finish the medication. When it comes to dog health we’re much more vigilant. When we visit the animal hospital we always collect the medication and ensuring the medication is properly administered. That’s the norm. Is it because we care about our pet health more than we care about our own health? Now that’s a difficult question to answer.

One thing is certain, every dog owner will feel quite distressed if their dog is suffering. When we notice our doggy friend is unwell, it could be one these 5 common dog health issues. Recognizing these symptoms will help you make a successful diagnosis You’ll be happy knowing you can provide the right treatment your dog needs.

Diarrhea

Not a disease itself, diarrhea is better understood as a possible symptom of other underlying pet health problems.

This condition may be acute, a short term problem due to something dietary. The condition may pass quickly. Watch out for any other symptoms such as vomiting, or if your pet is off food, lethargic, or uneasy. This could be a sign of a deeper illness. Keep food simple, provide water, and watch out for recurrence. If the problem does not pass quickly and symptoms persist, and there are other symptoms your dog may have a more serious illness. There are many potential causes. Bring your dog to a local animal hospital for further tests. The underlying problem could be a viral infection, food poisoning, or other serious illnesses. Do not allow to continue for long periods.

Ear Infections

If your dog is tilting or shaking their head it could be a sign of ear infection. Excessive scratching, or rubbing of the ear is another clear symptom. Look closer for signs discharge, swelling or redness. Check for odors from your dog’s ears. If you notice a combination of any of these symptoms of ear infection and your canine friend needs to pay a visit to the local animal hospital.

Ear infections in dogs are common especially in breeds known for floppy ears. A dog’s ear canals are more vulnerable to picking up infections because they are vertical. This makes getting unclean water, foreign objects or micro-organisms in there quite common. And that be the source of the infection.

The animal hospital will take a swab and will inspect your dog’s inner ear. The vet may provide fungicides, antibiotics or even an insecticide treatment plan. The treatment provided will depend on the root cause.

Fleas

Flea symptoms are easy to identify. Excessive scratching, licking or biting at skin or coat is the first symptom your dog is suffering from flea bites. With prolonged infestation you may notice fur loss or skin abrasion and signs of skin irritation. Closely inspect your dog’s coat for fleas. Look for small dark eggs, or small dark flea droppings. At the base of tail, and around the ears and neck are most common areas to check first.

The animal hospital will provide an oral treatment if a severe infestation but otherwise treatment if detected early can be simple. A flea treatment liquid can be spotted on to your pet’s skin. The liquid will deter the adult flea and will help stop the infestation. It may also be necessary to consider your dog’s living environment. Where possible replace bedding or vacuum your dog’s living area, carefully disposing of the dust collected.

Every 4 to 8 weeks apply ‘spot on’ flea treatment liquid or provide a flea collar as a preventative measure. Fleas lay eggs and once they mature, the cycle may start again. It is important to break that cycle and prevent the infestation from reoccurring.

Hot Spots

Usually the initial irritation can be small. Perhaps a scratch, or an insect bite. That small problem is further worsened by your dog itching or scratching the offending area. This ultimately can develop into a hotspot, sometimes known as acute moist dermatitis. Hotspots are moist, irritated skin, sometimes oozing, causing matted hair. Other causes can be reactions or allergies, fleas, poor grooming or something in your dog’s environment. Your dog will repeatedly itch and scratch at the area worsening the problem causing skin irritation, which if left untreated can result in nasty infections.

Treatment of hot spots usually involves clipping matted hair, cleaning and drying the problem area and applying a light disinfectant. If severe, soothing salves such as cortisone should be applied. Your local animal hospital can advise. Helping to reduce the irritation will help to prevent your dog from further inflicting harm by continued scratching.

Vomiting

If your dog vomits occasionally it is not something to be overly concerned about. If is just a normal reaction from an otherwise healthy dog. However, if you suspect vomiting is happening more frequently, look for other obvious signs of distress. Vomiting may be more the type that occurs from normal dietary causes.

Check for signs of blood, diarrhea, or changes in behavior of your dog. These can be signs of a bigger underlying problem. There are so many different causes of vomiting, such as toxins, infections or disease. If the problem shows signs of persisting time to visit the animal hospital.

Summary

The most common dog health problems are easy to identify, and in most cases easy to treat too. Always, if in doubt, and if symptoms persist, it is safest to consult your local vet. Close observation with particular attention to your pets’ behavior may help your vet determine most likely causes and will help you get accurate diagnosis and best treatment for your pet.