Any smart dog owner should become as knowledgeable and informed about common dog health problems as possible.
Learning about dog health problems, symptoms, causes and treatments will make it as easy for you to deal with these problems and situations as possible. The end result will be a healthier and happier dog, and a great relationship between you and your animal.
Unfortunately the list of the most common dog health problems isn't exactly a short one. There are many different ailments, conditions and illnesses that could arise to your pooch. On the bright side however almost all of them can be treated and dealt with relatively easily once you know what's going on and what you need to be ready for.
One of the most common issues that many dog owners encounter are dog hot spots. Hot spots are patches on your dog's skin where they have repeatedly licked, scratched and bitten, causing irritation and redness, along with fur loss. These patches can be bothersome and you need to keep the animal for making the problem worse. You can treat the problem from home by cleaning and treating the wound, and using a cone or Elizabethan collar to prevent further damage.
However, a trip to the vet will still be needed because these dog skin problems, like many other dog health problems symptoms that arise, are really spurred on by other underlying causes. Common causes for dog hot spots include allergies, flea and other insect bites, bacterial infections in more.
These are problems in and of themselves and will need to be treated on their own. Fleas can be prevented with simple once per month application of something like Frontline for dogs during outdoors season. If an infestation is already present, then the dog needs other treatment and you also need to clean out the carpet and other areas as well.
Canine allergies can be caused by all of the same things that give you allergies, like pollen, dust and dust mites and more. Allergic reactions can also stem from food allergies, allergic reactions to bites or medications and more. You have to be wary of the curious trouble your dog may get into and anything they could have ingested that they should not have.
Some allergic reactions could get very serious, while reactions to other foods and household items and substances could lead to food poisonings, puppy vomiting, dog diarrhea and more. Unfortunately, common dog health problems include sometimes deadly accidents where dogs lick up antifreeze from the garage floor, or eat something like rat or mole poison tablets or pesticides and insecticides from the yard. Serious symptoms like vomiting, convulsions and seizures could arise and veterinary assistance is needed immediately to prevent further absorption and clear out the system.
Seizures in Dogs can actually be caused by a variety of other conditions as well, and they can be a very frightening problem to deal with. The saddest part is the helplessness of not being able to help in the moment. You just have to try to comfort your dog, calm it down and care for it afterwards and work with the vet to try to find the underlying causes.
Luckily, many of the other common dog health problems are much less serious than the issues mentioned above. For example, you'll probably run into some dog ear infections, dog eye problems and irritations and so forth. There are various causes and symptoms for these different problems but they can typically be treated with simple cleaning and the quick prescription of some antibiotic by your veterinarian. In both cases though, there could be an issue with something being stuck in either the eye or the ear, and your vet may need to carefully remove that.
You may also end up dealing with dogs with arthritis. Arthritis in dogs can be caused by old age and being overweight, but it could also be a genetic problem that arises at an early age. Dog can also be born with hip dysplasia, and surgery may be necessary to fix the condition and prevent a better quality of life with more activity and less pain.
Dog health problems symptoms can pop up at anytime, so you always have to be prepared. But the best course of action is to keep your dog healthy each and every day and you'll be surprised at the difference that you can make with just some basic steps in your routine. For example you should always be attentive and tuned into your pooch, checking for unusual behaviors, symptoms and warning signs and so forth. It will help you realize when something is wrong and you'll catch problems before they become worse.
You can also prevent many common dog health problems simply by ensuring your dog has a proper diet and nutritional guide intake, and by providing plenty of play and exercise. Depending on your breed of dog, or specific conditions you already know your dog has, the diet may need to be altered or tweaked. In addition, frequent bathing, cleansing and grooming will go a long way to keeping your dog healthy and spotting problems before they can spiral out of control.
Of course there are other common dog health problems that you will run into through your course of dog ownership. The good news is that most of the problems won't happen to your pooch, but it's still important to completely understand all of the possibilities and scenarios that could take place.
We encourage you to take a look at all of our specific pages on these common dog health problems and much more to find all of the information that you need. You will learn about dog health problems, symptoms that make them easy to spot, the underlying causes of the problems, potential home and veterinary treatment and much more. Do the work ahead of time and you'll prevent as many of these common dog health problems as possible while staying prepared should any of them arise. Your dog will certainly thank you for it!
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