Dogs have to deal with many different types of diseases just like we humans do. Some of these diseases are very similar to our own, but there are others which are not common to us. It is very important to know certain symptoms those diseases may show in order to act fast and avoid further health damage for your dog. It is especially important because many dogs try to hide their pain in front of their owners, which makes it even harder to notice it. If you see any similarities of these symptoms and your dog’s behavior, do consult a vet to prevent your dog from suffering any longer.
Keep your dog safe by following these prevention tips:
Diseases | Signs | Prevention |
Obesity |
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Heart Worm |
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Dental Diseases |
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Distemper |
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Arthritis |
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Diabetes |
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Ear Infection |
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Obesity
What is it?
Yes, dog obesity is a growing problem within dogs. If your dog is obese, they are more likely to have Heart diseases, diabetes, and arthritis.
Cause:
It is caused by overfeeding and under exercise for dogs. Every breed has unique exercise and feeding needs. Other diseases and infections can have an effect on your dog’s weight as well. Diet with grains are more likely to cause weight-gain for your pup as the grains in their diets acts like rice in our diet. Carbs makes us put on weight easily and that’s why a grain-free diet is recommended if your pup is overweight!
Signs:
- Often we won’t notice the weight gain of our pets in the beginning.
- For checking, if you find it tough to feel your dog’s ribs and spine around his midsection, this is a sign that he is putting on too much weight.
Prevention:
- Check your dog’s weight on a regular basis
- Exercise with your dog
- Consult a Vet about your dogs feeding guidelines
- Grain-Free diet recommended (No carbs = no fats!)
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Heartworm
What is it?
Heart-worm is an infection spread by mosquito and is very dangerous for your dog’s health as the worms will lodge in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing. This can be very fatal.
Cause:
Mosquito bite
Signs:
- Breathing difficulties
- Coughing
- Listlessness
- Tiredness
- Rough coat
- Early infections are hard to detect and chronic infection may manifest in nonspecific signs
Prevention:
- Monthly topical medication (Revolution)
- Monthly oral meat flavored tablets
- Yearly injections
- Annual screenings
- Contact your Vet to request for the right medication
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Dental diseases
What is it?
Bacterial infection ( inflammation) at the mouth area.
Cause:
Poor dental hygiene, which leads to gum disease and can develop into bacterial infections of the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Signs:
- Starts silent with no obvious signs
- Later chronic pain
- Eroded gum missing teeth and bone loss
Prevention:
- Daily brushing
- Dry food and treats to clean the teeth
- Teeth cleaning is done by a Vet (annual)
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Distemper
What is it?
Canine distemper is a virus, that causes a disease of multiple organ systems at the same time. This disease carries a high mortality rate and is highly dangerous for your dog.
Cause:
Infection with the canine distemper virus. It appears often in puppies between 6 and 12 weeks old.
Signs:
- Fever
- Watery discharge from eye
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Dry cough
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Prevention:
- Vaccination (contact your Vet)
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Arthritis
Source: http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/webimageupload/media/Dog%20arthritis/111arthritis-dogs_zps52632cdf.jpg.html
What is it?
It is the inflammation of one or more of your joints that causes discomfort, pain, and stiffness. Normally older dogs are affected by this problem, but it can develop from an early age as well.
Cause:
Arthritis can have various causes. It can be caused because of the wrong nutrition, toxin builds up, immune system function, injuries and lack of exercise.
Signs:
- Lameness and stiffness
- Dogs lick at an underlying joint (no obvious wound)
- Signs of pain
Signs of Arthritis are often not obvious to the eye but the dog’s behavior instead.
Prevention:
- Avoid foods like corn, milk products, toxic preservatives, and flavor agents
- Use supplements for calcium, magnesium, sulfur and zinc and essential fatty acids
- Check your dog for injuries (often dogs hide minor injuries)
- Exercise with your dog on a regular basis
- Weight control and an exercise are essential (even when diagnosed)
- Use a raw and grain free diet if your dog has been diagnosed
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Diabetes
What is it?
Lack of hormone insulin or inadequate response to insulin
Cause:
The exact cause is unknown, but genetics, obesity, certain medication, abnormal protein deposits and autoimmune diseases can cause diabetes.
Signs:
- Frequent urination
- Excessive drinking
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting and dehydration
- Chronic skin infection
Prevention:
- Proper diet
- Exercise
- Avoid obesity
- Use harmless medication only
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Ear Infection
What:
An ear infection occurs when a bacterial or viral infection affects the middle ear.
Cause:
Most commonly caused by bacteria, allergies, foreign bodies, excessive hair, and hypothyroidism
Signs:
- Scratching of the ear area
- Brown, yellow and bloody discharge
- Odor in the ear
- Redness and swelling
- Hair loss around ear
- Extensive head shaking
- Hearing loss
Prevention:
- Regular ear checks for abnormal discharges
- If ear appears dirty, clean gently with non-alcoholic ear wash
- Towel dry ears thoroughly if found wet
- Groom and cut excessive hair grown near the ear area
*Disclaimer: The writers at PerroPet are not veterinarians, do consult your nearby vet for more information and diagnosis.
Sources:
http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20268-top-10-most-serious-pet-diseases-list
http://www.hillspet.com.au/en-au/dog-care/dog-disease-kidney-disease.html
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions
http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/818-heartworm-in-dogs-basics-aaha
http://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11014177-5-things-you-need-to-know-about-arthritis-in-dogs
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-ear-infections?page=2
http://www.theanimaldoctors.com.sg/vaccinations.html