Dog Health Problems You Should Watch Out For

As a dog owner, you want to have your dog’s health problems taken care of as soon as they arise. Out of all the animals that people can have as pets, dogs are the only ones know as man’s bestfriend, and no wonder, dogs are the most loyal and loving of all the pets people can own. Dogs will risk their lives to save yours.

So it’s no wonder why dog owners are willing to spend loads of money to get them well when they have health problems. Even if you get your dog regular checkups and make sure they have all their shots things can still come up. Dogs even share some of the same health problems that we humans get. Problems such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and for some specific breeds like Dobermans, DCM, and it can affect dogs the same as it affects us.

Some of the more dangerous dog health problems are Rabies, Canine Distemper, Kennel Cough, Heat Stroke and Parvovirus. Let’s take a look at these problems and their solutions.

Rabies

Maybe one most well know of the health problems associated with dogs even though all mammals can get infected including humans. You won’t see any symptoms in the early stages of rabies, but once they do appear they will include personality changes, irritability and uncontrollably angry.

The problem with rabies is that once the symptoms show up there is no treatment for it, must have your dog vaccinated as a preventative measure.

Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper affects your dog’s respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems. In the early stages of distemper, symptoms include loss of appetite and fever. Coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, nasal and eye discharge, and seizures start to show as the disease progresses. Canine Distemper is another one of those dog health problems that there is no treatment for and must be prevented with early immunization.

Kennel Cough

It’s considered as a highly contagious respiratory disease. A harsh cough that sounds like your dog may have something stuck in his throat is the most common symptom. In severe cases, the dog will show symptoms of lethargy and fever. Infected dogs can be treated with antibiotics or vaccinated against the disease.

Heat Stroke

It can happen if your dog gets overheated. The symptoms include rapid panting, bright red gums, warm dry skin, and vomiting. Some immediate things to do if you think your dog has heatstroke is to dip your dog in a tub of cold water and massage his skin to get the circulation going. Above all, get your dog to a vet as soon as possible.

Parvovirus

This virus attacks your dog’s digestive system. Symptoms of this deadly and highly contagious disease are fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and lethargy. There is no treatment or cure for parvovirus, but there are some things you try such as hydrating the dog, giving him anti-vomiting medications, and giving him antibiotics. The best thing to do is get your dog vaccinated to prevent the disease altogether.

Well, there you have it. Some of the most dangerous dog health problems to watch out for. Also, be careful what foods or treats you feed your dog as some of them will also cause your dog problems. We hope this article helped you and your dog.