Preventing Dog Health Problems: Impeccable Ways

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vetenarian checking dogs earDogs, like humans, can suffer from both acute and chronic ailments. When your favorite dog suddenly takes ill, you can be terribly devastated both in emotions and finances. The situation may be aggravated by late diagnosis and treatment, in which case the treatment will be significantly expensive. With dogs as with humans, implementation of effective disease prevention measures is better than struggling to treat sick dogs.

Many Possible Health Problems

Few people know that dogs are as vulnerable to a listless number of ailments as humans. That is probably why in many quarters dogs are not substantially cared for: sheltered, fed, and treated promptly. The only difference between sick dogs and sick humans is that dogs never say it loud and never cry out about symptoms until they are overwhelmed. Overwhelmed dogs will then be dormant, drowsy or even wriggling in pain. It is important to note that there are several health problems affecting dogs, and the ability to recognize the symptoms early enough is critical.

Infections

Infections refer to diseases that are caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. Dogs may suffer from infections of the skin, teeth, ears and eyes. The commonest infections in dogs affect the ears and are caused by bacteria or other organisms. Ear infections are manifested in terms of dirt, excess moisture, swelling and red spots in the ear. A regular check on the ears of your pup is the easiest way of preventing ear infections. You should also brush the teeth, clean the eyes, and brush the hair of your dog regularly to reduce build up of bacteria. Giving dogs properly cooked food in clean containers, and cleaning the dog’s house will also reduce chances of infections.

Allergies

Dogs suffer from various forms of allergies. The commonest form is flea allergy, which causes hot spots and results in infections. Flea allergy medications should be administered every month and veterinary examinations should be conducted regularly. If the flea allergy results in skin problems and hot spots, food allergy (a graver form of allergy) may occur and a veterinarian should be called to treat the dog.

Diabetes

Dogs too suffer from diabetes! Often, when dogs are fed on excessively rich sugary and fatty foods pancreatic problems occur. Pancreatic disorders in dogs are common precursors to diabetes. Prevention of diabetes involves administering balanced dog diets without table scraps and excess meals. Vets should attend to diabetic dogs regularly, and sometimes the dog owner will have to administer frequent shots.

Arthritis and Dysplasia

Joint problems may affect various breeds of dogs. For instance, purebreds are more susceptible to arthritis because of their long and narrow joints. Giving your dog sufficient minerals and vitamins every day and scheduling yearly joint checks by vets reduces chances of joint disorders significantly.

Obesity

Dogs that eat excessively and remain inactive will probably suffer from obesity. Obese dogs are more vulnerable to tumors, heart failure, skin disorders, and liver disease. Such disorders are highly fatal if not treated promptly. Obesity is prevented by carefully balanced diets and raised activity levels for the dog.

Healthy, active and happy dogs are those who are properly cleaned, well groomed, properly fed and exposed to plenty of exercise. Frequent vet checks will also prevent many ailments. Help your dog to live a fulfilling life by detecting health problems early and treating them without delay.