Like humans, even dogs tend to suffer from a variety of diseases. In fact, some diseases are found to be more common in puppies than adult dogs. Besides, certain diseases have been associated with particular breeds of dogs. Therefore, you should not ignore your dog’s health and try to prevent such diseases by getting your dog vaccinated and paying special attention to his diet and exercise.
Some common dog diseases are:
Bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, etc: The problem of Diarrhea is more common in puppies than dogs. It is generally triggered by stress. At times, when a particular food is introduced in your dog’s diet, your dog might face this digestive problem initially. But, with the passage of time, the dog should get accustomed to the change in the diet and the problem should disappear on its own.
Occasional bouts of vomiting and diarrhea are common in dogs. Though, if these problems seem severe or last for longer periods of time (2-3 weeks or more) then it might indicate the presence of a serious underlying medical condition.
Bloating is one of the most fatal yet common dog diseases. Dogs with deep chests such as Great Danes, Collie, Boxers, and German Shephards are more at risk of suffering from bloats. In medical terminology, bloat is known as Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus.
An accumulation of air, fluids or foam in the stomach plays an important role in causing this common disease of dogs. Stress is another crucial factor that can not be ruled out. Bloated stomach can obstruct the veins in your dog’s abdomen and further cause low blood pressure, shock and damage to internal organs. Hence, it can prove fatal for the dog.
Kennel cough: It is a common respiratory disease in dogs caused by bacterial or viral infection. Therefore, it is a highly contagious disease in dogs, often spread through saliva or nasal discharge. Usually, it causes typically high pitched, dry and hacking coughs and sneezes accompanied by nasal discharges.
It generally cures within a week or ten days time, provided the dog is healthy. Otherwise, it might lead to severe pneumonia. Vaccine for this common dog illness is easily available and is particularly useful when the dog spends a lot of time with groups of dogs like in boarding kennels or pet day care facilities.
Ear infections: This is yet another common disease in dogs that mostly affects dogs with heavy earflaps. Food allergies, bacteria, ear mites, ticks, improper hygiene and other similar factors lead to ear infections in dogs. The infection may result in foul smelling discharge from the dog’s ear. Other symptoms include head shaking, scratching the ear, pain, redness and swelling in the ear.
To avoid this sort of dog illness, the owners are often advised to examine their dog’s ears at least once in a week. Also, the dog’s ears should be cleaned from time to time. While bathing the dog, you should lay special emphasis on not letting the water get in the dog’s ears. Ear is a sensitive sense organ. So, you should not neglect this type of infection as it may lead to deafness in your dog if not treated in time.
Diseases caused by worms and parasites: Most of the common dog ailments of this nature are caused by tapeworms, roundworms and flatworms. Dogs with fleas are more likely to develop tapeworms. You can find fleas on your dog’s hair coat, especially between the ears, at the base of the tail, or in the short hair present on the abdomen. Similarly, lice can be found at the base of the hair. This common dog ailment affects your dog’s hair coat by making it rough and dry which in turn induces the dog to scratch and bite his skin.
Periodontal disease: Periodontal or dental diseases are quite common in dogs. Salivation and bad breath are the most obvious symptoms of these diseases. Many dog owners tend to ignore the aspect of dental hygiene in dogs until the dog develops some such disease.
Gingivitis is one of the most common dog diseases affecting the dog’s gums. It is characterized by pain, swelling, bleeding and a receding gum line. Accumulation of food particles gives rise to plaque that causes tooth decay even in dogs. Therefore, it is essential to regularly maintain proper oral hygiene of your dog to prevent such diseases.
Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormones. This condition is known as hypothyroidism. A dog suffering from this disease will show signs of lethargy, anemia, heavy shedding, hyper pigmentation, high cholesterol levels, gain in weight and other related symptoms. This kind of dog illness is often related to hereditary factors.
Arthritis: Arthritis is the most common dog illness in older dogs. Moreover, it can not be cured completely. So, the owner can only take relevant steps to reduce the pain and discomfort caused by this disease. It is characterized by an inflammation and resultant stiffness in the joints and muscles. Special dog beds are often recommended for dogs suffering from this ailment.
Hereditary factors or obesity are the most common causes of this dog ailment. Larger dogs often develop hip dysphasia which is another form of arthritis. Emphasis on a healthy diet and regular exercise help a lot in preventing and dealing with this sort of dog sickness.
Obesity: Obesity is a symptom and disease in itself. Like you, even your dog needs a balanced diet. Your dog’s innocent and pleading expressions might tempt you to over feed him and make him obese. Your beloved dog might not understand but you definitely understand the risks associated with obesity. Overweight dogs are more likely to develop illnesses related to liver, heart, lungs, kidneys and joints. Plus, it tends to worsen osteoarthritis.
Rabies, distemper, parvovirus etc: These are some common infectious and fatal dog diseases. Of these, Rabies is one of the most common dog diseases that can affect humans as well. Rabies is especially known to cause breakdown of the nervous system. Rabies, distemper, parvovirus and other such viral diseases worsen with the passage of time.
Moreover, young puppies are more susceptible to such diseases and ailments. As there is no specific treatment for most of these serious though common dog diseases, it is essential to get your dog vaccinated against them as soon as possible.
Most of these common diseases in dogs require immediate and professional medical help. So, it would be better to take the dog to a vet in case of any emergency or doubt.
