As a pet owner, you are responsible for their health and well-being. You must also make sure that your pet also gets enough amount of exercise. We help them to function socially and also train them to respond to primary commands. As a result, they stay well-mannered.
However, it is natural that in spite of all the care and love, your dog may still fall ill. This article is about the common diseases of dogs.
Common ailments or diseases of dogs
If you are a pet lover and worried about the health condition of your canine friend, you must be aware of its health condition. Be careful whenever you find any associated symptoms that may point towards a severe ailment.
1. Bladder infections
There are always chances that harmful bacteria may enter the bladders of your pet through their genital tracts or the rectum. A bladder infection can become dangerous for any dog.
However, female dogs are more prone to such diseases in comparison to male dogs. If your dog wants to urinate more often than it usually does, there might be a problem. It is because a bladder infection irritates the walls of the organ, and the animals may feel like urinating more often even if there is no requirement.
Your dog may be more prone to a bladder infection if it is on a regular immunity medication or suffers from diabetes. The most common symptoms of a bladder infection include blood in urine, incontinence, and useless repetitive squatting.
As a result of such a severe disease, there may be a formation of stones or crystals in the urine. Therefore, the urinary tract gets blocked by the substantial obstacles that is, in turn, a medical emergency.
Take your pet to the best veterinarians to avoid further threats. Your dog is in pain during this time, and you may also notice a swollen abdomen due to abnormalities in urination.
2. Hypothyroidism
The location of the thyroid gland is around the neck area of dogs, just like any other human being. A helpful hormone is secreted from the thyroid gland that is known as ‘thyroxine ’.
The dog will show abnormal symptoms when the thyroid gland is unable to work correctly. Due to this problem, there will be a deficiency in the thyroxine content in the body. Purebred dogs are more prone to such issues.
Examples of such purebred dogs are Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, and Irish Setters. The significant symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs are-
- Excessive weight gain
- Abnormal hair growth
- Weakness
- Black patches on the skin
- Lowering of heart rate
- Flaky skin
- Infections in the toenails and ears
- Thin and dull coating
- Skin infections
- Cold intolerance
- Lethargy
3. Arthritis
You must have heard the name of the disease called ‘osteoarthritis.’ It happens in humans as well as dogs and may become very painful if neglected.
It is a degenerative condition that occurs as a result of joint trauma, poor nutrition, congenital disabilities, obesity, orthopedic surgeries, or old age. The significant symptoms of osteoarthritis include-
- Lameness
- Stiffness in the legs
- Problems in walking
- Swollen joints
- Problems in functioning
The symptoms may worsen after you take your canine friend for a play session. The other version of Arthritis is called Rheumatoid Arthritis. Now, this can be identified as an autoimmune condition.
It further causes the immunity system to affect the joint tissues. The primary symptoms, in this case, include lameness, swollen joints, and severe pain. If you see that your dog is suddenly unable to walk and is losing weight drastically, you should know that it is an emergency.
4. Eye infections
Eye infections in dogs are generally a result of other ailments such as allergies, fungal infections, conjunctivitis, or jaundice. The primary symptoms of an eye infection in your furry friend will include eye redness, scratching, or rubbing the eye more often, discharge, and swollen eyelids.
Make sure that you do not ignore even if you are noticing just one out of all these symptoms. You will be surprised to know that a simple eye infection in your dog may lead to severe vision loss within a short span.
5. Stomach upset
The major causes of a stomach upset in your dog may be bowel syndrome, allergic reaction to a particular food, parasites, or ingestion. It may also occur due to fast and excessive eating or severe stress issues. The common symptoms during a stomach upset are-
- Smelly breath
- Blood in bowel
- Stomach rumbling
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Excessive vomiting
- Fever
- Bloating
- Lack of appetite
What may seem like a simple stomach upset may also be the primary symptoms of some other more pressing issue too. Make sure you do not ignore even the fundamental traits. Also, you must rush your pet to a veterinarian as soon as you find out that it is not keeping well.
Final thoughts
We all love our pets, but taking care of them is not easy. You must keep an eye on every small detail and make sure you ignore none of them.