Every pet parent knows how important their dog’s health is. A dog’s lifespan depends on its breed, size, diet, and lifestyle. Responsible pet parents like you make sure that you are in control of your dog’s health at all times. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that awareness of typical dog health problems helps in early detection and treatment. Here are the 10 common ones that you need to know.
Diarrhea
This condition is common in canines. Diarrhea happens when the unassimilated nutrients retain or draw out water from the small intestines. You can spot this by looking at the consistency of your dog’s stool. Your pet’s excrement may have mucus and blood, with a loose appearance. Canine diarrhea may happen over several weeks or months (chronic) and suddenly (acute).
Canine Influenza (CIV)
This is a highly contagious respiratory condition in dogs.
Diabetes
Older dogs tend to develop this health condition. Diabetes results from the insufficient production of insulin in your dog’s body. This makes it challenging to control blood glucose levels in its bloodstream. Diabetes in dogs causes poor eyesight and poor quality of life. Experts believe that genes and obesity cause this health condition in dogs.
Arthritis
Dogs can also suffer from arthritis. The most common type of arthritis in dogs is osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease of the joints. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints deteriorates. Any lubrication in the joints is lost. The pain results from the dry friction between bones as your dog moves.
Gum Disease
This is a common form of infection in the canines. Poor diet and frequent lesions in the gums from chewing hard, rough toys may cause gum infections. If untreated, this could lead to more health issues.
Autoimmune Diseases
Canine autoimmune disease is a condition in which your dog’s immune system targets healthy cells and tissues. This is the opposite of what a normal immune system does. This condition can affect various parts of its body, including the skin, joints, and blood. Your vet must diagnose this disease and provide a custom-fit treatment plan for your dog.
Cancer
This is a silent and fatal disease in dogs. Experts say that this is one of the leading causes of canine deaths, at least 10 years of age. Cancer also affects half the population of senior canines. This serious ailment causes abnormal cell growth that forms masses or tumors. These growths may spread to different organ systems in your dog’s body.
Broken Bones
There is obvious pain if your dog has a broken bone. Dislocations and fractures can affect its behavior and movement.
Canine Parvovirus (CPV)
CPV is another contagious health disease that affects your dog’s small intestines. This condition is quick to diagnose because of the fishy odor in your dog’s watery stool.
Tending to your dog’s health issues is vital in ensuring that your pet is happy and healthy. At Mokena Animal Clinic, we always encourage our pet parents to bring their dogs for regular checkups. This allows us to detect and treat any of the mentioned common canine health issues. Visit our clinic in Mokena, Illinois, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 708-479-2811 to schedule an appointment or ask questions about our canine diagnostic and treatment packages.
