A recent analysis of veterinary claims revealed the most common dog health problems, and below we'll take a look at what these are, and how you can recognise their symptoms. Remember to always consult your veterinarian for proper diagnoses and treatment.
1. Ear Infections
Ear Infections are the most common overall dog health problem reported by veterinarians, with an estimated 20% of dogs being affected. The severity, diagnosis and treatment can vary from dog to dog, so learning to recognize the symptoms, having them assessed by your veterinarian and administering the correct treatment will relieve your dogs suffering as quickly as possible.
There are several signs of a dog ear infection:
• A strange, often foul odor coming from the inner ear
• Consistent scratching and rubbing of the ear and/or head
• Discharge in the ear
• Overall changes in behavior including depression, tiredness and irritability
• Pain or tenderness of the entire ear area
• Redness or swelling of the inner ear
• Vigorous shaking of the head and tilting to a favored side
Dog ear infections, however are widely varied and there are a number of different causes including allergies, foreign particles, heredity, hormonal imbalances, parasites and trauma.
2. Skin Conditions
Skin conditions are second in the list of common dog health problems. Your dog's skin is their body's largest organ and is reflective of your dog's overall health, both mental and physical, and can be affected by inside as well as outside sources. Because of this it can be difficult to determine what the exact cause of the problem might be.
Dog skin conditions and dog skin disorders may show one or more of the following symptoms:
• Chronic inflammation of the inner ear canal
• Foul odor to the skin
• Greasy coat
• Hair loss
• Itching- mild to severe
• Large brown flakes
• Pimples and blisters that may discharge blood or pus
• Redness and irritation
• Scabs or crusts
• Very dry skin
• Dog Warts
Common Causes of dog skin conditions include parasites - (fleas, ticks, lice, mange, ringworm), poor quality food, toxic environmental pollutants, vaccinations, Atopic Dermatitis, psychological factors, and allergies
While the exact cause will need to be diagnosed and treated, there are a number of things you can do to make your dog more comfortable, which include applying Aloe Vera or Milk of Magnesia to the affected area or giving your dog an Oatmeal Shampoo.
3. Pyoderma/Hot Spots
Hot Spots, are a dog health problem known as Moist Eczema or Acute Moist Pyoderma and are commonly called summer sores. The symptoms are suddenly appearing, wet, circular patches of infection on the skin which create intense itching and irritation. They can be very painful, often discharging pus and can spread very quickly. Hot Spots can spread very rapidly across the skin surface and beneath the fur so they may be difficult to see, although common symptoms will be your pet scratching, licking and biting. Hotspots can get much worse within a matter of hours, in some cases leading to an extremely painful situation.
Treatment for hotspots involves drying the area, which may mean shaving the area of hair, to allow air space and healing. Daily cleaning of the Hot Spot with hydrogen peroxide, sterile saline or an astringent (preferably one with an antibiotic), every two-four hours for the first few days, will speed up the healing. Keep the area clean for at least a week, by which time you should see a clear improvement. Once they are no longer oozing, simply keeping the Hot Spot area clean will be all that's needed.
Some dogs never have hotspots while others can't get rid of them, and they are often linked to allergies to diet or shampoo. Other factors commonly include flea or tick bites, matted hair and warm weather.
It is vital that you learn to recognize the symptoms of dog health problems as your dog can't tell you when something is wrong. By being vigilant of your dog's behavior and overall wellbeing you will be able to pick up any signs, and solve their problems much quicker.
Dog healthcare expert and author, Rebecca Prince has put together a complimentary report on the most common dog health problems so that you can learn how to recognize your dog's symptoms and treat them appropriately. To download it instantly visit http://www.dog-care101.com
Dog Supplements | Dog Vitamins
No comments:
Post a Comment