Common Canine Health Problems You Should Be Aware Of

Like humans, dogs can suffer with a myriad of health issues throughout their lives. If you have just got your own canine pal or you are looking to add one to the family it is important to consider the health issues they may face and how you can prevent them. 

From stocking up on diabeticdogfood.org for your diabetic pooch to treating fleas and ticks, these are the most common canine health problems your dog may face, that you should know about. 

1. Skin Issues

Most dogs at some point will experience issues with their skin. Itching and scratching can be a sign that your dog has a skin issue that you need to look into. Look for dry and scaly patches as well as flaming that may indicate your dog needs some treatment. 

2. Ear Infections

Ear infections are very common in dogs that have long ears that flop over such as spaniels. If you have a dog with ears that get hot every easily, these can provide a perfect breeding ground for yeast and yeast eventually causes an infection. Clean your dog’s ears out when this happens and make sure to keep them clean and dry wherever possible. 

3. Urinary Tract Infections

A UTI is a painful condition and your dog can commonly face this. The main symptom is that your dog will be peeing a lot around the house and they won’t be able to control themselves. If you notice an issue like this be sure to head to the vets to try and get some treatment. 

4. Vomiting

Sadly, dogs will often go off and eat things they shouldn’t. For example, on a walk your dog will likely try and eat grass because they like the taste, but they can’t digest it. Dogs and other carnivores lack the ability to digest fibrous structures in grass and therefore they are likely to throw it back up. Vomiting is usually either a sign of eating something like this, eating something toxic, or a sign or infection. If your dog does start to vomit it is important to try and identify what it is and make sure they drink a lot of water. 

5. Diarrhea

This is often a song that your dog has either eaten something they don’t agree with or they are ill with a virus. If you have a dog who has diarrhea it may be worth trying to feed them binding foods such as rice and pasta, and if they are still bad in a day or two take them to the vets for further investigation. 

6. Parasites

Parasites on your dog are not pleasant to have around, and they will cause a real headache for both you and your pet. To get rid of fleas a spot on treatment and a bath are the best options and should stop them in their tracks. For a tick, you need to carefully remove the creature in one piece with tweezers or get your vet to do it for you. 

7. Dental Issues 

If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth or allow them to chew a dental stick, plaque will build up quickly and this can cause a disease. Be sure to look after your pet’s dental hygiene because otherwise they may start getting bleeding gums and eventually lose some of their teeth completely. 

8. Obesity

By far the most common disease in dogs is obesity. You can prevent this with smaller portions, regular exercise, and not giving them too many leftovers!