We love our dogs. They are part of the family. When a dog health problem arises it can be both scary and stressful for the whole family. We depend on our dogs for love and friendship. And they depend on us too. It is important to recognize the signs of dog health problems so you can help your pet when he needs it. Some of the more common dog health problems are easy to diagnose.
Ear infections are a common dog health problem. Ear infections can be caused by a lot of things such as allergies, ear mites, bacteria, and even hair growth deep in the ear canal. Some of the symptoms you should look out for are head shaking or head tilting, ear odor, vigorous scratching, lack of balance, swelling of the outer ear, gross discharge, and unusual eye movement. If you suspect your dog has an ear infection, always take him to the vet. Do not wait and see.
Another common dog health problem is parasites. Parasites could potentially be all kinds of things like tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whip worms. Usually it will make your dog extremely uncomfortable but in some instances parasites can also be deadly in puppies. Look for diarrhea, appetite changes, dry throat, weight loss, scooting on his bottom or just an overall tired appearance. Again, if you suspect parasites please take your dog directly to the vet. Do not pass go and do not collect 200 dollars.
Probably the most talked about dog health problem is fleas. And when your dog has fleas, the problem gets a lot bigger very quickly. One flea can multiply into 1000 fleas in under 3 weeks, so act quickly. You need to shampoo your dog with flea shampoo and you might have to treat your home as well. To spot a flea infestation, look for hair loss, little black dots of flea dirt on your dogs skin, or excessive licking, scratching or biting of the skin.
Your dog cannot verbally tell you about his dog health problems, so you need to keep your eyes open to dog health problem signs. He is counting on you to keep him healthy.