As any human, dogs can suffer from health problems. It is important to learn about basic, common dog health problems so that you can properly care for your pet. If you feel that your dog is suffering from a dog health problem, you may want to take your dog to a vet. Dogs and Ear Infections
Ear infections are perhaps one of the common dog health problems. Ear infections can be caused by a variety of different things, including, allergies, yeast, ear mites, bacteria, hair growth deep in the ear canal, and more. Symptoms of ear infection in a dog include head shaking or head tilting, ear odor, vigorous scratching, poor balance, swelling of the ear, and a brown, yellow, or bloody discharge. In most cases ear infections are not a serious dog health problem, however you will want to take your pet to the vet, as an ear infection does often require medication.
Parasite, such as tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms, are also another common dog health problem. Parasites can definitely make your dog very uncomfortable and some parasites, such as hookworms, can be fatal for dogs, especially puppies. Therefore, it is essential to let a vet treat this dog pet problem as the problem will often require medication. Signs your dog may have worms include diarrhea, weight loss, a change in appetite, a rough, dry coat, and an overall poor or sickly appearance.
Lastly, fleas are another very common dog health problem. It is important to note that fleas spread very quickly: in just a few weeks one flea can easily turn into an infestation of 1,000. Fleas can make a dog very uncomfortable. Signs of fleas include excessive scratching, licking, or biting at the skin, hair loss, flea dirt, which looks like small black dots, against your dog’s skin. Luckily fleas are quite easy to treat. However, you may want to discuss different treatment options, such as topical ointments or special shampoos, with your vet.