Having a pet is pretty much like having a kid. Of course, it’s not the same, but for dog owners, taking care of their pup is the most important thing in the world. They invest a lot of time in regular walks, playing, as well as money in their food, toys, clothes, and health. Since health is the most important thing, dog owners always look for the highest-quality products. That’s why a lot of them started giving high-quality natural supplements to their dogs, such as CBD oil. As a matter of fact, some dog owners grow their own cannabis in an indoor grow tent in their home to ensure the quality of the product.
So, you see, having a dog doesn’t mean only feeding and bathing. It takes a lot of time and love to take good care of these furry friends. If you are a dog owner, you understand how important your dog’s health is. One way to ensure your dog stays healthy and its health conditions are properly treated, is by recognizing the symptoms of the common maladies. To help you out with that, we have compiled a list of the top 5 most common health problems including their symptoms and treatment. So, let’s have a look at them.
Fleas
Fleas are a very common problem in dogs because they multiply very fast. One flea can multiply to 1000 in just three weeks. Fortunately, they are easy to treat after being noticed.
Symptoms:
- A lot of scratching and biting the skin
- Hot spots
- Hair loss
- Tapeworms
- Flea dirt – small black dots
- Allergic dermatitis
If you notice any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet. They will tell you which anti-flea product to use. There are various products available on the market, including shampoos, oral medicines, sprays, topical liquids, and collars.
Worms
Worms are intestinal parasites that often affect dogs. There are several types of worm, including hookworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and roundworms. Although some of them aren’t dangerous, the hookworms can kill puppies. That’s why you should know their symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dry coat
- Weight loss
- Changed appetite
- Poor appearance
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should immediately visit the vet. They will suggest you the right treatment options. The usual treatment includes oral medication, although it may vary depending on the worm type.
Hot Spots
Hot spots are bare, inflamed areas on the dog’s skin. They are a type of dermatitis caused by bacteria. They can be caused by other health issues, such as ear infection or fleas. That depends on the hot spot’s location.
Symptoms:
- Excessive scratching
- Biting the skin
- Hair loss at those places
So, if you notice hot spots anywhere on your pup’s skin, you should immediately take it to the vet. They will determine the cause and give you proper treatment. It usually involves shaving your dog’s fur at those areas and cleaning them, antibiotics, steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and topical medications. But, again, it all depends on the cause of hot spots.
Diarrhea and Vomiting
Both diarrhea and vomiting can have a lot of causes. For instance, they can experience one or both of these issues when having some infection, intestinal parasites, heatstroke, and even poisoning. Regardless of the reason, you should know what to do if your dog starts vomiting and/or has diarrhea so you can prevent dehydration.
Therefore, if you notice your dog vomits more than once or has diarrhea for more than one day, you should take it to the vet. They will examine it to find out the reason for the condition(s) and will tell you how to treat it. Usually, the treatment includes giving a lot of fluids, drugs that control vomiting, boiled potatoes, and skinless chicken. Plus, there can be additional medications to treat the cause of these health issues.
Ear Infections
The last most common dog health problem is ear infections. They can be caused by bacteria, allergies, ear mites, excess hair growth in the ear canal, yeast, etc. Although you can’t know what actually caused the infection, you can recognize your dog has it by noticing some of the symptoms.
Symptoms:
- Head shaking
- Ear scratching
- Ear odor
- Red ear canal
- Yellow, brown, or bloody discharge
- Imbalance
- Swelling of the outer area of the ear
- Back-and-forth eye movements
Needless to say, if you notice any of these symptoms, you should visit your vet. They will check if it’s really an ear infection and what caused it. Sometimes, there’s no need for a more serious treatment but only ear cleaning and giving medication. However, sometimes there might be a need for surgery if it is a chronic infection or the often head-shaking causes a rupture of a vessel on the outer area of the ear.
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