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Identifying and Treating Dog Health Problems

 Submitted by Michael Adams on December 2, 2009


Health Issues in Dog:

Owning a dog is not all fun and games, it involves a lot of work and a lot of responsibility too. An important part of being a dog owner is being aware of what your dog needs to stay healthy, as well as being aware of all the possible pet health issues that could pop up at any point of time. For the most part, regular visits to the veterinary clinic will take care of any medical problems in dog that occur.


However, it is not always possible or advisable to wait until the next scheduled visit to detect and diagnose a problem. It is important that you are always alert to any symptoms that your dog might display. You should also be aware of how to handle minor problems yourself, while more serious problems can be referred to the dog’s vet.




Ticks and fleas are among the most common problems in dogs. It is usually impossible or at least impractical to keep your dog away from other dogs or from areas where it may catch ticks and fleas. Regular grooming is a good way to find out whether your dog has ticks and fleas. If you do detect any ticks or fleas, the best option is to use a good tick and flea repellent. You can ask your vet to recommend a safe but effective product.

Grooming is also a good way to notice skin infections. Some skin problems may be made obvious by your dog’s constant itching and scratching, however others may be noticeable only upon close inspection. The treatment for a skin infection varies greatly depending upon the type of infection. Sometimes, skin problems may not even be infections – they may be signs of allergies or other disorders. Sometimes dietary modification is enough to clear up such problems, while at other times medication may be needed.

Diarrhea and vomiting are two more health problems that are quite common in dogs. A single episode of either is usually not a cause for worry, as long as your dog seems otherwise normal. However, a prolonged bout of diarrhea or vomiting is dangerous, and should be referred to a vet at the earliest. Other common health problems include ear infections and dental problems. These can usually prevented by regular cleaning and proper dog health care. However, these are only a few of the health problems that a dog may face. Many problems are breed specific, and it is therefore important that you do plenty of research before you get your dog.

 
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