Canine Health Problems

Dogs are susceptible to a multitude of ailments, and some of these they share with their human owners.



Some dog health problems can be countered by grooming the pet daily and giving it the necessary care and attention it requires. Along with its physical care, dogs need to be taken care of emotionally as well depending on the breed and behavioral patterns of the dog. For instance, some breeds if not exercised enough can turn destructive even to the point of re-landscaping one’s garden to expend pent up energy.

Common dog health issues are symptomised by a lack of energy, listlessness and acute depression, lack of interest in food, minimal intake of food and an excessive intake of water, scratching its body frequently and shaking its head as if it’s trying to get rid of something, has diarrhea, vomits continuously, scratches its body, loses hair in clumps, starts developing visible lumps on the body, develops foul breath, develops tartar and plaque on the teeth and becomes uncharacteristically aggressive. Sometimes the owner may notice a yellowish discharge from the nose and eyes, sores that may start to fester and a shortness of breath. Dogs are particularly susceptible to parasite attacks that are caused by fleas, ticks, lice and mites.



Skin diseases like mange are another problem and it can sometimes be extremely contagious and affect its human owners. In this case it would be advisable to isolate the pet from other animals and keep it away from children till the veterinarian has taken a look at it and the course of treatment is over. Canine distemper, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and rabies are other conditions that can affect dogs. Dog health care would depend upon the breed, the age of the dog and any diseases it may have inherited or is likely to inherit from its parents. Temperaments and physical characteristics are other defining factors that determine pet health care. Diet forms the most important part of canine health care and the dog should get enough water to flush out the toxins in its body. It also requires about thirty percent proteins in its daily food intake and this can be obtained from pulses, chicken, salmon or other kinds of fish and lamb. If fed meat, make sure that it is cooked well as dogs can get a number of infectious diseases from uncooked meat. Carbohydrates which provide energy for daily activity can be obtained from rice and cereals. Consult your veterinarian about your pet’s food requirements as variations occur with regard to breed, age and health conditions of the dog.