Common Health Problems with Dogs

Introduction

Dogs are like humans; they can get sick and even die from various diseases. Some illnesses are common, but others are rare and even fatal in some cases. However, with proper care and treatment (and sometimes even without it), most dogs will recover from illnesses such as allergies or parasites without damaging their health permanently.

Allergies

Allergies can be caused by food, pollen, or other environmental triggers, and they're seasonal and can cause itching, excessive shedding, and skin infections. Allergies may be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.

Bacterial infections

Bacterial infections are a common problem for dogs and can spread from dog to dog. They can also be spread between humans and pets, especially if one person has an infection that the other person's pet has gotten into.

If you have a bacterial infection in your skin or mouth (oral or topical), you will most likely need treatment with antibiotics—but not everyone does.

Some people get these infections without any symptoms; others feel like they have an illness but don't know what caused it. If this sounds like something that might apply to you (or your pup), ask your vet whether antibiotics suit both of you.

Food allergies

Food allergies can cause all kinds of problems in dogs. The most common symptoms are skin and digestive issues, which can cause respiratory issues, ear infections, and eye irritation.

Some dog owners find that their pet has food allergies by accident—for example if a dog eats something she shouldn't have on a trip to the vet or at home when no one is looking. Other times it's clear that your dog has an allergy from the start: He doesn't look well when he eats certain foods (like nuts) or exhibits other signs, such as excessive itching around his mouth after eating them.

If you suspect your pup may have a food allergy, talk with your vet about changing his diet so he gets less exposure to potentially harmful substances like wheat gluten or corn syrup solids in processed pet chow products.

Skin allergies

You're probably familiar with common human food allergies, such as lactose or gluten intolerance. But you may not know that dogs can have food allergies too.

Other factors that can cause skin allergies include the environment, parasites, and vaccines. Symptoms of skin allergies are redness, itching, and hair loss (or hair thinning). Treatment options include medication, diet changes, and bathing with special shampoos.

Parasites

Parasites live in or on another organism. They can be internal, meaning they live inside the body of a host animal (like fleas and ticks), or external, meaning they're attached to an animal's skin (like mites).

Some parasites are common to all dogs as they're found throughout their lives—for example, roundworms (Toxocara Canis) and hookworms (Ancylostoma tubaeforme).

Others require special conditions for them to reproduce. For instance, tapeworms need intestinal tissue from an infected host dog; if you don't have tapeworms on your dog, then it doesn't matter if she eats any raw meat because there won't be any eggs left over from previous meals.

Fleas

Fleas are insects that live on the skin of dogs and cats. They feed on blood, causing anemia if their host does not have enough food in its diet. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, which can be deadly to dogs. Flea allergy dermatitis is another condition caused by fleas, but it's more common in humans than in animals.

Fleas may also transmit diseases like typhus and plague (the bubonic form).

Ear mites

Ear mites are tiny parasites in the ear canal, causing itching, scratching, and head shaking. They can also be passed on to other dogs or cats through grooming.

If you have a dog with ear mites, your veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic for treatment.

Heartworms

Heartworms are a disease that can be fatal to dogs. Heartworm disease is caused by the bite of mosquitoes and is transmitted to your dog when they eat infected mosquitoes.

Your dog needs to be on preventative medication year-round, but you should contact your vet if you notice any symptoms of heartworm infection. Your vet will perform blood tests to determine any worms in their system and treat them with medications like doxycycline or levamisole.

Conclusion

It's essential to recognize the signs of a sick dog and get them the medical attention they need. If you suspect your pet may have an illness, consult your veterinarian as soon as possible; they can help determine the problem and how best to treat it.