6 Serious Canine Health Conditions

22 August 2017
 Categories: , Blog

Share

It is not surprising that dogs are incredibly popular pets-- they are loving, loyal, and enjoy spending time with their human family. Unfortunately, there are a number of serious dog health conditions, some that can be prevented with vaccines, some associated with age, and some that are genetic. Your dog's vet will be able to run tests and monitor your dog's health to help control canine diseases. Some of the most serious canine diseases include:

Parvovirus

Parvovirus is a serious infection of a dog's intestinal tract. There is a vaccine to prevent parvovirus, but the disease is not uncommon in puppies who are too young to be fully vaccinated. Common signs of parvovirus include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. If you suspect that your dog may have parvo, it is important to take him to the veterinarian immediately.

Heartworm

Heartworm is a condition that is spread via mosquitoes. In the event that a heartworm infection is caught early, a dog may survive with intensive veterinary treatment. There is preventative oral medication available to prevent heartworm-- talk to your dog's vet about how often you should administer the medication in order to protect your dog from the disease.

Rabies

Rabies in animals is always fatal and can also be spread to other animals and humans, which is why most areas require all dogs to be vaccinated for the disease on a regular basis. The best thing you can do for your dog is make sure that he is always up-to-date on his rabies shot.

Diabetes

Many people do not realize that dogs can develop diabetes as they grow older, just like humans. In many cases, a vet can help you control your dog's diabetes through changes in diet and exercise. But in some circumstances, insulin shots may need to be administered in order to keep your dog healthy.

Tick and Flea Borne Diseases

Ticks and fleas can carry a number of dangerous diseases that can effect dogs and humans. If you want to prevent your dog and your family from potentially being exposed to tick or flea borne diseases, it is important to regularly administer a tick and flea preventative treatment to your dog, inspect your dog regularly for signs of ticks or fleas, and vacuum your home regularly.

Obesity

It is easy to feed your dog extra treats or table scraps, but doing so is actually a bad thing. More and more pet dogs are obese, which can cause a variety of health problems, such as heart disease, and kidney problems. Make sure you feed your dog a high quality food and take him out for walks and play time on a regular basis to help mange weight and prevent obesity.