Common Dog Health Problems: Ways You Can Help Your Dog
Saturday, November 21st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet couild get over the course of their lives. There is an old canine folklore held and believed by people from long ago saying that a cold and wet nose on a dog is a sign of good health. The truth is that there is no basis in science whatsoever that when a dog has a cold, wet nose, that they are healthy and have no problems such as heart problems, worms, mange mites or any other canine health condition.
Dog owners need to pay NO attention to such thinking that have no basis in science and instead concentrate on the dog’s overall condition which includes routine checks of the eys, teeth, ears, mouth area and skin, being vigilant for anything out of the ordinary that could be a disease symptom. A good dog owner needs to be sure they provide the care that their dog needs, including a healthy diet (some treats are OK), visits to the vet, and regular grooming so that their pets can enjoy long and healthy lives.
Signs Of Common Dog Health Problems
In particular, there are certain dog health symptoms that mean your canine friend has particular diseases or health challenges. Owners of dogs should be sure they know about these signals of potential health issues in their dogs so they can prompt action if needed.
* The dog’s coat should be shiny, soft and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Types of dogs that have double coats need to show zero indication of thinning in the undercoats.
* Redness or inflammation, open sores, scabs, flakes, lumps or cyst like growths on the skin can be signs of health issues. Your dog’s skin and fur should be free of parasitic infestation like ticks, fleas or mange mites. An overabundance of scartching or biting of their own skin could mean your dog is infested with parasites like mange mites.
* Just like in humans, bright and shiny eyes are a sign of good health. In dogs, there is an area in the eyes particularly in the perimeter of the eyeballs that should always have a health pink color. This region is called the conjunvtiva and if its pale in color, this could mean some hidden health challenges. There should also be no abnormal discharges from the eyes, particular yellow or green colored fluids.
* A foul odor and some bloody discharges from the ears is indicative of underlying health problems. Your dog’s ears need to be kept clean and free of signs of parasites.
* Gum regions that have that healful pink glow to them but that may have some black coloring mixed in is a healthy sign. Pale colored gums can be a sign or symptom of anemia. Inflamed and bleeding gums can be signs of periodontal diseases while a foul odor emanating from the breath can be indicative of some underlying health problems.
* Remembering back to hearing about the belief about a dog’s nose, that a healthy canine almost always has achiily, damp nose but this is really caused only by a relatively clear and runny nasal discharge that is fairly common in dogs. If a foul and colored discharge from the nose emanates, this is a sign of an abnormal condition and should be looked at. Such discharges in young pups can be a sign of canine distemper and may prove to be fatal.
A few of the other factors to indicate good dog health are weight, body temperature and the appearance of urine and feces. The important thing here is to know and understand these signs and symptoms of health problems so that the moment you notice something abnormal, you can immediately take action.
