Recognising the most common diseases in dogs will help you look after their wellbeing. While it’s true that certain breeds tend to be prone to particular conditions, this time we’ll talk in general about some of the ailments our pets most commonly suffer.
Why is it useful to know about these recurring diseases? Basically, because it lets you prevent them from appearing and spare your pet the ordeal. We know a dog isn’t just another animal but part of your family, and that’s why you want to protect it and avoid its suffering. Here are three of the most common conditions.
1. Otitis
Ear infections (otitis) are a frequent problem in dogs. If your dog has long, floppy ears, take special care, because the chances of it suffering this ear infection are quite high. Watch out if your pet repeatedly scratches its ears or shakes its head from side to side with a clear sense of distress — its ears are very likely hurting.
The way to prevent otitis is to keep your dog’s ears impeccably clean. Sometimes it’s necessary to trim the hair that can grow inside them to reduce the chance of infection as much as possible. After a bath or contact with moisture, it’s also important to dry them completely.
2. Mange
It might seem like a disease only suffered by dogs living on the street, but it’s far more common than you think. This problem affects your dog’s skin, irritating it and causing hair loss. The culprits are microscopic parasites that infect the skin and bring on the condition. As soon as you notice your dog losing hair, developing bald patches or scratching a lot, take it to a vet to start treatment.
3. Internal parasites
Does your dog vomit more than usual? Does it feel the need to bring its food back up every time it eats? If, on top of this, your dog is losing weight, it may have internal parasites — another of the most common conditions in dogs, usually contracted by eating raw or poorly cooked food.
Your dog should start treatment as soon as possible to eradicate the internal parasites. This, which might seem a minor ailment, can put your pet’s life at risk if not treated in time, since it prevents your dog from properly nourishing itself and absorbing nutrients from its food.
Did you already know about any of these diseases? Now that you’ve discovered their main symptoms, it will be easier to spot them in time, see the vet to start the right treatment, and take the appropriate preventive measures to stop the problem coming back.
