The most common dog diseases: symptoms and treatment

Diseases of dogs are quite numerous and varied: they can be divided into infectious, skin, allergic, oncological, diseases of the eyes and ears, internal organs, parasitic infections. About the most common – in this article.

The most dangerous diseases

The first disease that is most often mentioned is rabies. It is really well-known, because cases of infection with it are not uncommon. It is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Carriers can be both domestic and wild animals. It is an incurable disease leading to death. The only way out for dog owners living in places troubled by rabies is timely annual vaccination. 

In addition to rabies, dogs are susceptible to canine distemper. It is transmitted both through direct contact with an infected animal, and through interaction with things, places of residence and feces of sick animals. The course of the disease is usually accompanied by nasal discharge, redness, swelling of the eyes and increased lacrimation, cough, deterioration in appetite and stool quality, and fever. Timely treatment is likely to ensure the recovery of the pet.

Viral diseases and infections

Infectious diseases are very easily transmitted from animal to animal. For this reason, sick and healthy dogs should be kept separate to prevent further spread of the disease.

Common skin problems in dogs: dermatitis, eczema, ringworm. You can identify them by noticing peeling of the skin, rash, itching, loss of hair in a four-legged friend. Hair combing should be avoided or kept to a minimum during therapy to prevent further shedding and eliminate the possibility of infection through the affected areas of the skin. 

The above symptoms can be signs of various diseases, including an allergic reaction, only a veterinarian can find out during an internal examination.

Diseases of the ears and eyes in dogs are easier to notice in time: the pet’s eyes may water, swell, redden or fester. The most common eye diseases in dogs are blepharospasm, exophthalmos, blepharitis, and glaucoma. Some of these conditions are easily treatable, while others require surgery. 

Diseases of the internal organs

It is much more difficult to diagnose lesions of internal organs – kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory organs, genitourinary system.

One of the serious diseases is urolithiasis in dogs. Her symptoms are not so pronounced. Owners need to be extremely careful not to miss the first symptoms. If the normal acidity and specific gravity of urine are disturbed, stones can appear in the dog’s bladder, seriously complicating urination. Noticing the disease in time is not so easy, so it is important to see your veterinarian regularly and take urine and blood tests. It is also worth diagnosing the internal organs of the pet, such as the kidneys. 

Prevention

It is necessary to carefully monitor the diet of the dog. With the wrong food, a pet can gain excess weight, suffer from obesity, which leads to related problems, such as joints. In addition, malnutrition affects the digestive tract and often causes stool problems in the animal. 

Dog diseases, their symptoms and treatment are important to keep track of in time. Diagnosis, prevention and timely treatment – these are the three pillars on which the good health of the dog rests. Treat your pet with awe and love, and he will answer you the same!