If you are looking for tips and tricks to help manage your dog’s health, you have come to the right place. You should be aware of a few common dog health issues and how to deal with them. For example, you need to know how to treat diarrhea. You can also learn more about heartworms and dental diseases. You can also get information about excessive licking and obesity.
Obesity
Obesity is a common dog health problem that can lead to several problems for your pet. You’ll need to find a way to help your pet lose weight and maintain healthy body weight.
The first step is to recognize the issue. If your dog’s body weight has climbed above the ideal range, you should contact your veterinarian to check it out.
The veterinarian will fully evaluate your dog’s weight, body condition score, and health. They’ll also determine whether or not there are associated diseases that may be affecting your pet. They’ll do this by looking at your dog’s skin, ribs, tail, lumbar area, and urinalysis.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the most common dog health problems. However, it can also be prevented. Various things, including parasites, viruses, bacteria, and more can cause it.
It is easy to treat a dog’s diarrhea at home. The first step is to identify the cause of the problem. If it is something as simple as food intolerance, you can try changing your dog’s diet. If the problem is more serious, your vet can prescribe safe medications.
If your dog has been suffering from diarrhea for a prolonged period of time, it is important to call a vet as soon as possible. The symptoms may include vomiting or abdominal pain.
Excessive Licking
Excessive licking is a problem for dogs and owners alike. Aside from the obvious discomfort of the process, it can also result in an infection.
If you’re looking to manage this issue at home, you might want to try some non-medicinal treatments. These include the Elizabethan collar, which can be used to stop licking wounds. Or you can try a cone, which is another way to help prevent licking. You can make sure that your dog sleeps in proper and clean beds to get rid of unwanted scars and infections. You can put comfortable cream rugs for your pets to sleep on.
If you notice that your dog licks in unusual places, or if the licking lasts for more than 24 hours, it’s time to take it to the vet. Your veterinarian can diagnose the cause of the problem and suggest the appropriate treatment.
Dental Disease
Dental disease is a very common problem for dogs. It is also an easy one to prevent, and there are a number of ways to do so.
Aside from routine dental cleanings by your veterinarian, you can also make some changes at home to help your dog keep its mouth healthy. You can brush your dog’s teeth to remove plaque or invest in a dental chew to help reduce tartar.
If you don’t want to invest in advanced veterinary dental services, you can refer your pet to a dentist who provides dental care in their hospital. They will develop a care plan based on the findings during a routine doggie dental exam.
Heartworms
There are a variety of ways to prevent heartworms in dogs. Some treatments include regular yearly visits to your vet, preventative medicine, and a few other measures.
A simple blood test can detect if your dog has heartworms. Other tests include a heartworm antigen test and a microfilaria test. The microfilaria test will show whether or not your dog has juvenile heartworms.
If your dog is diagnosed with heartworm, your vet may recommend an injection or two. The most common medications are milbemycin and ivermectin.
For a less expensive option, you can give your dog a monthly heartworm preventative. This will help kill the microfilaria, the small worms that can cause your dog to become infected.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can be uncomfortable and painful. They can also affect your dog’s hearing. If left untreated, they can cause permanent damage. If you think your pooch may have an ear infection, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a veterinarian.
The first step in treating an ear infection is to relieve the inflammation. You can do this by using a solution of 50 percent water and white vinegar. Vinegar has natural antibacterial properties, which can help kill bacteria and yeast. The next step is to remove debris from your dog’s ears. Some dogs require sedation to be able to remove the ear wax or foreign body. If your dog sleeps in different dog sleeping positions, then also they can suffer from ear infections.
Conclusion
Common dog health issues are a part of life, and there are some things that you can do to help prevent them. The best way to prevent these health problems is to be aware of them. Parasites and infections are two of the most common diseases in dogs. These can be internal or external, and they can be transmitted to other dogs. Some are serious ailments, while others are not. You should consult a veterinarian for appropriate treatment.
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