Dogs sometimes get ill and like their human masters they need proper attention and medical care. Here are three common illnesses affecting dogs and a few useful guidelines for dog owners who are looking out after them.
Food allergies
A food allergy manifests in dogs in much the same way as in human beings. Allergies are an itchy business, and dogs who suffer from food allergies will be scratching like crazy. You might see your dog shaking its head repeatedly. Before dismissing it as a cute new antic, you might want to observe the rest of the dog's behavior. The repeated head shaking may be the dog's way of saying that is ate something its allergic to. Dogs can suffer from many different types of allergies and according to the experts 10% are from the food that they eat. The most usual causes of food allergy in dogs are beef, lamb, chicken, fish, wheat, dairy, soy, and egg.
Itchiness is not the only signifier of a food allergy. In some dogs, the signs may include gastrointestinal problems and chronic diarrhea. In most cases, a dog's food allergy is triggered by more than one cause. Allergies are determined by genetics, and most of the time, the dog owner is unaware that his pet is allergic to a certain type of food until the allergy manifests itself. Therefore, you must learn about the predisposition of your pet's breed to food allergies, and learn as much as you can about past medical history if the dog has had a previous owner.
Canine Ear Infections
There are multiple causes of ear infections in dogs, including moisture or earwax, yeast or bacteria, excessive hair and impacted foreign bodies. The ear canal of dogs is more vertical in orientation than humans and so they are many times more prone to ear infections. Canine ear infection must always be brought to the attention of a veterinarian, lest it gets worse and lead to more serious conditions such as total hearing loss and loss of balance. The first signs of ear infection that you must look out for are redness and swelling in the area, increased scratching around the ears, foul odor coming from the ears, and a yellowish or brownish discharge, which is sometimes splattered with blood. Upon examination, a good vet will be able to diagnose the infection and prescribe the appropriate intervention.
Joint Problems
Running and jumping can take its toll in ageing humans. The same is true for their canine friends. Dogs with bodies and limbs that are subjected to high intensity forces such as work dogs are highly at risk for injuries of the joints.
Some of the most common orthopedic problems diagnosed in dogs are ligament tears and osteoarthritis, which are common in humans as well. Ligament tears are usually due to direct trauma to the joint, while osteoarthritis develops with advancing age. Ligaments are also prone to degeneration with repeated usage and time, and injuries could lead to degenerative problems which often manifest as a limp or excruciating pain. Nevertheless, you must be observant because joint problems manifest early as a change in the dog's movement patterns and/or level of activity. If they are diagnosed early, then a worsening of the condition can be prevented.
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