Any living thing can become ill at some point in their life, including our dear furry friends. Although we can do many things to strengthen their immune system, such as giving them a high-quality diet (without cereals or by-products), taking them for a walk and / or running daily, taking them to the vet for vaccinations and keeping them happy, unfortunately we can never fully protect it.
It's important to know what are the most common diseases in domestic dogs in order to be attentive to any symptoms that make us suspect that our dog's health is weakening and thus be able to act accordingly.
Arthritis
As with humans, as dogs age, the cartilage in their joints gradually degenerates. When it does, our friend will begin to limp, have problems getting up and moving, and will also have pain in the bones.
To help you, you have to take him to the vet as soon as possible so that he can tell us what changes in his diet we should make, what medications we should give him and what exercises he should practice so that his quality of life does not deteriorate.
Cystitis
It is a disease that consists of bladder inflammation caused by bacteria. Although it affects adult dogs more than puppies, we have to be vigilant in case some of these symptoms appear: traces of blood in the urine, increased frequency of urination, and difficulty urinating.
As there are several causes that produce it, such as tumors, kidney stones or even abnormalities in the nervous system, we must go to the vet to tell us what treatment to follow.
Dermatitis
La dermatitis it can be caused by allergies, environmental factors, or internal disorders. If we notice that it scratches much more frequently than normal, it has a lot of dandruff that does not go away and the animal looks restless, it probably has this disease.
For him to recover, you have to find out what causes it. Often a change in your diet will suffice, but at other times you may need specific medications.
Distemper
It is one of the most worrisome to dog sitters, especially if they are puppies. It is a disease caused by a virus which enters the animal's body when it comes into contact with the fluids of a sick furry. It's very serious. If not treated in time, you could die in a few weeks.
The symptoms are: fever, loss of appetite and weight, rashes, vomiting, seizures, tics, paralysis. Fortunately, can be prevented with a vaccine, which should be administered between 6 and 8 weeks of age of the puppy.
Otitis
When the canine's external auditory canal becomes inflamed, it is due to a otitis. It can be caused by allergies, bacteria, foreign bodies, mites. It is very common in dogs, especially those with floppy ears.
If we see that he frequently shakes his head, scratches his ears very frequently, his ears give off a strong smell, if they secrete a lot of earwax and if the animal looks restless and / or sad, we should take him to the professional to find out the cause and put him on treatment.
leishmaniasis
This is one of the most common conditions in hot climates, such as the Mediterranean. It is transmitted by a sandfly, which is a kind of mosquito, which multiplies very quickly during the summer. Once the animal is bitten, the symptoms do not take long to appear: bald spots on the skin, skin ulcers, excessive nail growth, formation of nodules, loss of appetite and weight, diarrhea, nosebleeds, apathy.
So far, no cure has been found. However, it can be prevented with the Scalibur or Seresto collar, and with specific antiparasitic pipettes; It is also important to know that there is a vaccine, which has a cost of 50 euros. We recommend consulting with a veterinarian for more information.
Remember that, although you cannot prevent your dog from falling ill from time to time in his life, if he takes good care of himself with patience and a lot of love you can keep him strong and healthy for a long time 🙂.