Like us human beings, our furry companions too are susceptible to all kinds of dog diseases. But the only problem is that they are not able to communicate with us verbally about the disease that they are suffering. The best thing would be to look out for symptoms to determine whether the doggy is sick. Some of the most common doggy diseases include:
- Eye infections
- Gastroenteritis
- Cancer
- Skin infections
- Ear infections
Let us look at each of these doggy diseases in detail:
5 Dog Diseases To Watch Out For In Your Canines
Eye Infections in Dogs
You might be wondering if your furry pal can get pink eyes. The answer to this predicament is yes. Your doggy can also suffer from conjunctivitis along with other dog eye infections. The good news is that it is very simple to identify an eye infection in a doggy due to his big eyes that are begging for treats. Some of the symptoms that you need to watch out for include:
- Crustiness / discharge around the eyes
- Tear-stained fur on the face
- Redness or inflammation of the eyelid lining
Closely keep a watch on your canine’s eyes so that he does not face any of these eye-related illnesses:
- Cataract – The eyes’ lens becomes cloudy resulting in impaired vision and possible blindness.
- Conjunctivitis – Redness of the eye along with swelling and itchiness and a crust around the lid.
- Cherry Eye – The result of an enlarged tear gland, creating a cherry-like mass on the eyes of the dog.
- Dry Eye – This happens due to reduced tear production, resulting in inflammation, discharge and squinting.
- Ectropion – The upper eyelid turns outward, resulting in the lower lid to droop.
- Entropion – The eyelid rolls in, leading to discharge and tearing.
- Epiphora – Stains on the facial fur of the doggy as a result of an overflow of tears.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy – Retinal tissue degenerates night blindness, which is the first sign.
Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Gastroenteritis is the general term for inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract causing vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. It is often caused while eating things that dogs should not. It can even be a reaction to new foods introduced to the dog’s diet.
Cancer Detection in Dogs
It is very difficult to detect this dog disease. But the treatment options of this disease are the same as human beings, including: chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and others. If you see any of these symptoms in the dog rush to your veterinarian as soon as possible:
- If your doggy has an unusual bad breath, it can be a sign of a tumor. Tumors can cause foul odors in dogs.
- Examine the lumps formed by your furry pal as it can be a fatty tumor, cyst, or an abscess caused by an insect or other infection. It is better to be safe than to be sorry.
- If your doggy is exercising as routine, but is still losing weight, then it needs to be taken seriously as it can be a sign of cancer.
- If there has been a sudden change in the behavior of your pooch like behaving aggressively, then it can be due to physical pain, lethargy, or loss of appetite.
- A change in the gum color can be an indication that there has been a blood loss which can be due to cancer, low blood pressure or anemia.
- If your pooch has an open cut or sores which are not healing, then it can be due to dermatological diseases or autoimmune diseases like lupus.
- If your doggy has an upset stomach with regular vomiting or extended bouts of diarrhea, take the advice of your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Skin Infections in Doggy
It is very easy to identify skin infections in dogs. You can see bald patches on their coat or a smell permeating from their fur even after they have got a bath. The dog’s skin might look reddish, scabby with small raised bumps or pimples. They will also scratch the area a lot. If the doggy scratches the area, licks or bites the skin then it can even be due to flea infestations. Hence, take the pooch to the veterinarian who would recommend proper diagnosis and treatment.
Ear Infections in Dogs
An inner ear infection can cause the doggy lot of scratching along with head tipping. You will also be able to see a fur loss on the outside of the ear along with bright red or scabby skin. The outer part of the ear during infection would be brown, yellow with a bloody discharge and odor coming from the inside of the ear. Bacteria is one of the most prominent reasons for ear infections, but it can also be due to yeast, fungi and ear mites. If you see black or brown earwax, it is an indicator that there are microscopic ear mites in the doggy’s ears, which only a veterinarian would be able to confirm. It can even be due to tumors, polyps in the ears, foreign objects in the ear or trauma to the body.
So, do you think that your doggy is suffering from any of these diseases? If yes; rush to your veterinarian as soon as possible.