Being lucky to have a pup in your life comes with a certain responsibility. As a dog owner, taking care of your dog’s health is one of the most important things to do. Often, dog owners don’t even know that some minor changes in a dog’s behavior might indicate a temporary health issue such as dog influenza, but also a serious illness like diabetes.
Since our four-legged pals cannot talk and tell us how they’re feeling, we have to pay attention to how our dog behaves. Any irregularities might help in determining if your dog is healthy or not. From the most benign ones like appetite loss, decreased thirst or fast breathing, to more indicative ones such as panting and shaking, vomiting or coughing.
Common Health Problems
We talk about most common dog health issues out there such as Diabetes, Kennel Cough, Parvovirus as well as digestive, respiratory or urinary tract diseases. The factors that make some dogs more susceptible to some of these diseases are their age, health condition, environment, and breed. For instance, brachycephalic dogs such as French Bulldogs and Pugs are more prone to developing respiratory tract problems that cause difficulties with breathing.
Some breeds such as Pugs are also more prone to having skin problems, while others might be more affected by allergies.
Minor health issues
However, most dogs experience some minor infections or tummy irritations at least once in their lifetime. That’s why it is very important for owners to know what to do if a dog has diarrhea or constipation. Some owners have also noticed blood in their dog’s urine, while this can also mean a more serious health problem, it can sometimes be the result of a urinary infection that is accompanied with frequent urination.
Serious health issues
On the other hand, there are other health conditions that have to be diagnosed on time in order to not take a toll on your dog’s life. If you notice sudden and dramatic changes in your dog’s behavior and energy levels, then chances are you have to start investigating what could be causing your dog to feel in such a way.
Canine diabetes is a condition discovered in a large population of certain breeds over a certain age. This condition is however highly manageable despite being untreatable. The trick with diabetes is that dog owners often misinterpret the signs and overlook diabetes.
Parvo is a dangerous disease that can often lead to death, especially in puppies and old dogs. Canine Parvovirus is usually easily preventable with responsible vaccination, but, unfortunately, vaccines do not protect dogs from all bacteria that cause this illness.
Vaccination
Many diseases are easily preventable with vaccines that are created in order to make dog’s lifespan a bit longer and more stress-free. Your veterinarian will be the best point of reference when it comes to vaccination. If you want to ensure your dog is not at risk from worms, or fatal diseases such as Parvo, Distemper, or Rabies, you will have to follow a schedule of vaccination. However, vaccines can also bring side effects dog owners should be aware of.
Breeding
Breeding a dog properly might seem to be a breeze, but actually, it requires knowledge of how things work in the puppy world. It is crucial to understand that if bred irresponsibly, dogs can develop health issues or even die much younger. That’s why it is necessary to watch out at how many times a dog can be bred in its lifetime and to wait until puppies are fully grown. They should be bred only when their bodies have reached the necessary maturity. Knowing when to breed a female dog is crucial in having a successful mating episode. On the other hand, male dogs are required to go through several testings before mating with a female.
Health Management
Other, minor health-related questions often arise when having a dog as a pet. Noticing that your dog is limping might make you wonder how should pain in dogs be managed, or, your dog’s car sickness might get you thinking if there’s anything you can do to make driving less stressful for you and your pup. You will be able to find out more about situations like these as well as read more about alternatives to conventional treatments.
Taking Care of Your Dog
No owner wants to lose their dog, especially not prematurely, so that’s why we’re collecting all of your health-related questions and are trying to answer them in the best possible way. Whether you’re asking yourself if you should euthanize your dog or are simply worried if your puppy is breathing fast while asleep, Barking Royalty with its team of vets will give you the information you need.
The key to having a healthy dog that will live long is to ensure him a proper environment and nutrition for healthy growth. How your dog lives depends entirely on you and your family members, so knowing what you have to do from the moment you welcome the young puppy in your home is crucial.
