Cattle Dogs

DISEASES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS IN DOGS

Dogs also experience different health problems during their lifetime. There are breeds that are more prone to health issues than others. As the owner, it is but important for you to know what the different health problems in dogs that could arise and to better understand what your pet might be going through.

Like in humans who experience osteoarthritis, dogs could also have arthritis. This makes is difficult for your dog to walk or play around. You can have him checked by a veterinarian as he is the one who can treat this and ease the pain of your dog.

Another disease that is common to dogs is hip dysplasia which occurs in larger dog breeds. This is an abnormal formation of a dog's hip. This usually causes crippling lameness in dogs and arthritis when it is left untreated. This disease usually occurs in the middle age or when the dog is a bit older.

You have to be aware of Heartworms. These are brought by parasites that eventually reside in the right ventricle of the heart. This can cause the dog's cardiovascular system to get weak with its affected lungs. When this is left untreated, it can cause other serious diseases or even death. You can help prevent this from happening by giving the dog a regular Heartworm preventative.

The most common health problem that we know about is Rabies. This is a virus that affects dogs and other animals. The virus from Rabies attacks the dog's central nervous system and infects the brain which could possibly lead to the dog's death. You should be aware of the early signs like headaches, discomfort, fever, or overall weakness of the body. When the Rabies virus progresses, more signs are manifested such as hallucinations, confusion, fear of water, agitation, and difficulty in swallowing to name a few. When these signs are manifested, death usually follows. Rabies is one disease causing virus that can be prevented from vaccination. It is important that you have your dog vaccinated once a year.

Wobblers syndrome is a condition where the dog's neck or the cervical vertebrae is incorrectly formed. It causes pressure on the dog's spinal cord in the vertebrae area which is near the area of the lower neck. This causes the dog an unsteady gait and is common in large dog breeds. This disease can be properly diagnosed by performing a mylogram.

Another disease in dogs that you have to be aware of is Lyme disease. This can be caused by deer ticks which transmit the disease to the dogs. The bacterium that causes Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi. The tick is being used to transport the bacteria between victims. Symptoms that manifest include nervous system problems, arthritis, heart problems, and kidney problems. Arthritis in a dog that has Lyme disease can cause the dog's periodic lameness. To prevent this disease, you can use a tick preventative.

These are only a few of the many health problems that can occur to your dogs. It is still best for you to take your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups and for vaccinations needed to prevent certain diseases.

Content written by Sarah Kelley of Oh My Dog Supplies, where you can find a extraordinary assortment of dresses for dogs online.