Although
we aim to provide a safe and healthy environment for our beloved dogs,
feeding them the right diet with lots of exercise, sometimes we just
can't avoid our pooch from becoming ill, for whatever reason this maybe.
Causes
of Illness in Dogs
There are many causes of illnesses in dogs including bacteria, viral
and metabolic...the list goes on, but we have listed some of the causes
of canine illnesses below...
- Your dog may have
inherited poor genes and not developed optimally.
- Your dog may have
specific allergies that have made him ill.
- Is your dog receiving
a good healthy diet with the right nutrients?
- Poison, has your dog
disappeared for hours on end and come back showing signs of
being ill.
- Is your dog receiving
enough exercise.
- Sleep is also very
important for your dog to remain healthy and well.
- Has your dog or puppy
had the right vaccinations and/or immunisations.
- Has there been a
recent change to the environment, moving House or have you recently
started a new job that leaves your dog on his own for periods of time,
have you considered that it maybe dog
separation anxiety.
- Has your dog recently
been bitten by a mosquito or tick, remember mosquitoes carry heartworm
which is often fatal to dogs, and ticks also carry canine lyme disease.
Symptoms
of Illness in Dogs
Sometimes
it is difficult to diagnose symptoms of illness in dogs until the
symptoms have become
too advanced, this is certainly the case with health conditions like canine
congestive heart failure and
also heartworm.
- Your dog or puppy may
start vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Your dog may pass
blood in the urine.
- Stools may also appear
black with blood.
- Does your dog seem
himself, you are often the best person to diagnose any problems or
concerns in your dog or puppy's behavior that just don't seem like your
old dog or puppy.
- Has your dog been
losing weight or is your puppy failing to eat or gain any weight.
- Is your dog or puppy
having problems breathing, this maybe the sign of respiratory
problems.
- Your dog should have
wet nose, a dry nose is often a sign of illness.
- Is there any discharge
from your dog's eyes, squinting or redness.
- Is your dog limping,
if he is it might be due to a thorn in his paw or something more
serious like arthritis, tendonitis, hip displasia or luxating patella.
- Watch how much your
dog is drinking as a dog that drinks too much maybe suffering from a
kidney or liver problems, he may even have diabetes.
- Does your dog have a
healthy coat? If you notice your dog scratching or itching he may have
fleas, ticks or dog mites.
- Is your dog or puppy
still eating or have they lost their appetite?
- Is your dog exhibiting
a nasty smell?
- Is your dog suffering
from constipation, check out our section on constipation
in dogs for more information.
We
hope you found our guide to spotting the symptoms of illness in dogs
useful, but you may also find our sections on the cause
of dog vomiting and how to
cure diarrhea in dogs also
beneficial. Rememeber that the information on this page should not be used as diagnosis tool, you should always get advice from your vet first.
|
