Dogs Can Have Health Issues

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     Dogs like humans can have health issues. Some of these issues are similar to the diseases that afflict humans like arthritis. Others are more prone for dogs to get like heartworms. So it is important that canines get regular medical checkups with the veterinarian.

Certain health problems like rabies in dogs can be avoided with vaccine. Others might need surgery to be taken care of or medications. Sadly, dogs can't tell you what is wrong with them. This means that these health problems can go undetected for a period of time if you are not observant enough of your dog.

So to better help you understand some of the health issues, which can arise in dogs we will provide you a list of them and explain their symptoms. Check out the list below:

Arthritis - Dogs can get osteoarthritis in their joints. To treat them they will need controlled exercise do not let them get overexerted, adequate rest, weight control and pain relief medication.

Hip Dysplasia - This is a problem that is a malformation in the bone structure of the hip. It affects the ball section of the rear legs. The ball and socket of the hip becomes unstable. This can eventually cause the dog's hip bone to break. Hip dysplasia happens more in larger dogs.

Diabetes Mellitus - This disorder occurs because of a problem with insulin levels. The pancreas might not be producing the right amount of insulin or the body is not using the insulin right. Insulin is what regulates how carbohydrates and sugars are processed in the body. It also helps the processing of the proteins and fats. Symptoms of this disorder are liver malfunction, weight loss, increased appetite, thirsty more often, increase urination, more chronic infections and cataracts. Proper veterinarian care and home care can control this disorder.

Food Allergies - These are more of the problem than people realize. They can cause skin irritations, increase in intestinal gas, loose stools, and vomiting. The allergens are typically to dairy products, beef, wheat, chicken, corn, soy or eggs, but there could be more food the dog is allergic to besides these. If you think this is a problem take the dog to the veterinarian to see if you can figure what is triggering the allergic reactions.

Rabies - This is a virus that can attack dogs as well as other animals. It can even be transmitted to a human through a bite. If a dog has the rabies vaccine regularly it is totally preventable. This is one reason to have a dog checked yearly at the veterinarian.

Ticks and Lyme disease - Ticks are a parasite that dogs and other animals can get on them. There are various species of ticks and one of them it the deer tick. This tick can be a carrier of Lyme bacteria, which causes Lyme disease. The symptoms range from problems with the nervous system to arthritis. An infected dog could lose its appetite and become lethargic because a fever could set in. Not all ticks carry this disease so check with the veterinarian in your area. There are tick repellants that are quite effective today. Also, check your dog daily for ticks and remove them in the proper fashion.