4 Common K9 Illnesses

Like humans, dogs are also affected by many different health problems. As a pet owner, its your responsibility to make sure that your pet is properly taken care of and stays healthy. Many factors could cause dogs to get sick, from poor nutrition, stress, pollution to an unhealthy lifestyle. Depending on the dog breed, sudden change of weather, exposure to extremely hot or cold climates, lack or too much exercise can also cause them to get sick. New studies in veterinary medicine even shows that psychological and emotional problems such as anxiety, depression and behavioral patterns can also affect your dog.

Here are some of the most common health problems in dogs.

1. Arthritis

This affects the joints and causes them to become inflamed. One out of every five dogs who are seven years old or older is diagnosed with this illness. Early signs include lameness, stiffness, having a hard time to move, very sensitive when touched, trouble going down or up the stairs.
The main reasons why a dog could develop arthritis are due to poor nutrition, lack of exercise and toxins that could have gotten in their bodies.

2. Diabetes

Diabetes is mainly caused by obesity and overeating. You should make it a point to watch your pets diet and make sure they get the right nutrients from the right types of food. A dog with diabetes will suffer from rapid and sudden weight loss, have large appetites, urinate frequently and have high levels of glucose in the urine and blood. your dog will need to have regular exercise, keep a stable weight, have a controlled and special diet.

3. Bladder infection

This is simply caused by stale food and a dirty environment. Dogs can also get bladder infection from bladder stones and tumors. If your dog suffers from bladder infection, they could have appetite loss, frequent urination, and in certain cases, pain when they urinate. The vet can simply administer medication for this illness, but if the problem is caused by tumors and bladder stones, surgery may be needed.

4. Degenerative myelopathy

This commonly affects larger dog breeds. Degenerative myelopathy or DM is a neurological disease that first affects the dogs hind legs. It causes them to lose control of their back legs, with the disease slowly progressing towards other body parts. This eventually results in full body paralysis. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for DM, and this genetic illness cant be detected when the dogs are still puppies. Prevention is key. Give your dog a balanced diet and proper exercise.