Dogs are prone to contracting certain diseases and disorders at any stage of their life. Like the health conditions experienced by humans, these dog illnesses and diseases can affect canines at varying degrees – some can be mild while others may put the life of the animal at extreme risk. In both instances, it is important that dogs are given proper attention and medication once any irregularity in their health is noticed.
There are quite a number of health conditions that can affect dogs. Some of them are listed below.
Canine Arthritis
Canine arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that can affect dogs regardless of age and breed. It is characterized by severe pain in the dog’s joints, leading to the extreme discomfort of the animal. Canine arthritis can come in various forms and may be caused by a number of different factors. Treatment can vary depending on the type of arthritis that is present. Forms of dog arthritis include hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, elbow dysplasia, hypertrophic dog arthritis, knee dysplasia, osteochondrosis, and degeneration of the shoulders.
Canine Urinary Tract Infection
This is one of the most common diseases that can affect dogs of all breeds and age. The main culprit behind this condition is bacteria that have penetrated the dog’s urinary system. Canine UTI is a highly treatable disease but it may also be fatal, particularly when not treated at the soonest possible time. UTI in dogs can lead to a number of complications that may be extremely harmful to these furry pets.
Canine Liver Disease
This is one of the most serious diseases that may affect dogs. Dogs having this condition may die anytime if left untreated. Unfortunately, the condition is not often diagnosed at its earlier stages because dogs with this health problem may not show signs or symptoms, or if they do, the symptoms may be so subtle to be noticed by the pet owners.
Dog Seizures
Seizures in dogs often result from sudden abnormal neurological functions in the brain. This disorder can come in several types, each of which may be caused by a number of reasons and characterized by different symptoms. Some factors that may lead to seizure disorders in dogs include brain tumor, canine distemper virus, epilepsy, toxins, hypoxemia, hypoglycemia, liver disease, urinary disease, hyperkalemia, gastrointestinal disease, and Lyme disease to name a few. The different types of seizures in dogs are fused into two main categories, namely, focal and generalized seizures. Focal seizures affect only a certain part of the dog’s body while generalized seizures can affect the animal’s entire body.
Dog Mange
Dog mange is a type of skin disease in canines. The main reason behind this condition is the presence of termites in the dog’s skin. The termites burrow deep into the skin, causing dogs to experience extreme itching and discomfort. Pain may be felt by the dog and noticeable patches of dry, scaly skin may develop. The dry skin may worsen and develop into tiny wounds that secrete pus. Dog mange is a highly contagious dog disease. It may affect other mammals, such as humans. For more information about this disease, read Dog Mange: What is It and How It Affect Dogs?