The 4 Most Common Dog Health Problems And What You Can Do About Them

Our pet dogs rely on us for food, love and care. Like us, our pet can suddenly feel ill and as a dog parent, it is important to know what to do when they get sick. It is ideal to know the most common health problems that are likely to hit your furry friend at any time to be better prepared.

Here are the top 4 common dog health problems and what you can do to care for your pet when they experience it:

Ear Infection

Usually caused by bacteria, ear mites, yeast or hair growth in the ear canal, canines are prone to ear infection. Symptoms include ear odor, ear discharge (brown, yellow or bloody), scratching, head shaking or tilting, loss of balance, redness and swelling of the ear canal and unusual eye movements. A simple ear infection can be cured through cleaning and medicating the ear canal, but it's ideal to bring your pet to the vet if symptoms don't clear up.

Worms

Dogs are naturally curious and would put everything in their mouth, that's why it's easy for parasites to enter their system. Roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms are common internal parasites in canines and are pretty easy to deal with but hookworms are known to be fatal to dogs, especially puppies. A change in appetite, diarrhea and weight loss are signs that your pet has worms and should be brought to the vet immediately. Treatment depends on what type of worm infestation he has.

Hot Spots

A bacterial infection, hot spots (medical term is acute moist dermatitis) are those bare, inflamed areas in your dog's fur that they can't stop scratching. Fleas are a common cause of a hot spot. Depending on the cause, these itchy and painful spots may be treated with antibiotics, topical medications, steroids or simply shaving and cleaning the affected area.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can hit canines as easily as it can hit us and are usually caused by food-related problems. In dogs, it can also be caused by intestinal parasites, parvo virus or even stress. Symptoms of diarrhea are obvious - loose, watery stools sometimes accompanied by lethargy, dark and bloody stools and vomiting. Be sure that your pooch remains hydrated but if symptoms last for more than a day, it's time to bring him to the vet.

Knowing these common dog health problems will help you better take care of your furry friend!