Dog Health Problems: Common Symptoms To Watch Out For
Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet couild get over the course of their lives. There is an old canine folklore held and believed by people from long ago saying that a cold and wet nose on a dog is a sign of good health. The truth is that there is no basis in science whatsoever that when a dog has a cold, wet nose, that they are healthy and have no problems such as heart problems, worms, mange mites or any other canine health condition.
Dog owners need to pay NO attention to such thinking that have no basis in science and instead concentrate on the dog’s overall condition which includes routine checks of the eys, teeth, ears, mouth area and skin, being vigilant for anything out of the ordinary that could be a disease symptom. A good dog owner needs to be sure they provide the care that their dog needs, including a healthy diet (some treats are OK), visits to the vet, and regular grooming so that their pets can enjoy long and healthy lives.
Signs and Symptoms of Dog Health Problems
There are a number of signs and signals that might be telling you that your dog has specific dog health symptoms or problems or diseases. Owners of dogs should be sure they know about these signals of potential health issues in their dogs so they can prompt action if needed.
* Your dog’s fur needs to be fluffy, soft and shiny. Dogs with wire coats should have springy and thick strands. Breeds with double coats should have no indication of thinning on the undercoats.
* Redness or inflammation, open sores, scabs, flakes, lumps or cyst like growths on the skin can be signs of health issues. The skin and coat should be free from parasites including fleas, ticks and mites. Frequent scratching or even biting of the skin is an indication of potential parasites.
* Just like people, if your dog’s eyes are bright and shiny, this is a good healthy sign. Around their eyeballs, dogs have an area that needs to be pink to show that they are healthy. This spot is called the conjunctiva and a pale color may mean some health problems. Make sure there are no out of the ordinary discharges seeping from your dog’s eyes, particularly nothing green or yellow.
* A foul odor and some bloody discharges from the ears is indicative of underlying health problems. Your dog’s ears need to be kept clean and free of signs of parasites.
* Dog gums that maintain a healthy rosy pink color and which might have a bit of black color as well is a pretty good indication of good health. Pale colored gums can be a sign or symptom of anemia. Sore looking red gums that bleed could be sending you the signal that you dog has a peridontal problem while emphasizing that your dog has some health issues with really bad breath.
* Thinking back to the old time thinking about a dog’s nose, a dog full of health usually has a cold, wet nose but this is really only due to the kind of clear and watery discharge that are normal in dogs. If a foul and colored discharge from the nose emanates, this is a sign of an abnormal condition and should be looked at. These kinds of discharges in young puppies could indicate canine distemper and may turn out to be fatal.
A few of the other factors to indicate good dog health are weight, body temperature and the appearance of urine and feces. The most important thing is to understand these symptoms of dog health problems so that the minute you spot something out of the ordinary, you can take action right away.