Two Common Diseases For Canines And What To Watch For

Dogs are an amazing animal. They are smart, loyal, and lovable. They are great companions for anyone no matter how young or old you are. Many people refer to them as man's best friend due to these characteristics. However, they also require a lot of responsibility in order to take care of them. You need to house train them if they will be indoors, provide the proper nutrition, and keep them up to date with required vaccinations to protect them against things like rabies. Along with all this training and care, you need to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms that your canine might be ill. This guide goes over some common dog illnesses and what to watch for.

Worms

Worms are internal parasites that get inside the dog's intestines. There are many different types of worms that can infect the animals, like hookworms. The common symptoms of these parasites are:

• Dog scoots on their butt

• Weight loss

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Low or no appetite

• Lethargic

If you notice your dog showing any of these symptoms, then you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible. The veterinarian will give a prescription to treat the worms. This can be fatal in puppies so it is important to get the dog medicine quickly.

Lymes Disease

Lymes disease is transmitted to canines through ticks. The bacteria that causes the disease is transferred to the dog when the tick attaches itself to the dog. It enters the bloodstream and can become very serious if it isn't treated in time. The symptoms of Lymes are:

• Fever

• Lethargic

• No appetite

• Swollen joints

• Stiffness when moving

The best way to diagnose this disease is taking the canine to your vet. They will run blood tests on the animal that will detect the illness. Treatment is a strong antibiotic taken for several weeks. A blood test will be given at the end of treatment to make sure the disease is gone. You can try to prevent your dog from getting Lymes by using tick prevention methods like tick collars or drops. Check your dog regularly after they are outdoors and remove ticks immediately.

Conclusion

Keeping your dog healthy is a number one priority. Your veterinarian can help you with this. Take your dog to the vet for routine check-ups each year. Give your dog all the recommended shots to protect them from dangerous diseases.

Reach out to a business like Healthy Paws Veterinary Hospital & Housecalls for more information.