Cancer in Dogs
Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over the age of 10. Everyone knows that the quicker you find and diagnose cancer, the better chance you have at fighting if off and prolonging your dog’s life. Dogs are susceptible to the same types of cancers as humans, but they can metastasize at a much faster rate. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, schedule an appointment with your vet.
Asthma and Respiratory Issues in Dogs
Asthma in dogs (as with humans) is essentially an allergic reaction to something in the environment. Exposure to the allergen triggers inflammation and uncontrolled mucus or fluid production that may block or narrow airways to make breathing difficult.
Cold Symptoms in Dogs
While there are differences in the types of viruses that infect humans versus dogs, the symptoms are basically the same: sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes. Sometimes, you may not know your dog has the virus. Up to 20% of dogs with the flu don’t show any symptoms.
Cushing's Disease in Dogs
Cushing's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands overproduce certain hormones. The adrenal glands are located near the kidneys and produce several vital substances that regulate a variety of body functions and are necessary to sustain life. The most widely known of these substances is cortisol, commonly known as “cortisone.” Decreased or excessive production of these cortisol, may be life-threatening.
Digestive Issues in Dogs
The simplest signs of digestive problems in dogs are vomiting and diarrhea/constipation.There are many different types of digestive disorders so your vet may carry out tests to determine the exact cause of your dog’s problem. Causes can range from eating something other than dog food, to food allergies and intolerances, infections, or lack of digestive enzymes.
Intestinal Worms and Parasites in Dogs
Intestinal parasites are one of the most common problems veterinarians see in dogs. Although pets of any age can carry them, they are a health a problem primarily in young dogs, dogs whose life style increases their risk of exposure, dogs living in sub-standard conditions and dogs with other health issues.
Joint Problems in Dogs
Most of the time, people notice that their dogs are doing less or having more difficulty with common activities. The dog might start having problems getting up on and off the couch, or going up the stairs. With more athletic dogs, maybe they can’t run as long with their owner, or they don’t want to play as long at the dog park. From there it slowly progresses to overt lameness -- holding the limb up, or holding the limb funny.
Kidney Issues in Dogs
Just like human kidneys, your dog’s kidneys balance certain substances in the blood and filter out the body's wastes as urine. They help control blood pressure, aid in calcium metabolism and sustain phosphorous levels. Kidneys maintain normal concentrations of salt and water in the body. Additionally, they manufacture a hormone that encourages red-blood cell production. When kidneys don't function properly, toxins build up in the blood and a dog will become ill.
Liver Disease in Dogs
Liver helps with digestion and blood clotting for your dog, it helps to remove toxins from his system. If liver isn't not working right, it can make your dog sick. But liver disease can often be treated and managed.
Seizure Disorders in Dogs
Abnormal, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause seizures, affecting how he looks and how he behaves. Seizures can look like a twitch or uncontrollable shaking and can last from less than a minute to several minutes. Some causes of seizures in dogs are preventable, but others are genetic or related to illness.
Sinus Problems in Dogs
A dog sinus infection is like a sinus infections in humans with similar symptoms such as runny nose, nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing and gagging. When the dog's sinus lining is damanged by a foreign object such as a blade of grass that gets caught in the nose, the result is an injury that can trigger a sinus condition such as sinusitis or bacterial rhinitis.
Urinary System Issues in Dogs
There are many problems that can affect a dog’s lower urinary system. The most common lower urinary tract disease in dogs over seven years of age is incontinence related to a weak urinary sphincter muscle, allowing urine to “leak” out. Bacterial infections, cancer, trauma or even obstruction of the urethra, the tube that allows urine to pass from the bladder to the outside of the body, can occur.
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