So, you have decided to gift yourself a bundle of joy this season by adopting a puppy! You have spent the weekend buying toys and making his bed. You have heard and read a lot about the lasting effect a dog can have on your life and are now looking forward to fostering a relationship of a lifetime with your new friend. But remember that bringing lil' Bruno home also means bringing home a lifetime of responsibility. Like humans, dogs too are affected by various illnesses in their lifetime and you need to tend to them. Be aware of at least a few of these so that timely action can be taken when necessary.
Parasites – Worms
- Round Worms, Hook Worms and Tape Worms
“Worms” in puppies almost always means round worms as it is the most common canine parasite and most dreaded by breeders. However, hook worms and tape worms are also frequent. Worms mostly reside in the small intestine and either feed on blood (hook worms) or undigested food (round, tape worms). They deplete dogs of their vital nutrients thereby stunting growth and weakening them. Common symptoms are:
- Vomiting
- Anaemia
- Poor weight gain or stunted growth in puppies
- Bloated abdomen in puppies (round worm)
- Diarrhoea
- Dry hair
- “Scooting" or a dog rubbing its anus to the ground (classic to tape worm infection)
Tape worms can be easily identified as they are seen in a dog's waste or around the dog's anus as dried rice grains. Round and hook worms can cause severe intestinal obstruction and even lead to death if left untreated.
- Heart Worms
These are parasites which spread through mosquito bite and lodge themselves mostly in the right ventricle of the heart and nearby blood vessels. They infect their host for almost two years and eventually cause blockage of large arteries and sometimes death. The first signs are mild coughing and breathing difficulty, but these can be dismissed as mere flu. The following symptoms or a combination are seen:
- Difficulty breathing
- Cough
- Hypertension
- Lethargy and sometimes fainting
- In more severe condition, a failed liver and kidneys
Treating a dog for heart worms sometimes involves arsenic poisoning to kill adult worms which could also be fatal for aged dogs.
Taking de-worming measures prevents the shedding of parasite eggs and contaminating the environment and infecting other dogs. Generally, vets prescribe de-worming medications at 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age to ensure dogs are free of these parasites.
Allergies
Like humans, dogs too are highly susceptible to allergies. Depending on the agent causing it, they can be classified as:
- Bacterial
- Food
- Inhalant
- Contact
- Flea
Signs and symptoms of an allergy vary depending on the type, often marked by excessive itching, redness of the skin, hair loss and lesions and sores (as with bacterial, contact, flea allergies), irritated ear flaps and digestive disorders (as with food allergy), coughing, sneezing and discharge from eyes (as with inhalant allergy).
Ear Infections
This is caused by various factors like ear mites, an unhealthy environment, bacterial and food infections and improper dog hygiene. Common symptoms include head shaking, excessive scratching and foul smelling waxy discharge from the ear. Air circulation is vital to a healthy ear, making these infections common in breeds with “flopped ears” (cocker spaniels). Ear infections can involve the outer, middle or inner ear, with the latter being very severe, sometimes leading to deafness.
Canine Cough
Cough is a reaction to blocked airways or an irritated throat or lungs. Cough is a common symptom associated with multiple diseases and hence diagnosing the root cause can be very tricky. Recording the time, nature etc. of your pet's cough will be helpful in ascertaining its cause. Common disorders linked to cough are:
- Heart disease ( Coughing when excited or at night time)
- Tuberculosis (Coughing with laboured breathing)
- Collapse or irritation of trachea or lungs ( Coughing when excited or in overweight dogs)
- Kennel cough (coughing when drinking water)
- Laryngitis or oesophagus disease (coughing during or after eating)
Periodontal Disease
A pet's oral hygiene is mostly ignored during its daily grooming. It is startling to note that almost 85% of dogs are infected with periodontal disease. Signs and symptoms include bad breath, loose and painful teeth, bleeding and receding gums. As with humans, plaque deposits in the oral cavity of dogs with their very first meal, making oral hygiene as essential for our pets as it is for us.
Canine Arthritis
This is another common condition in dogs. A dog's natural instinct is to seem strong and not become a prey. Hence it does not show signs of pain or distress associated with arthritis. If you find a noticeable change in your dog's mood and activity, reluctance to run or jump, lethargy, difficulty standing up or sitting down, it almost always means arthritis. This disease is not yet curable in dogs but a number of pain relieving lotions are available to ease your pet off the pain.
Obesity
Obesity is the most common condition in dogs and we are solely to blame for this. All it takes is that cute puppy dog face and a feeble cry for you to empty your plate into your pet's bowl. Obesity brings with it skeletal stress, heart disease, diabetes and potential pancreatic disease. Obese dogs take longer to heal from an injury, recover from surgeries and often have a shortened life span. It's for us to keep our pet's weight under check.
All of the above diseases are very common in dogs, hence regular vaccinations and health checks are a must for your furry pals. A dog is said to be a man's best companion- truly so! All it asks is for a pad, some food and water and for us to keep a close watch on its health. In return you get lots of tail wags, wet nose kisses and licks and unquantifiable love. Could you ask for more?
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