Hi dog lovers,
Having been through the health mill a little with our dogs just lately, I thought it might be a good time to touch on some of the more common illnesses you might see in your dog. Both Poppy and Holly have been to the vets recently, both suffered a Vestibular episode and Holly had a Toe removed following an infected Toe nail, while Poppy had an inner ear infection which almost certainly led to her episode. I am happy to report although a bit unsteady they are now much, much better.
Five Common health worries to watch out for with your dog:
1. Bevhaviour changes: Dogs are really great at telling us they have a problem, if your dog becomes aggressive or lethargic this can point to stress, pain or illness. Our dogs show stress by yawning excessively so we know when there is a problem.
2. Vomiting and Diarrhoea: While this is a common event with dogs, ours do vomit from time to time, but we are more careful when it comes to Diarrhoea. It is recommended to monitor your dog closely and if either last for over 24 hours it could indicate something more serious such as a digestive issue.
3. Changes to Skin and Coat: We notice our dogs coat and skin all the time so it should be not too difficult to pick up on changes such as, bald patch, parasites and skin infections. A good place to notice skin infections is on the tummy where it is less furry. As with any thing with our dogs, generally if their coat is in good condition so are they.
4. Changes in eating and drinking: If your dog changes their eating and drinking habits suddenly the alarms bells should ring, as this could be a sign of a much more serious issues such as Kidney, Diabetes.
5. Coughing and breathing difficulties: Our dogs have been pretty good and we haven’t really experienced much in the way of breathing difficulties and were happy to know when the vet examined them that they had healthy Hearts, but breathing/Wheezing, again can be a sign that there may be something else going on:
In each case, you must decide what is best for your dog and if any of these present to you, you may want to consider a visit to the vet. We have been lucky with our dogs as they have had no real serious problems for 12/13 years but we are more aware now than ever as they depend on us.
So, we need to be upbeat, your dog’s love you and you love them and that for me is the best part about being an owner. Remember if you want a comfortable dry environment for your dog 4PawsYorkshire blankets are here to help.
Until next time, have fun and enjoy your dog.
D.
