Dogs are fantastic pets and, by and large, they are not particularly prone to illness and disease.  It is quite rare for them to suffer from a serious illness but there are quite a few minor dog health issues that you need to be aware of if you are to give your pet the care that it deserves.

Dog healthcare should begin at home and probably the best time to concentrate on whether your pet has some form of issue is when you are grooming him.  Use an online pet grooming guide for information on how to best groom your pet and which tools you will require.

If you notice that your dog has been scratching or patches of hair have fallen out then he might have a case of dog mange.  Mange is caused by mites infesting the hair follicles and feeding beneath the skin.  It is highly contagious and so it is important to treat all pets.  Luckily it is easily got rid of by a short course of antibiotics which will need to be prescribed by your vet.

Dog worms come in five different varieties and so it is important to be aware of the symptoms and treatments for all.  Roundworm is the most common type and is generally found in puppies who have been infected by their mother before birth.  It causes their stomachs to become distended and the worms can often be seen in the stools or vomit.  Other symptoms are diarrhoea, vomiting and weight loss.  Treatment is worming tablets given monthly until 6 months old when he will become less susceptible to them.  The symptoms of hookworms are blood in the stools, loss of weight, becoming anaemic and listless.  If not treated with worming tablets then these worms can cause death.  Tapeworm causes itching around the anus and stomach pains and the worms themselves can often be seen in the stools, looking like grains of rice.  You should regularly de-worm your pet to stop tapeworm from occurring and, as they are caused by the ingestion of infected fleas it is important that you regularly check your dog for fleas and ticks.  Whipworm and heartworm are far less common but more serious and will need veterinary treatment.

Dog ear infections are rare but if they occur then you will notice a discharge from the ear which will need to be treated with ear drops which can be bought from any pet store.

Finally some of our canine friends suffer from dog allergies and just like humans the symptoms are itching, runny eyes and nose and sneezing.  Also, like humans, these can often be treated with antihistamines.

Diabetes in dogs is manageable by the administration of insulin on a regular basis. Re-regulation of insulin in the dog will allow them to return a active healthy life. Insulin need for each individual dog is determined by treating the dog and then regular testing of the urine to monitor glucose levels. Usually treatment starts at home and after several days the dog is returned to a clinic for further blood tests and then adjustments are made in the amount and timing of insulin administered to the dog. As with humans, diet also plays a part in regulating blood sugar levels. Obesity makes diabetes harder to control, so an overweight diabetic dog would be put on a high-fiber, high-carbohydrate diet until it reaches a realistic weight. Several smaller feeding during day to make up a days worth of calories is better than only one feeding a day. This helps prevent hyperglycemia and assists in controlling diabetes. Dogs do best on a tight schedule of feedings and insulin injections occurring at the same time everyday. Signs of diabetes in dogs that require treatment are drinking a lot and needing to urinate frequently. An extremely large appetite and yet an unexplained weight loss are further symptoms. Tests reporting high glucose levels in the blood and urine confirm the diagnosis. Advanced, un-diagnosed cases often have symptoms of vomiting, dehydration, lethargy and even coma. Diabetes will affect all organs sooner or later and diabetic dogs have enlarged livers and can develop neurological issues if left untreated. Proper diet and exercise for dogs is vital in maintaining a healthy pet. If you suspect your pet of developing any of the initial symptoms of diabetes an initial visit with a veterinarian is recommended and blood glucose tests and urine tests are indicated to either confirm or deny your suspicions. Keep your pet healthy by monitoring their behaviors closely.

The BARF diet or more descriptively the bones and raw food diet is an interesting way to bond with your dog. My great danes have been very willing participants in my experiment to find out exactly what works and what doesn’t. For those of you that are not familiar with this dog food diet it is simple. You simply feed your dog what it would eat in the wild. This means, lots of raw meat, some organ meat, bones, pureed veggies and fruit, eggs, yogurt (maybe not be available in the wild, but still good for them), fish, and really whatever else you can think of. A couple of things have become apparent since I have started feeding my danes in this fashion. First, they love it, give a dog a bone and you have a friend for life. It is amazing how long a dog will crunch on a bone. Great for cleaning their teeth and improving dog breath. Second, giving dogs actual nutrients instead of store bought processed dog food really does improve their coat and muscle tone. My dogs both lost some flab around the mid section but actually gained a little bit of muscle and weight. Last, it is difficult to feed animals like this all of the time. I usually mix in a little bit of regular dog food, the amount is determined by how much other stuff I am giving them. On busy days they may just get a couple of scoops of regular dog food. And yes they do seem a little disappointed. A couple of things to watch out for. First, make sure you are giving your dog good quality meat that has not had a chance to go bad. I may leave it in the refrigerator for a day or two but more than that is asking for trouble. Don’t make any transition too quickly, give their systems a chance to adapt to the dietary changes or you will most likely be cleaning up a surprise off of the floor. Last warning. If you give them bones they will crunch until the bones are gone, this is completely normal. Shortly thereafter, I’m talking 2-10 hours they will regurgitate the indigestible bone fragments. This is kind of disgusting and a bit alarming at first but completely normal. Many animals do this, it is a mechanism which allows them to get the most out of their meals. My great danes love the BARF diet and I have witnessed numerous health benefits from feeding them like this. I am happy to do whatever needs to be done to extend and improve the lives of my furry friends.

Dog Exercise is Vital If you own a dog you know how important it is to have dog exercise activities to keep your pet healthy. In addition to taking your dog for regular walks you should include some type of cardiovascular exercise to help ensure his heart and circulation stay in peak working order. Animals need to be active just as humans do to help their bodies stay in fit condition. Dog walking is a good way for both you and your pet to get some exercise, but you can also have activities that allow your dog to run and stretch its muscles.There are many dog parks these days that allow dog owners to bring their pets and take them off the lease. The dogs get a chance to socialize as well as get time to run and release their tension. This is good for an animal that might be cooped up in a house for long periods of time. You can bring items such as Frisbees or balls to the parks to help play and exercise your dog.If you do happen to be away from home a lot and have a pet that is caged during the time you’re away, you should consider getting an exercise cage for your pet. Using an exercise pen is a way to provide room for your pet to run when you don’t have the available time to take it anywhere. The pens are generally used outdoors, but you can fashion one to be built adjacent to an area of the house to allow your pet free access to the outdoor room anytime he or she wants to.If you have a large basement area you can also use the cage or pen down there to provide your dog exercise space. The pens are also useful to use for dog training sessions. It is helpful in training your new puppy to go to the bathroom on newspapers. A healthy well trained pet will also be a happy and contented one.