If you’re conscious and keen enough to watch your dog, then your beloved furry pal can potentially remain disease-free and healthy. However, getting ill is quite inevitable so making sure that you’ve carried out the preventive measures can help in diminishing the chances of them getting common diseases. Most health issues can be curbed by making sure your dog has all the required vaccines, when they eat the right food (and the right amount of food), as well as carrying out the necessary sanitary measures on your end. But when the unexpected happens, what are you supposed to do? Keeping them healthy isn’t enough, so awareness is also essential. Knowing the common dog ailments and remedies is a must in order for you to know what to do when the worst case scenario arrives. So today, that’s what this article is all about. Keep on reading if you wanna learn more.
Dogs are like precious babies that should be treated with tender love and care. There are just tough days when we may see them suffer from a certain health issue, whether it’s a mild condition or a much worse one. Visiting the vet is the most appropriate action if they’re experiencing the latter. However, a simple ailment can be remedied at home with some natural solutions and a little bit of help from the internet. In this article, we will be discussing common dog ailments and remedies that you can try if you’re in the situation. Let’s take a look at some of the usual issues your dog may face.
Everything to Know About Common Dog Ailments and Remedies
1. Dry and itchy skin:
We know how annoying it is to have an itch somewhere on our bodies. Just imagine how much more annoying it would be for your dog if they experience the same. Scratch here, scratch there. It’s frustrating to see them uncomfortable. Dry and itchy skin may seem like it’s not a big deal, especially during winter and cold weather but it can be an underlying cause of a much worse disease like allergies or parasites in their skin. Though we recommend that you visit your veterinarian for an expert’s advice on this matter, there are some home remedies that you could use to alleviate the problem if it has affected your dog’s overall health:
- Oatmeal bath or use an oatmeal-based shampoo
- Vitamin E Oil (rub for a healthier coat)
- Herbal tea and chamomile soak (short soak-bath)
- Coconut oil (massage to affected areas)
2. Diarrhea:
This is one of the most common dog ailments that can be prevented if you make sure that they have a well-balanced diet. A disrupted digestive system caused by diarrhea can mean a lot of things but most of the time, it’s not a life-threatening case, especially if the reason is eating too much grass or food intolerance. This too can be a symptom of a much worse condition so keep a close eye if they’re experiencing diarrhea.
As mentioned, going to the vet is the best action that you could do so that they can provide medications and expert advice. Treating dog diarrhea at home should look like the following:
- Making sure they’re hydrated, keep them hydrated.
- Recovery diet with nutritious meals
- Avoid giving them high-fat content and greasy food
- Taking probiotics and medications (should only be done as per the vet’s instructions)
3. Minor cuts and scrapes:
Accidents happen, especially when our eyes are not set on them. So learning how to heal dog wounds at home is necessary. Not just that, identifying which wounds are okay to be treated at home and which ones need veterinarian attention is also necessary so that you don’t compromise your dog’s health. Minor wounds should be dealt with immediately in order to avoid infections so having a first aid kit for dogs at your home should be mandatory as a dog owner. Make sure that you have the following in the first aid kit:
- Gauze
- Non-stick bandages
- Adhesive tape
- Cotton balls
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ointment
- Ointment
- Antibiotic spray
- Digital thermometer
- Scissors
- Tweezers
- Magnifying glass
- Flashlight
- Soft muzzle
- Towel
Thus, you should treat the wounds according to their type and severity.
4. Dog fleas and ticks:
Almost every dog can get fleas and ticks at some point in their lifetime. The warm and soft fur of your dog is a very inviting place for these parasites to live in. It is most common for them to acquire fleas and ticks during warmer seasons but that doesn’t mean that checking their coat and making sure they’re in good condition should only be done during those seasons. Insects of this kind feed on your dog’s blood. They may cause itchiness and other health concerns such as allergic reactions and tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis. Here are the remedies to remove these annoying parasites in your dog’s fur:
- Oral tablets purchased from your vet
- Spot-on flea treatment
- Fleas-control shampoo
Of course, prevention is also important so make sure that your dog has good hygiene and don’t forget to constantly check on their fur to make sure that they don’t have fleas jumping around on them.
5. Ear infections:
The bigger the ears, the more prone to ear infections. This is quite true for most dogs, especially breeds like Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds. Though ear infections are generally not as harmful compared to other ailments, these can cause massive discomfort for your beloved pet. Roughly around 20% of the general population of dogs have some sort of ear disease caused by yeast, bacteria, or a combination of both. Excess moisture, wax buildup, and allergies can also cause these infections that can result in chronic pain on your dog’s end. When dealing with this common dog ailment, it is best to consult your local vet because precise diagnosis is required in order to know which treatment your dog should go through.
Key Insights
Common dog ailments have remedies available at home and can be solved at home if you have enough knowledge to do so. However, if symptoms persist and the disease seems much worse than expected, it is best to leave them to the experts. It is also important to remember that preventive measures should be carried out to avoid the unwanted.