Like their human counterparts, pets require routine medical attention for serious or minor conditions. While skin allergies and infections are not often fatal in dogs, they can be unanticipated and even pricey to deal with. Felines and dogs also experience many health concerns similar to humans, so health care maintenance must always be observed by all pet owners. Now, let us find out the common health concerns in dogs.

Five Medical Conditions for Dogs

Pet owners should be attentive to the signs and symptoms of common health conditions to get the proper medical attention for their household pet as soon as possible. Here are five dog medical conditions every pet parent should know.

1. Periodontal disease

Periodontal or gum disease ordinarily happens to pets with bad oral hygiene, diet, and nutrition. Some factors that can add to having gum conditions are environmental contributors like grooming habits, misaligned teeth, and filthy toys. Tartar and plaque buildup on a dog’s teeth can cause tooth loss, bone loss, gum infections, and other systemic health problems.

Routine oral examinations with a dog dentist and consistent at-home dental care can help keep your dog’s teeth healthy. Taking care of your canine’s oral health will keep their eating routines healthy and prevent systemic conditions that may come along with it.

2. Cancer

Because most dog foods nowadays are tough to digest, dogs do not get some of the nutrients they need. This is what causes cancer in canines. Compared to people, dogs have shorter intestines, which could show that their digestive process happens in the stomach, while human food digestion takes place in the intestines.

As stated by the Veterinary Cancer Society, 1 in 4 canines may have cancer, and fifty percent of pet dogs may develop it at age 10 above. Common cancers in pet dogs include mast cell tumors, malignant melanoma, lymphoma, bone cancer, and hemangiosarcoma. Vet surgery professionals or animal facilities with sophisticated medical technologies can help cure a dog’s cancer through surgical procedures and other treatment solutions when treated in its early stages.

3. Kidney disease

Kidney problems or diseases in pets can be chronic or acute. It only takes several days for acute kidney failure to develop, whereas chronic kidney failure takes more time to appear. Acute kidney issues are often linked to pets who ingest hazardous substances or chemicals like household cleaners, antifreeze, or harmful food.

Chronic kidney problems are more common in older pets. Most pet owners usually ignore and neglect symptoms of chronic kidney disease since they are mild in nature. CKD generally originates from oral infections, diabetic issues, cancer, genetic factors, or autoimmune diseases.

Even with kidney illness, a veterinary internist can still help enhance your furry baby’s wellness through advanced diagnostic services and treatment plans for problems impacting their internal body systems.

4. Urinary Tract Infection

Like how unpleasant it is for humans, UTIs in felines and canines mean the same. Urinary tract infections in dogs are downright life-threatening and uncomfortable at best. Many dogs get UTIs when gastrointestinal (GI) tract flora and normal skin get past their urinary tract defenses and get into the urine. These bacteria spread to the urinary tract, creating an infection.

A frequent cause of UTIs is E. coli, but some fungi and germs can cause infections. Pets with UTIs often show fever, bloody/cloudy urine, and straining or whimpering during urination. If your pets start showing the mentioned signs, taking them to a veterinarian Los Angeles right away is important. Vets usually advise a change in diet and offer pain medications and antibiotics to treat the said infection, providing immediate relief to your dog.

5. Skin allergies

Common root causes of skin allergic reactions in dogs include food allergies,  environmental allergens, and flea allergy dermatitis. Some dogs might be allergic to grooming materials, some types of food, and other things in the surrounding, like insect bites or pollen that make them uncomfortable. A dog with allergies might scratch their skin relentlessly, and a look at their skin frequently displays an ugly rash.