Whilst health is just a natural part of any dog’s life and they’re bound to get ill, it can be a stressful and sad situation to deal with so it’s useful to know how some of these situations can be avoided. Not every issue can be avoided as long-time dog owners will be aware, yearly trips to the vet are the norm and they’re impossible to avoid. As a dog owner, your dog is entirely your responsibility, it is up to you to keep them safe at all times and not leave them to suffer more than they have to when they’re ill. Due to this, it’s important that as a dog owner you’re aware of the most common issues, know how to deal with them if they can’t be prevented but also how to avoid getting them in the first place. One general way to help avoid any more serious issues for your dog is to visit the vet for general checkups, not just making an appointment when your dog is ill. It is recommended that twice a year is sufficient to ensure the best health for your four-legged friend.

Poisoning

Dogs are extremely curious animals which increase their risk of getting poisoned. If you’re a dog owner you’ll know if you leave your dog unattended in the kitchen, they’ll try to eat anything they can find. This can be unsafe for your dog as many things in your home environment will be toxic for your dog. Some of the most common foods that are toxic to dogs include onions which can damage the red blood cells in your dog and cause anemia. Chocolate is also dangerous for dogs and can cause many different reactions so it’s good to be aware of all of them, it can cause vomiting, excess thirst, excessive panting, and in extreme cases seizures or irregular heart rhythm. The other main foods that are toxic to dogs include alcohol, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt, and dairy food. Poisoning in your dog is easy to avoid as long as you do your research, if you’re ever unsure about if a food is toxic to a dog or not you can always consult Trusty Paw Pal to see if it’s suitable or not.

Skin Problems

Skin problems can be really uncomfortable for your dog, the biggest symptom of skin issues in dogs is itching. This is the biggest give away to alert you that your dog is suffering. Other symptoms of skin problems include dry skin, rashes, lumps, redness, etc. Some of the reasons for skin problems in dogs could be general environmental allergies, similar to hay fever in humans. It could also be a result of food allergies, impetigo (more likely in puppies), fleas, or yeast infections. To avoid skin problems in dogs it’s a good idea to frequently wash your dog’s bedding to reduce any allergens that may be lingering there irritating your dog, also wash your dog frequently with a high-quality shampoo as this could help get rid of any fleas that could be causing skin problems. If these things don’t work and your dog has been itching for a prolonged period of time then make a vet appointment.

Ear Infections

This is one of the most common issues and also one of the most uncomfortable for your dog. They occur when debris from things such as wax and hair build up in your dog’s ears. There are many tells that your dog has an ear infection, they’re likely to shake their heads a lot and scratch at their ears, if you see these symptoms in your dog then check their ears for any odor as that’s another symptom and a good way to differentiate between normal scratching and an ear infection. Having a good ear-cleaning routine for your dog is the best way to prevent any ear infections as this will prevent debris from building up. If there is hair growth inside your dog’s ears you should add plucking this hair to their ear-care routine. If you’re unsure how to properly care for your dog in this regard then set up a vet appointment and a vet will be able to show you how to thoroughly clean them.