Your dog's health is most likely of the utmost importance to you. However, sometimes it is difficult to tell whether these issues raise serious concern about the overall health of your beloved pet, and it is sometimes difficult to deduce what is causing these health issues. Read on and discover a bit about the most commonplace health issues revolving around your dog and whether or not they are serious enough to warrant a trip to the veterinary office or animal hospital such as Metzger Animal Hospital.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a commonplace issue with dogs, but it can be cause for concern. In many cases, it can be caused by simple issues like stress. Other times, you may have to worry about more pressing concerns like intestinal parasites, the parvo virus, or issues revolving around your dog's diet. One of the main issues you should be concerned about regarding doggy diarrhea is the fact that this can lead to your pet becoming dehydrated. Make sure that your dog has a constant bowl of water ready if he or she is suffering from diarrhea. If diarrhea consistently continues for over a day or is coupled with bloody stool, take your dog to the veterinarian's office immediately.
Worms
Worms are always a cause for concern. Although most types of worms, including roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, can be easily treated, there are others still, like hookworms, that can be potentially fatal to small dogs and puppies. Most are treated by a simple oral medication. There are a number of symptoms to look for that are telltale signs that your dog is suffering from worms of some sort. These symptoms include a worn-down appearance or a dry-looking coat. You might notice that your dog has lost his or her appetite and refuses to eat at his or her given dinner time.
Vomiting
Like diarrhea, this is a health issue that usually proves to be of little concern but can be indicative of something much more serious going on with your dog's health. Kidney failure, poisoning, heatstroke, and pancreatitis are all possible explanations for why your dog is vomiting. Again, much like with diarrhea, if your dog's vomiting persists for over a day or is coupled with blood or otherwise strange behavior, then you should take your dog to your local vet's office without hesitation. Vomiting is usually treated in a number of ways, including drugs that will inhibit vomiting or even binding foods that will settle your dog's stomach.
