Pet advice: Dogs get sick just like people


One in five dogs suffers from arthritis. This can occur as a genetic condition or can be caused by injury and disease. Hip dysphasia is the most frequent form of this type of dog illnesses, happening most often in larger breeds.

Kennel Cough is an airborne virus or bacteria. This common dog illness causes an irritation of the canine’s trachea resulting in a distinctive cough that sounds like the animal is attempting to clear its throat. Easily passed along when dogs are in large groups, it generally lasts seven to 10 days.

Although dogs do not have heart attacks, about one in 10 experiences the dog condition of congenital heart disease. This dog illness is a weakening of the dog’s heart. As the heart muscle slowly fails, not enough blood is circulated through the dogs system requiring the heart to beat faster. This dog disease is not curable. Treatments do exist, but generally other organs are compromised as the heart weakens.

The most common of the dog illness is an ailment shared by the human population: obesity. An estimated 40 percent of canines suffer from this illness. Its effects in dogs are much the same as in humans, frequently resulting in diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis.

Diabetes is a pretty common ailment for dogs. The average age of onset is six to nine years. Diabetes is a result of inadequate production of insulin by the islet cells in the pancreas. There may be a genetic predisposition for this in some dogs. The signs of early diabetes are frequent urination, drinking lots of water, a large appetite and unexplained loss of weight. Dietary control and daily injections of insulin can regulate most diabetic dogs, allowing them to lead active, healthy lives.

If your pet has an underlying condition such as diabetes, they are at risk for eye diseases such as cataracts. Treating the underlying condition may lessen the chances that cataracts will develop.


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