Canine illnesses are just as serious as human diseases. They may be a little more problematic because dogs can’t tell you where it hurts. They can’t tell us when something has changed, just as they can’t tell us when they feel an improvement.
Dogs face most cancers and degenerative diseases in the same way as humans. Most of their infectious diseases are species-specific. Like other domestic animals, dogs are at risk from a number of infectious and genetic diseases. Screening, vaccination, and proper husbandry can prevent most of these.
Changes in a dog’s behavior often indicate the earliest signs of health deterioration. They may look depressed and withdrawn and move less than usual. Their appetite may also change, sometimes improving and sometimes deteriorating. Generally speaking, a dog that is active, lively, interested, hydrated, eating, drinking, defecating, and urinating normally, free of lumps and hair loss, and of normal body condition is probably healthy. If symptoms appear, get a medical examination immediately, and every six months if there are no symptoms.
We describe as many canine illnesses as we can to help owners keep their pets healthy!
