As pet owners, we all want to give our furry family members the very best care possible to keep them in our lives for as long as possible. For this reason, it’s helpful to be familiar with the symptoms of potential life-threatening pet diseases so we can catch them in their earliest stages.
Karen “Doc” Halligan.
Veterinarian and author Karen “Doc” Halligan, who currently serves as the director of veterinary services for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles (spcaLA), shares the six most common signs of illness to look out for in dogs and cats:
1. Halitosis – Bad breath, or halitosis, is a sign of ill health. Bad breath in dogs and cats is most commonly a symptom of dental disorders like periodontal disease, gingivitis, plaque buildup, abscesses, sores, tumors and ulcers of the mouth. But there are other diseases that can cause bad breath, including skin disease around the mouth, tumors or foreign objects stuck in the mouth, as well as diabetes, autoimmune disease and kidney disease. It is imperative to investigate the cause of your pet’s halitosis rather than assuming it’s natural for them to have bad breath. because it’s not. If your pet has halitosis, you need to take them in for a dental exam right away. If the cause is dental disease, once treated you can prevent the recurrence of bad breath in your pet with daily brushing and yearly professional dental cleanings.
2. Ear Infections – since dogs and cats have much longer ear canals than people do, infections usually start way down at the eardrum and work their way upward. so by the time you actually see debris, the infection has most likely been there a while. they are susceptible to ear infections because of their long, L-shaped canals; some dogs have wax-trapping hair lining the canals as well. and dogs that have moisture-sealing earflaps provide the perfect swamp-like environment for bugs to thrive. Check out your pet’s ears. they should have very little odor or discharge, but a small amount of wax is normal. If you see debris, redness, hair loss, crusting or your pet seems to be in pain when its ears are touched, it could be a sign of an ear infection, which means a trip to the vet for ear medication and antibiotics. to prevent infections, pet owners can learn from their vet how to properly and regularly clean their animal’s ear canals.
3. Vomiting and Diarrhea – More than 60 percent of all vet bills and vet visits for vomiting or diarrhea are due to illnesses resulting from what a pet ate. This ranges from bones to burgers, pizza, chocolate, avocados and double-doubles. I recommend twice daily feedings of a high-quality diet in your pets life stage of either pediatric, adult or senior. Feed a measured amount of 50% dry and 50% wet food and no table scraps. Don’t vary your pets diet. Stick with one brand that your pet likes in their life stage and make sure fresh clean water is always available. Cats also suffer from hair balls, which can be prevented by daily brushing, feeding a highly digestible diet and weekly doses of petroleum jelly help push the hair through the intestinal tract.
4. Skin Irritations – The skin is the largest organ of the body and is also the first line of defense against disease. your cat or dog’s coat should be sleek and glossy with no fleas or flea dirt. Flea Allergy Dermatitis, or FAD, is the most common allergic pet skin disease. Animals that have flea allergy can develop a severe allergic reaction to a protein in the saliva of certain fleas that is left behind from fleabites. This condition causes severe itching and a rash. in dogs, it leads to hair loss and infection, usually on the rear legs or at the base of the tail. Cats get scabs around the head, neck and body. to prevent this, use a high quality flea and tick product monthly on all pets in the household.
5. Obesity – About 65% of American adults are overweight or obese, and studies show that more than 40% of dogs and cats are overweight or obese too. If you consume more calories than you burn, you’ll gain weight, and this goes for our pets as well. Feed them a balanced, nutritionally complete diet, and tailor it to your pet’s lifestyle. always measure the amount of food you feed your pets and never feed table scraps of any kind. they add calories and will unbalance your pet’s diet. Give dog or cat treats sparingly and incorporate these extra calories into your pet’s total daily allotment. Treats should account for less than 10% of total calories.
6. Inappropriate Urination – Kidney disease is common in older cats, and both cats and dogs can lose up to 75% of kidney function before clinical signs will develop. Blood work can detect early changes in kidney enzymes and allow management of this disease before it becomes life-threatening. Symptoms in dogs and cats include increased thirst or urination, weight loss, listlessness, nausea, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, foul-smelling breath, poor appetite and lethargy. Cats may also vocalize and urinate outside of their litter box. About 25% of cats with chronic kidney disease will develop high blood pressure. It’s not uncommon for these cats and dogs to have a long history of excessive water consumption. Treatment of kidney disease depends on the degree of damage, but can be successful. Prevention includes yearly exams for early detection and providing plenty of fresh drinking water.
Posted By: Amelia Glynn (Email, Facebook) | July 13 2011 at 04:19 PM