If you bring a dog into your home, you are responsible for his care. Because a dog obviously cannot communicate when he is feeling badly or is in pain, a dog owner should familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of the most prevalent dog health emergencies. Being educated will allow a dog parent treat the dog at the onset of the problem, rather than to prolong his suffering or cause irreparable damage.
Here is a list of the conditions which most often cause a dog to need medical care.
- Bloat: When suffering from bloat, a dog’s stomach significantly distends with air, food, or fluid. The stomach can then twist upon itself, resulting in gastric dilatation and volvulus, or GDV. Blood flow to vital organs is restricted which can lead to shock and death. Besides the distended belly, symptoms of bloat include unproductive retching or gagging, severe abdominal pain, hunched posture, pale gums and collapse. Bloat can be deadly within hours of the onset of symptoms, so time is of the essence. German shepherds, standard poodles, Great Danes, and Doberman pinschers are more susceptible to this condition.
- Spinal Paralysis: IF you notice a sudden loss of coordination or movement of the hind legs in your pet, get him to a vet immediately to take pressure off the spine. The condition is often caused by a herniated disc in the spine (often called IVDD). Signs of IVDD include the dog expressing pain, arching his back, walking on the tops of the feet rather than the bottoms, “drunk” walking, or complete immobility in the back legs. Dachshunds, beagles and cocker spaniels are most commonly affected by the condition.
- Vomiting and Diarrhea: These two symptoms instigate veterinarian visits more so than any other, but there are literally hundreds of illnesses which could cause them to occur. The most concerning conditions are viral infections. Parvovirus is an intestinal ailment most aggressive in young and unvaccinated dogs, causing severe bloody vomit and diarrhea. Because the virus also curtails the dog’s ability to fight off infection, your dog may seem extremely lethargic. In-patient, intense treatment is needed to prevent these dogs from developing possibly fatal secondary infections. Note: When a dog ingests a foreign object, they often become lodged in the intestine and will cause many of the same symptoms. A trip to the vet is required for either of these dog health emergencies.
- Seizures: Dogs suffer seizures for a wide variety of reasons. If your dog has a single seizure but then seems to return to normal health, call your vet and schedule a visit to the office as soon as possible. If your dog suffers several seizures or has an episode which lasts longer than five minutes, you should treat the situation as a critical emergency. Even if the dog only has a single seizure but doesn’t seem to fully recover, bring him into the vet. Seizures can be caused by epilepsy, brain tumor, low blood sugar, ingestion of poisons or toxins, liver and kidney disease, or head trauma. It is important to note that when in the throes of a seizure, your dog is not in control. You should keep him safely away from any stairs or swimming pools, and keep away from his mouth as he may bite while in seizure.
Your dog’s health and well-being is likely of utmost importance to you. Having a good relationship with your veterinarian and keeping a regular check-up schedule will help your dog to have a healthier life.
Another way to ensure your dog is happy and well-adjusted is to help them to understand the world around them. This means providing them with proper obedience training. At Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training, we help Sarasota and Bradenton dogs to enjoy their best life, by being well-behaved, calm, and self-confident pets.
