Taking care of your dog during a sickness can be an emotional time. Depending on how ill your dog is, it can often take awhile for complete health to be restored and your dog to be back to their normal self. The length of recovery for any condition will primarily depend on your dog’s age, breed, diet, exercise level, overall health, prior treatment, and how long your dog has been sick. Health problems can appear quickly in dogs and although some illnesses may get better in a few days, it may take up to several months for a more serious chronic illness to resolve.

Three common dog health problems are canine heart disease, canine distemper and parasites. Each of these illnesses can cause severe health problems if not detected and treated properly. Being knowledgeable about these common problems will help you recognize the symptoms early, which makes all the difference in helping your dog live a long, healthy and enjoyable life.

Canine heart disease affects over 3 million dogs. The seriousness of this condition can range from mild to potentially lethal. It is important to have your dog checked yearly for any signs of heart disease, such as weak muscles, valves that don’t close properly or an enlarged heart. In most cases, heart disease can be treated successfully with medication and careful monitoring. Older and smaller dogs are more prone to congestive heart failure due to the deterioration of the mitral value. Some of the symptoms of this condition include water retention, sodium retention by the kidneys, and high blood pressure. Medications such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors are used to treat this condition. Cardiomyopathy is another form of heart disease more commonly found in large dogs. Cardiomyopathy literally means heart muscle disease and this condition can potentially cause ventricular arrhythmias. If your dog developers ventricular arrhythmia his or her heartbeat may become irregular which can possibly lead to cardiac arrest or complete heart failure.

Canine distemper is another very common dog health problem, and one of the most serious. Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the central nervous, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. It is spread by direct contact with body secretions or transmitted through the air, and it is especially dangerous for puppies under 6 month of age. Early distemper symptoms are fever and loss of appetite. As the disease progresses, your dog may start coughing or vomiting, experience diarrhea, have nasal or eye discharge, and possibly even seizures. Distemper is a serious virus that can permanently impair the nervous system or even cause death. Currently, there is no real treatment for distemper except to vaccinate for it right away. If your puppy has not received all of his or her shots and boosters, it is recommended to avoid contact with other dogs.

At some point in their life, most dogs will have to deal with parasites. Parasites can reside externally as well as internally, and are the cause of many different diseases. The most common external parasites are fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks are very common. They are usually fairly easy to treat and prevent with over the counter medication. Signs of fleas include excessive scratching, biting and visible flea dirt. Bathing your dog regularly, using a flea comb and treating with flea powder should keep these bugs away. Canine mange is an external parasite that is caused by mites. The mites are not be visible but you will notice symptoms, such as vigorous scratching, sores and hair loss. If you suspect your dog has mange, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian right away.

Internal parasites can cause more serious problems for your dog. Heartworm is caused by infected mosquitoes. This disease eventually migrates to your dog’s heart and begins to reproduce at a very rapid rate. Heartworm is preventable with medication, but treatment for an infected dog is difficult and not always successful. Other internal parasites include intestinal worms such as roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. These worms are transmitted through feces and can cause intestinal discomfort. Some symptoms of intestinal worms include blood in the feces, dry hair, vomiting and weight loss. Although over the counter medication is available, it is best to make an appointment with your veterinarian first.

Keeping an eye on your dog’s behavior is the key to recognizing the symptoms of any health issues. It is also essential to learn how to prevent and treat any problems before they cause serious damage to your dog’s health. A healthy dog is a happy dog.