IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING A DOG IT IS WISE FOR YOU TO TAKE IT TO THE VETS FOR HEATH CHECK SO THAT NO PROBLEMS GO UNDETECTED FROM THS OUTSET. HOWEVER, EVEN HEALTHY DOGS CAN BE AFFECTED BY ILLNESS AND ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETAIL ALL THE THINGS  WHICH MAY BEFALL YOUR DOG, HERE IS A FEW COMMON AILMENTS.

 

DIARRHOEA

OFTEN CAUSED BY A CHANGE OF DIET OR A SLIGHT CHILL, DIARRHOEA CAN USUALLY BE RECTIFIED BY STARVING A DOG FOR 24 HOURS, ALLOWING THE STOMACH TO EMPTY AND SETTLE, FRESH WATER MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE FEED A LIGHT DIET FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS IF THERE IS BLOOD IN THE DIARRHOEA OR IT IS COUPLED WITH VOMITING OR OTHER SYMPTOMS VETERINARY ADVICE MUST BE SOUGHT AT ONCE.

 

EAR INFECTIONS

BUILD-UP OF WAX AND EAR MITES CAN GIVE RISE TO CANKER,  A DOG MAY SCRATCH AT THE EAR, SHAKE THE HEAD OR HOLD IT ON ONE SIDE AND OFTEN THERE IS A FOUL-SMELLING DISCHARGE SPECIAL EAR DROPS WILL USUALLY RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT HOT RED EARS NEED IMMEDIATE  VETS ATTENTION.

 

CONSTIPATION

USUALLY CAUSED BY DIET, CONSTIPATION CAN FREQUENTLY BE RECTIFIED BY ALTERING THE FEEDING PROGRAMME, OFFER SOAKED BISCUITS RATHER THEN TOTALLY DRY FOOD AND ALSO LIGHTLY COOKED GREEN VEGS.  A TEASPOONFUL OF OIL CAN ALSO HELP TO CLEAR OUT ANY BLOCKAGE.

 

DANDRUFF

 THIS MAY INDICATE THAT MORE FAT IS NEEDED IN THE DIET, TRY ADDING A LITTLE VEGETABLE OIL TO EACH MEAL OR GIVE CANINE OIL CAPSULES.

 

HAY FEVER

  DOGS CAN HAVE AN ALLERGY TO POLLENS JUST AD HUMANS DO AND THIS IS DISPLAYED BY EXCESSIVE WATERING OF THE EYES AND SNEEZING DUE TO INFLAMMATION OF THE MUCOUS MEMBRANES WITHIN THE NOSE. FINDING THE BEST FROM OF RELIEF IS RARELY EASY BUT A VET OR HOMEOPATH OFTEN BY TRIAL AND ERROR CAN DISCOVER SOME WAY OF EASING THE PROBLEM.

 

HEAT-STROKE

A DOG SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO SHADE AND MUST NEVER BE LEFT IN A CAR ESPECIALLY IN WARM OR HOT WEATHER EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN, HEAT BUILDS UP EXCEPTIONALLY QUICKLY AND DEATH SOON RESULTS AS BODY TEMPERATURE RISE  SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STROKE INCLUDE  VOMITING,  DIARRHOEA  AND COLLAPSE  TO REDUCE BODY TEMPERATURE SUBMERGE THE DOG  UP TO NECK IN COOL WATER IF WATER IS RESTRICTED POUR OVER WHATEVER IS AVILABLE EMERGENCY VETS HELP MUST BE SOUGHT.

 

BLEEDING

SMALL CUTS USUALLY STOP BLEEDING AFTER A FEW MINUTES  IMMEDIATE PROFESSIONAL HELP IS NEEDED IF BLEEDING CONTINUES OR PUMPS OUT FROM AN ARTERY.  IN A EMERGENCY MAKE A COMPRESS FROM CLEAN MATERIAL SOAKED IN COLD WATER, APPLIED WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE TO ARREST THE BLEEDING.

 

GRASS SEEDS

THERE CAN PENETRATE ANY PART OF A DOG THEIR LONG BARBS CAUSING THEM TO MOVE FURTHER IN TO THE COAT THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN IRRITATION INFECTION OR ABSCESS  AND SHOULD REMOVED OF THE SEED BY A VETIS OFTEN IS NECESSARY.