7 Most Common Dog Diseases & How To Treat Them

Sometimes, no matter how much we take care of ourselves, we still get sick out of nowhere. The same goes for our pet dogs, but unlike us, they suffer in silence as they are unable to say if something’s wrong. As dog owners, we must be aware of which conditions, illnesses and diseases are most likely to affect our beloved pets. It’s our responsibility to make sure our pets live a long, happy and healthy life.

To help you out, here’s a list of the 7 most common dog diseases as well as common dog illnesses that you should be mindful of as well as how to treat these to ensure your pet’s good health.

Pets need routine checkups and veterinary care. Pixabay (CC0)

Most Common Dog Diseases and Illnesses

1. Dental Disease – Did you know that oral infections are one of the most common dog diseases? Such concerns usually start after dogs turn three and develop tartar and gingivitis. Symptoms include bad breath, loose teeth and changes in appetite.

There are plenty of treatments available, including teeth cleaning, extractions and even root canal. All of these treatments should be administered by a trusted veterinarian.

2. Ear Infections – If your dog has large, pendulous ears, there’s a higher chance of him getting an ear infection. If you notice your pet scratching or pawing at his ears, shaking his head or even rubbing their ear on the furniture, then it’s time to seek professional treatment.

Start addressing your dog’s ear infection by cleaning his ears and letting them dry. If both ears are infected, then your dog needs to be sedated and let the vet treat it. The vet will be able to identify what type of ear infection your dog has.

3. Skin Infections – While dogs scratch daily, scratching incessantly is a sign that something’s off. Dog skin infections usually come in the form of allergies. If that’s not the case, then bacterial or yeast infections can be the cause. When left untreated, this can lead to hot spots, which are very painful sores.

Depending on the skin infection, your dog may need something as simple as a new shampoo or an antibiotic treatment. To be sure, it’s always best to seek advice from your trusted vet.

4. Obesity – Obesity is quite obvious with most dogs. But if you have a furry dog, run your hands over his ribcage. If you cannot feel his ribs, then your dog’s overweight. You need to put him on a high-quality diet and engage him in regular exercise like walks or running around.

5. Urinary Tract Problems – UTI symptoms include blood in the urine, constant urination, breaking housetraining, crying out while urinating or even obsessively licking the genital area.

In such cases, it’s important to take your dog to a vet immediately to know what kind of UTI he has.

6. Rabies – One of the most common dog diseases, rabies is usually transmitted through direct contact with infected animals. Symptoms include seizures, paralysis, aggression and lack of general coordination.

As rabies can be fatal, you should immediately take your dog to the vet for treatment.

7. Parvovirus – Usually transmitted through exposure to water, feces of contaminated dogs, parvovirus is a fatal disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment is usually intensive and requires intravenous fluids and medications. As it commonly affects unvaccinated puppies, it’s recommended to get shots for your dog as soon as possible.

Online Vet Appointment and Online Vet Consultation

Vetster provides on-demand online vet appointments for pet owners. vetster.com

Routine veterinary checkups are important for your pet but it can be difficult for pet owners to bring their dogs to the clinic due to the current pandemic. Luckily, pet telemedicine is on the rise, which is very useful for pet owners who require advice from a licensed professional.

When it comes to providing a solution for any veterinary situation that doesn’t require emergency care, Vetster and Airvet offer great services and assistance.

How Do They Work?

Airvet is a mobile app that instantly connects you to a trained veterinary professional whenever you need it. airvet.com

Both Vetster and Airvet offer professional, trusted and accessible veterinary care online, 24 hours a day, all days of the week. Helping you avoid unnecessary and expensive trips to the emergency room, both platforms provide virtual care from licensed technicians and veterinarians.

While an online telehealth solution is no substitute for face-to-face consultations with a vet, Vetster and Airvet provide a way to get fast answers to questions about your pet’s diet, behavioral issues and other health concerns.

Simply sign up for their services, provide the necessary information about your dog and get immediate access to Vetster and Airvet’s network of veterinarians that are registered, licensed and certified (RVT, LVT, CVT). Each veterinarian has a list of specialties so you can choose the best one depending on your dog’s health concerns.

Costs and Pricing

The benefits of using a service like Vetster. vetster.com

Vetster’s pricing depends on the type of service that your pet needs. If you want to book an appointment with a licensed veterinarian for medical concerns, prices start at $50. If you want to book an appointment with a vet technician for wellness and training, prices start at $30.

Airvet offers a flat rate of $30 per appointment no matter the concern. They also offer an Airvet Unlimited Subscription for $19.99 per month. This gives you unlimited appointments for an unlimited number of pets. Airvet has also started offering Airvet Unlimited + Wellness for $29.99 a month.

Why Pet Telehealth?

The advantages of using Airvet as your pet telehealth provider. airvet.com

If your pet dog has previously experienced a health concern that left you in a Google rabbit hole trying to learn how you can solve the issue, you should try using pet telehealth services instead.

Not only are these affordable and more efficient, you are also assured of professional advice without needing to leave the comfort of your home.

Click here to learn about Vetster or check out Airvet by clicking here.