AVMA reports that in 2020, 38% of dogs were adopted from an animal shelter. If your new dog is not acting normally, it can be scary. The last thing you want to do is take them to a vet who won’t listen to your concerns and diagnoses them with a common ailment requiring no treatment.
There are times when the symptoms of a disease can be vague and confusing, so much so that even a veterinarian might miss an underlying problem. However, if you know what signs to look for when your dog isn’t feeling great, it becomes much easier to identify the cause of his discomfort or illness. This article will cover some uncommon ailments that affect dogs as well as some ways in which you can prevent them.
Collapsing Trachea
Collapsing trachea is a common respiratory disorder that causes the dog’s windpipe to become weak and narrow, making it difficult for your dog to breathe. Many reasons can cause this condition, including obesity, heart disease, or cancer. It’s often found in small-breed dogs with floppy ears or long snouts.
The collapsed trachea symptoms include coughing, gagging or choking noises while breathing, weight loss, and difficulty maintaining an average body temperature. Your vet may notice a weakness in their neck muscles from breathing hard. If you see this happening yourself, consult your vet immediately.
There are several things you can do at home to help alleviate your dog’s symptoms, exercise them daily so they don’t become overweight, avoid stressors such as loud noises, keep their environment warm at all times, give them plenty of fresh water throughout each day, feed them food high in fiber to increase bulkiness within his digestive system which helps prevent blockages within their esophagus.
Cherry Eye
Cherry eye, or prolapsed nictitating membrane (PNM), is a condition in which the third eyelid protrudes from its usual location. The third eyelid often looks pink or red on your dog’s eye surface and appears cherry. While this may seem innocuous, it can cause severe problems for your dog if left untreated for too long. According to RVC, dogs under one year are at greater risk of cherry eye.
Cherry eye affects about 10% of all dogs, but it tends to be more common in certain breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels and Shih Tzus. It is not an infectious disease; however, it can become infected if not treated properly by a veterinarian or other qualified professional with experience treating this condition. You can pick up anti-inflammatory eye drops from PetCareRx after receiving a prescription.
Pyotraumatic Dermatitis (Hot Spots)
Pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spots) is a bacterial skin infection that typically affects dogs and cats, although it can occur in other species. It’s also sometimes called moist dermatitis or miliary dermatitis.
The condition usually starts as an itchy spot on your pet’s back, neck, or head that becomes inflamed and crusty with pus-filled blisters. The infection may spread to surrounding areas if not treated promptly.
Pyotraumatic dermatitis can be challenging to diagnose because symptoms are similar to skin conditions, such as allergies, flea bites, and folliculitis. Your veterinarian will take swabs from your dog’s wounds and send them for testing at a laboratory to determine what type of bacteria is causing the infection.
Chylothorax
Chylothorax is a condition in which lymph fluid leaks into the chest cavity. The lymphatic system carries white blood cells and other immune system components to help fight infections.
If chylothorax is caused by trauma or surgery, it usually develops within three days of the injury or operation. In this case, it’s usually treatable with medication and supportive care. Often you can treat the underlying cause as well to prevent a recurrence.
Chylothorax can also be caused by cancer or infection. It can also happen for no known reason, this type of chylothorax is called idiopathic chylothorax.
Wobbler Syndrome
Wobbler syndrome is a spinal cord disorder that can cause paralysis in one or more limbs. It typically starts as a puppy and progresses over time, with symptoms including pain and stiffness.
The cause of wobbler syndrome is unknown, but it is thought to be genetic, and the disease tends to run in certain dog breeds. Treatment options include surgery, which usually has good results if performed early enough.
However, the condition cannot be cured by medication or other treatments. Be prepared to shell out a hefty amount, as according to PetMD, the total cost of the surgery and post-operative care can range from $5,000 – $10,000.
Look Out For Symptoms in Your Furry Friend
Many different illnesses can affect dogs. Knowing about these is essential so you can take care of your dog in the best way possible. Before taking your pet to a new place, you should check with a veterinarian, so they can recommend any vaccinations or preventative medicines you may need.
Most dogs will get at least one of these illnesses at some point in their lives, and it’s important to spot them as soon as possible. If left untreated for too long, they might recover without help from their owners, but this is not always possible.
Conclusion
In this day and age, dogs are considered a member of the family. Therefore, you must pay close attention to your pets’ health and keep an eye out for any signs of diseases or ailments. Learning more about uncommon dog illnesses can go a long way toward helping you recognize when something is wrong with your canine companion.
