Recognizing and Treating Health Problems that Dogs Share with Their Owners

Dogs are people, too. At least, people treat their dogs as animals. This can mean going overboard like some rich folk who build air conditioned bathrooms specifically for their animals, but it can also mean paying close attention to the pet to detect health problems. Dogs are subject to many of the same health problems that affect owners and some of these problems can be surprising. Educating yourself about how to deal with issues related to the health of your dog before those problems become actual problems can potentially allow to put an end to unnecessary suffering on a variety of levels.

Fainting

Yes, it's true, dogs can faint just like humans. While it is not exactly a common health issue for pet owners, the trauma caused by watching your dog do something you don't expect can make the event much more traumatic for you as well. The causes behind fainting in dogs will lead to your choice of reaction and treatment. The most common reason for a dog to faint is that it is suffering from a heart problem so the first thing you'll want to do is get your animal checked out to make sure this isn't a concern. Dogs can also faint as a result of being more sensitive to the presence and effect of chemical fumes. Get rid of these chemicals to ensure no long term damage occurs. Finally, some dogs can actually faint as part of an epileptic fit or because they are victims of narcolepsy. Consult your vet to determine if your animal is suffering from these serious health issues and devise the most effective means of response.

Dandruff

Dandruff isn't just a human problem . The reason behind a dog developing this problem is most likely dry skin that can be treated by making sure the skin is kept moist. This means regular and perhaps more frequent baths in most cases with the possible addition of a dandruff shampoo to increase your odds of success. Some dogs have thyroid conditions which lead to the symptom of dandruff. In this case, consult your vet for advice on treatment. If the vet gives your dog a pass on thyroid problems and regular baths don't put an end to the problem, it could be a case of a lack of nutrition in their diet. In order to make sure the skin of your dog remains healthy, ensure that the food they eat has enough fat in it. Those fatty acids are effective at maintaining skin health and preventing the dryness that results in dandruff.

Constipation

Let's face it: the digestive system of man and beast is not that far removed. Dogs can experience problems with their bowels just like owners, although these problems are less frequent in the more efficiently constructed digestive system of canines. As with owners who are facing difficulty in the bathroom, a shy bowel in the dog is most likely a result of too little fiber in the diet. This cause of canine constipation is more likely in pets that eat food scraps heavy on the meat than those who dine on commercial dog foods which usually have more than enough fiber. Check your dog's water supply regularly and make sure they have access to liquid since a lack of water can contribute to constipation. Guess what: your dog's pop supply can be affected by a lack of exercise just like yours. If you find you and the dog are both having problems, it's time to start heading out for walks to the park with the addition of a ball or Frisbee in hand.

Snoring

Yeah, okay, you may be able get your dog on "America's Funniest Home Videos" if you shoot video of the animal's snoring problem, but come the night that brief fame won't get you to sleep. Fat dogs are more subject to snoring than skinny dogs just as overweight adults snore more heavily than slender people. An aging dog is more likely to start developing loud snoring than it was during those halcyon years when he's still more like a puppy. Other common cause of problematic snoring among dogs include nasal cavity obstructions related to a buildup of mucus and allergic reaction to anything from furniture material to the shampoo you use to keep them clean and moist. A heavy dog can be put on a more healthy diet to stimulate enough weight loss to reduce the snoring problem while a dog that snores due to allergies needs to be tested in order to pin down the specific cause of the reaction. You may also want to consider giving your dog an over the counter antihistamine, but keep in mind that the effectiveness of this medicine for treating dogs with snoring problems is fairly low.