Two Health Issues That Effect Dogs As Well

When a dog becomes a member of a human family, the first thing that the family usually does is take the dog to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will immunize the dog against many dog diseases like distemper, adenovirus, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, coronavirus, bordetella, Lyme disease, giardia, and rabies. The vaccinations that the veterinarian gives the dog will prevent many diseases that are fatal to dogs. The veterinarian will also start the dog on heartworm medication after he has given the dog a test to be sure that he doesn't already have
heartworms.

Even though a dog gets all of the recommended vaccinations and is faithfully given his heartworm medication, he can still have health issues that will need to be addressed. We certainly cannot address all possible dog health issues here but we can talk about two of them.

Dogs are susceptible to many of the same health issues to which people are subject ? diabetes and arthritis are only two of many.

Canine Diabetes: Dogs are subject to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes just like humans, and the treatment options are identical. Many older dogs will develop Type 2 diabetes as they get older, particularly if they are obese. Dogs afflicted with canine diabetes must receive regular
insulin shots to help regulate their blood sugar. A very strict high-fiber diet may also be necessary to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Canine Arthritis: Canine arthritis can be attributed to a number of factors such as injury, obesity, genetic predisposition, and poor nutrition. Some of the symptoms of canine arthritis are joint stiffness, difficulty in climbing stairs, whimpering when standing, unusual movements, noticeable swelling in legs, and shying away from petting. Canine arthritis cannot be cured, but your vet can provide medications that will help to relieve pain.

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