Your pup’s health is essential, and it should be well managed and maintained to avoid health consequences. So, how can you diagnose what’s wrong with them so you can treat it effectively?
There are a variety of health problems that afflict puppies. Fortunately, the majority are treatable. Remember, it’s essential to consult with a veterinarian if you think your puppy is seriously ill.
If you’re interested in learning more about diagnosing your puppy, but don’t know where to start, don’t worry, this list covers ten of the most common puppy health problems.
Puppy Health Problems: 10 Issues Every Dog Owner Should Know
When caring for puppies, the last thing you want is for them to feel uncomfortable or sick. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for them to succumb to issues.
Keep an eye out for the following signs, as they can indicate that your puppy is sick:
- Runny nose or watery eyes
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
These symptoms can be an indication of a more significant underlying health issue. Continue reading to see if your puppy suffers from the following problems.
Megaesophagus
This health issue commonly refers to an abnormally enlarged esophagus that disrupts your puppy’s digestion when consuming food. Typically, when this happens, the dog ends up regurgitating, causing them to either spit or vomit it out.
Two immediate solutions in treating this ailment are putting them on a solid or liquid diet or receiving medication. However, even when considering these and other solutions for your puppy, it’s essential to seek professional veterinarians’ guidance.
Kennel Cough
Kennel Cough often refers to a rough, honk-like cough due to an affected respiratory system. Another potential side effect of this is that your puppy will tend to hurl every time they cough.
Kennel cough is often the dog equivalent of catching a chest cold or being affected by bronchitis. This is usually caused by polluted air or contaminated areas, resulting in your puppy ingesting that in their system, affecting their windpipe and voice box.
Now, if you want to prevent or treat this ailment, there are various solutions. Several of those include the following:
- Avoid heavily polluted areas that can affect your puppy’s windpipe or voice box.
- Incorporate a humidifier or vaporizer where your puppy sleeps.
Vomiting or Diarrhea
Vomiting or diarrhea can be another form of health problem that your puppy will probably experience. If your sick lab puppies have issues, it’s important to be vigilant. If they are experiencing vomiting, it can be due to severe conditions such as parasites that are required to be checked on by a veterinarian.
However, it can also be minor cases such as dehydration or that they have low blood sugar. Different breeds have different immunities. These symptoms usually don’t require a veterinarian but can see one if they continue for more than a day.
Parvovirus One of the Most Common Puppy Health Problems
Parvovirus typically refers to an illness that untreated dogs cause. There are a variety of ways that your dog can obtain this virus: playing in contaminated, polluted areas, dog-to-dog contact, and more.
It is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young dogs, particularly those who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated.
Key Facts about Parvovirus:
- Symptoms
- Severe vomiting, diarrhea (often bloody), lethargy, loss of appetite, and fever.
- Transmission
- Spread through direct contact with infected dogs or contaminated environments (e.g., feces, surfaces, and even human clothing).
- Risk
- Puppies are especially vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing.
- Prevention
- Vaccination is highly effective and critical in protecting puppies from parvo.
Prompt veterinary care is essential if a puppy shows signs of parvovirus, as it can be life-threatening. If your puppy hasn’t been fully vaccinated, it can be at risk of this virus.
To remedy this, if you know your dog is unvaccinated, try not to take them out in public areas or immediately schedule an appointment to get them vaccinated.
Distemper
As previously mentioned, if your puppy is experiencing diarrhea, it can be a sign of distemper. Distemper is a disease transmitted through wildlife encounters, contaminated areas, and airborne particles.
It is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV), which affects multiple body systems, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.
Key Facts About Distemper:
- Symptoms:
- Early stages: Fever, nasal discharge, eye discharge, coughing, lethargy, and reduced appetite.
- Later stages: Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, twitching, and paralysis due to neurological involvement.
- Transmission
- Spread through direct contact with infected dogs, as well as through airborne exposure (e.g., sneezing, coughing).
- Risk
- Puppies are particularly at risk because their immune systems are still developing.
- Prevention
- Vaccination is the best defense against distemper. Ensuring puppies receive their core vaccines at the appropriate intervals is crucial.
Distemper is often fatal if untreated, and even survivors may suffer long-term neurological damage. Early detection and veterinary care are essential for managing the disease.
Again, this can only happen if your puppy isn’t vaccinated, so scheduling them for a physical examination is essential.
Portosystemic Shunts
Portosystemic Shunts often occur if your puppy is abnormally small for its age. Typically, this is caused by abnormal blood vessels that bypass the liver in the form of a shunt, causing the nutrients and waste products to be incorrectly processed. So, as a result, your puppy can’t get the proper nutrients it needs for energy and body growth.
Some symptoms of Portosystemic Shunts include difficulty with attention span, unresponsiveness, seizures, and more. If this often occurs, you should check with your puppy’s veterinarian to diagnose the issue and see if they need to be on a specialized diet or medication.
Influenza
Influenza is one of the leading causes of health problems, not just for puppies but dogs of all ages. Known primarily as dog flu, it is a physical ailment that typically affects the respiratory system.
It can be mistaken for kennel cough, but the significant difference is that the usual symptoms are lethargy, excessive sneezing, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and trouble breathing.
Fortunately, you can remedy this respiratory disease by seeking professional help in treatment for your puppy. It’s highly advisable to isolate your dog from public areas so as not to infect other dogs. Even when treated, ensure that your dog isn’t displaying severe symptoms before taking them out for walks.
Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks are synonymous in causing various health problems for dogs of all ages. These tiny bugs can carry diseases that can be harmful to your pet.
While they are external parasites and not viral or bacterial diseases, they can cause significant health issues for young dogs.
Key Facts About Fleas:
- Symptoms:
- Intense itching and scratching.
- Red, irritated skin or hair loss.
- Flea dirt (tiny black specks resembling dirt) in the puppy’s coat.
- Health Risks:
- Flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to flea bites).
- Anemia in severe infestations, especially in small puppies.
- Transmission of tapeworms if fleas are ingested.
Key Facts About Ticks:
- Symptoms:
- Visible ticks attached to the skin.
- Irritated skin or redness around the bite area.
- Health Risks:
- Transmission of serious diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis.
- Potential for localized infections or skin irritation from tick bites.
Prevention and Management:
- Prevention: Regular use of veterinarian-recommended flea and tick preventatives (collars, topical treatments, or oral medications).
- Management: Prompt removal of ticks using tweezers or a tick-removal tool. Use flea combs and bathing with flea shampoo for infestations.
Early prevention and control are essential to protect puppies from the discomfort and health complications caused by fleas and ticks.
When cleaning them, frequently check for “black dandruff” and consult your veterinarian for flea and tick prevention treatment. Fleas and ticks can even contribute to your dog not understanding you.
Parasites
Aside from fleas and ticks, other parasites can be affecting your puppy. Some worms can afflict dogs. They are primarily caused by contaminated soil or transmitted by another dog. Several symptoms include excessive vomiting, weight loss, dehydration, lethargy, and more.
Heartworm Disease
This is another variation of parasites that can affect your puppy. It typically takes about six months to have planted throughout their body. It’s recommended to seek professional help and not resort to home remedies.
Wrapping It Up
There are a lot of health problems that can arise in your puppy. But there are numerous health benefits to pet ownership. It is the least you can do to ensure they are happy and healthy in return. Once you know your pet is sick, it is essential to treat any ailment immediately.
