There are countless examples of the benefits of pets in a household. Ownership of dogs and cats has been shown to decrease depression, reduce blood pressure and even lead to a longer lifespan. We clearly have a lot of love for our furry friends but we also need to be aware of common health issues that related to them.
Here are 10 of the most common health issues related to cats and dogs:
- Worms
Worms are a common health issue for dogs and cats. These worms can cause a number of problems, including diarrhea and/or vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy. There are several different types of worms that affect dogs and cats, but the most common ones include roundworms and hookworms.
Roundworms are very small in size (about 1/4 inch long) and have a white or yellowish coloration. They live in the intestines of their host animals, where they reproduce quickly. Hookworms are longer in length (1 to 2 inches) than roundworms, but they also have an elongated shape rather than being round like roundworms. Hookworms live in soil or sand; when cats or dogs get near these areas they ingest hookworm larvae through their paws or fur and become infected with hookworm larvae.
If you think that your dog or cat has worms, there are several things that you can do to help them recover from this condition such as giving them medication prescribed by your veterinarian and making sure that they stay hydrated so that they don't get dehydrated due to vomiting or diarrhea caused by worm infections!
- Fleas
Fleas can be a health issue for dogs and cats. They can cause anemia and other medical problems, which is why it's important to keep your pet's flea situation under control.
They are tiny insects that live on the fur of animals and feed off of their blood. They're most active during the warmer months, when they can reproduce at a rapid rate. It's common for people who own pets to notice fleas on them—but it's also possible for humans to get fleas from their pets!
Unfortunately, they can carry diseases like tapeworms, which are parasites that attach themselves to the intestinal tract or liver of dogs or cats. If your pet has fleas, there's a chance they might have tapeworms as well. Tapeworms can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your pet, so it's important to treat them quickly with medication prescribed by your veterinarian.
It's also possible that if you don't treat your pet's flea problem right away, they could develop tapeworm eggs in their fur. These eggs could be spread around your home by walking or lying down on furniture where other people or animals may come into contact with them.
- Allergies
Allergies are a health issue that can affect dogs and cats, as well as humans. The immune system is responsible for producing antibodies to protect the body from foreign invaders. When an antibody reacts too strongly with a substance that it sees as a threat, it can trigger an allergic reaction.
The most common allergens in pets include dust and mold spores, flea saliva, grasses, trees and weeds. Some animals are genetically predisposed to developing allergies to certain things, like pollen or food ingredients.
Allergies can cause sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin irritation in dogs and cats. They can also lead to asthma attacks in both dogs and cats, which can be fatal if not treated quickly enough by your veterinarian.
- Ear infections
It is an infection that affects the ears of animals and can be caused by bacteria or yeast. It can also be caused by trauma, foreign bodies, and other causes. Symptoms include pain, inflammation, redness, discharge, itching, and head tilting. Treatment includes antibiotics or antifungal medications depending on the cause of the infection.
Ear infections in dogs and cats are common conditions that typically affect both dogs and cats alike. The most common causes of ear infections are excessive ear wax buildup (wax impaction), allergies or irritants like grass seeds or dirt particles trapped inside the ear canal (otitis externa), traumatic injuries such as punctures from insect bites or objects falling into the ear canal (otitis interna), bacterial or fungal infections (otitis media).
- Heartworm disease
Heartworm disease is a condition caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, which affects the heart and lungs of dogs and cats. The worms live in the arteries of their host's heart and lungs, where they can cause significant damage if left untreated.
There are two types of heartworm disease: Acute and Chronic. Acute heartworm disease occurs when a pet is bitten by an infected mosquito, which then spreads the larvae from the mosquito's saliva into the body of the animal it bites. The larvae then develop into adult worms within a few months and reproduce quickly; this causes severe symptoms as well as permanent organ damage if left untreated for too long.
Chronic heartworm disease occurs when an animal has been infected with adult worms for many years; these adult worms live inside their host's arteries until they eventually die off naturally or are removed surgically before they can cause serious harm to their host's organs or tissues.
- Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use insulin to move glucose into cells. Blood sugar levels can rise to dangerous levels, which can cause damage to the kidneys, eyes and nerves.
Diabetes in dogs and cats has reached epidemic proportions. In fact, it's estimated that more than one dog out of every 10 and one cat out of every 20 will develop diabetes mellitus during their lifetime. This is a serious health issue for our pets.
Dogs and cats with diabetes have elevated blood glucose levels due to either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or because they produce an insufficient amount of insulin receptors on their cells (or both). Blood glucose levels become elevated because these cells are unable to take up glucose from the bloodstream. The resulting high blood sugar levels result in damage to organs such as the kidneys and eyes as well as problems with nerve function in dogs and cats with diabetes mellitus.
- Seizures (epilepsy)
The most common seizure types are grand mal and petit mal seizures. Grand mal seizures can result in loss of control over the body, while petit mal seizures may cause a dog to lose consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Seizures can also be caused by head injuries, strokes and tumors. Seizures can also cause death if they are not treated immediately by your veterinarian.
In order to treat your cat or dog's epilepsy, you will need to figure out if there is an underlying cause for their seizures before you can decide on a treatment plan.
- Cancer (e.g., lymphoma)
Cancer is a disease that can affect dogs and cats, just as it does humans. One of the most common types of cancer in dogs is lymphoma, which affects their blood cells. Other types of canine cancer include osteosarcoma (bone cancer), hemangiosarcoma (blood vessel cancer), and mast cell tumors.
Cancer can also occur in cats, but it's rare for them to develop lymphomas or hematological cancers. Instead, they are more likely to get oral squamous cell carcinoma or transitional cell carcinoma.
Vets can diagnose cancer by doing a physical exam and asking about your pet's background and medical history. Then they'll perform tests like X-rays, CT scans and blood work to determine whether there are any tumors present in your dog or cat's body.
- Bone fractures (broken bones)
There are many reasons why your pet may suffer from a broken bone. The main cause of broken bones in dogs and cats is trauma. This could be as simple as falling off of the bed, landing awkwardly onto the floor or being hit by a car.
Injuries related to this type of trauma can be very severe because they often involve multiple bones and joints being affected at once. This often results in multiple fractures and joint dislocations that require surgical intervention.
Another reason why pets may suffer from bone fractures is because they have osteoporosis or other degenerative conditions that affect their bones. This could be because of old age, illness such as diabetes mellitus or any other condition that affects their ability to absorb nutrients from food.
- Skin problems
Skin problems in dogs and cats are a very common health issue. Skin problems can be caused by allergies, dry skin, infections and tumors. The most common types of skin problems in dogs and cats are hot spots (infections), scabs, redness, hair loss, bumps and other growths.
Dog hot spots are usually caused by an allergic reaction to fleas or food allergies. Hot spots can also be caused by an insect bite or other irritation of the skin (such as a scratch). When a dog has a hot spot, it becomes inflamed and oozes fluid from the area. This causes redness at first but then turns into a scab when the infection heals over time.
Cats are also susceptible to hot spots but they tend to be more prone to skin cancer than dogs do. Cats have fewer sweat glands than dogs do so they rely more on fur for their cooling needs; this makes it harder for them to regulate heat with their own bodies when they get too warm inside their homes during summer months (when windows are closed).
As you can see, there are many health issues that can affect dogs and cats. Identifying the issue early on is important in order to create a treatment plan or preventative maintenance plan. It's also critical to understand how this will impact your pet's quality of life. Making decisions about your dog or cat's health should always be based on the best interest of the animal.
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