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Some diseases occur more commonly in one season than in others.
It has a lot to do with the temperature and changing atmosphere.
As the summer heat approaches, here are 5 diseases that you
should look out for in your pet.
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Ear infectionsEar infections can occur all
around the year but is at its peak during the summer. Most are
water borne and since your pet is expected to spend more time
in water, chances are high that he will contract an ear
infection. Water is an excellent growth and transfer medium for
bacterial and yeast infections. Ear canals are suitable places
for them to grow because some amount of water always stays
behind even after cleaning.
-
FleasYour pets hate them and so do you. Summer
is the ideal time for fleas to feast on your pet’s body. The
temperature ensures their growth and the winds make sure they
get carried from one animal to the other. Fleas can cause
life-threatening disease and should be taken care of as soon as
possible.
-
Heat strokeJust like us, our pets are prone to
heat strokes. Never leave them in cars or in places where it
gets too hot. Look for shades and cool places to keep your pet
if you are going to the grocery store or somewhere else. Also,
give them plenty of water to keep their body hydrated.
-
De-hydrationJust like heat strokes dehydration
is also a major problem in pets. It is not exactly a disease
but dehydration can cause death. The only remedy is feeding
plenty of water to your pet. Make sure that the water is clean
and pure.
-
Burned padsWould you walk barefoot on the
pavement in the summer heat? Maybe, if someone paid you hundred
bucks but not otherwise. But no one pays your pet to walk
barefoot. That’s just the way they have always walked. During
summers, it becomes hard for them to walk on areas which get
heated up. Often, they end up getting their paws burned. To
avoid this, use shady or cool areas to walk and avoid the hot
ones. Also, use some protection for your pet’s paws if you can.
Pet diseases are on the high during summers and some of the
common ones are mentioned above. If it becomes an emergency, take
your pet to a vet immediately.
How to Identify Genetic Diseases in Dogs
Our world is constantly developing and bettering itself through
better technology, more knowledge, and new inventions. There have
also been many medical discoveries in the recent years that have
given way to the easy identification of genetic disorders in
dogs. Through many experiments, studies, and lots of research,
scientists and researchers have gleaned more information on what
cause certain diseases in dogs and how you can tell whether your
beloved pet might be in danger.The technique primarily involves
the same genetic codes that all dogs belonging to the same breed
share.
Your dog and his
genetics
For over 15 000 years, humans have been training gray wolves as
pets. That’s how we have the dogs we love and cherish as house
pets now. There are more than 400 dog breeds that exist today.
Most of these breeds have been carefully bred to perfect
particular traits and increased performance in different fields.
Dogs have a very special and different breeding history, which
means that their specific genetic codes have many components in
them making them unique and special. The animals that were
studied were all of the same breed and had very similar genetic
codes. This made getting conclusive results easier.
So how did they identify
genetic disorders in dogs?
A lot of genetic disorders are linked to a dog’s breeding. They
looked at the duplicate copies of genetic codes and the common
genes that the dogs that had a certain disorder possessed.
What are the most common
genetic disorders that dogs have?Hip Dysplasia
The hip is a joint connected through ball-and-socket. The ball is
supposed to fit snugly inside the socket for the hip to function
in a normal manner. If the ball doesn’t fit properly inside the
socket, it could cause pain, arthritis, and other joint problems.
Urinary Bladder Stones
A lot of dogs tend to have urinary tract problems through their
adult life. It has become common for dogs to experience pain and
discomfort due to the stones in their urinary tracts. Your dog
might be suffering from a UTI if he has urinary accidents,
problems with urination, or sometimes even blood in the urine.
Epilepsy
Sadly, more and more dogs are experiencing this genetic disorder
nowadays. If your dog is epileptic, he would experience seizures
that make him fall to the ground, stiffen, and even lose control
of his bowels and bladder.
Heart Disorders
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Dachshund are at a lot
of risk of developing heart disorders like the myxomatous valve
disease. This is a condition that can cause pressure buildup in
the heart’s chambers, leading to coughing, weakness, abdominal
distention, poor appetite, breathing difficulties, an even heart
failure.