As a pet owner, your worst fear is your furry friend becoming unwell. Even when taking every precaution possible, it can still happen. It should be expected for your pet to be ill at some point, but often, it is easily treatable. These 5 common pet problems are what many pet owners are familiar with. Make note of how to spot signs of these pet problems and when they require veterinary care.
Skin Allergy
When a pet is persistently scratching dry and inflamed skin, they are likely suffering from a skin allergy. This usually occurs due to an oversensitivity to pollen, grass, dust, dust mites, or sometimes particular foods. If left untreated, the pet can end up with bald patches and sore skin. Thankfully, treatment is widely available in the form of parasiticides, antibiotics, antifungals, as well as medicated shampoos, creams, and sprays.
Diarrhea/Vomiting
Just like humans, pets can have diarrhea and/or vomiting for several reasons. Typical causes include an upset stomach due to the food not agreeing with them or containing an allergen, eating too much, a bacterial or viral infection, consuming something toxic, foreign body stuck, worms, or motion sickness. However, diarrhea and vomiting can also be indicative of heatstroke, parvovirus, liver, kidney, and pancreatic problems.
One-off diarrhea/vomiting is not a cause for concern, just keep your pet hydrated and offer lesser amounts of soft, nutritious meals like chicken, fish, and rice before gradually reintroducing their usual food. If your pet is repeatedly experiencing diarrhea and/or vomiting, go straight to the vet for medical attention.
If you are not yet registered to a clinic, you can search the internet for vets in Fort Mill SC, for instance.
Fleas
One of the most frequent pet problems is fleas, but it is also one of the easiest to treat. Mainly affecting dogs and cats, fleas will live in their fur as an ectoparasite, causing intense scratching, scabby, red, and flaky skin, and even hair loss in severe cases that are left unaddressed. Fleas do not go away on their own but continue to reproduce until they need more blood hosts and jump around the owners. Solutions include bathing the pet or brushing the fur with a fine-tooth comb and then dunking the comb in hot, soapy water. There are also flea treatment products on the market that can save time.
Reach out for advice from a professional if you suspect that your pet’s appearance and behavior have changed dramatically since detecting fleas.
Worms
A prevalent yet unexpected problem for pets is worms, which can easily spread and cause a lot of suffering. The parasite is caught from other infected animals, or from eating the larvae/eggs. Worms can often be seen in faeces or vomit and should be wrapped in damp cotton wool so that veterinarians can best advise on a suitable deworming treatment. Other symptoms include a change in weight and appetite, the appearance of the fur and skin, and diarrhea and/or vomiting. To prevent this, regular worm and flea treatments should be given to pets.
Urinary Infection
Bacteria can enter through the urethral opening and cause a urinary infection in pets, recognized by frequent urination, during which pets often whine due to the pain. Pets with weak immune systems are more at risk of such infections, so it is important to ensure essential nutrients are being provided. Urinary infections do not always go away without treatment, so make sure to seek treatment. This is usually given in the form of a simple course of antibiotics.
The 5 most common pet problems are skin allergies, diarrhea and vomiting, fleas, worms, and urinary infections. These are rarely life-threatening so do not be alarmed but seeking medical attention from a veterinarian is recommended whenever the appearance and/or behavior of your pet is unusual and unexplained. They can identify the issue and provide the most suitable treatment. Preventative care can help to prevent these problems, so reach out to your vet to discuss regular checkups or treatments that might be beneficial.