Mary Allen
Dogs not only cost a lot of time. They can also be quite expensive for owners. After all, not only puppies but also adult four-legged friends must be regularly examined and vaccinated. But what are the most widespread health problems of furry friends that owners should know about? We have summarized the 7 most common injuries and illnesses in dogs here.
Dogs Mean Costs
First of all, dogs cost a lot of money. However, there is no general answer to the question of veterinary costs. They always depend on the respective state of health of the four-legged friend. But one thing is certain: If an examination or operation is necessary, you do not necessarily have to pay for all the costs yourself.
Fortunately, there is the possibility of taking out comprehensive dog insurance. In the event of an injury or surgery, this covers most of the costs. The perfect dog insurance does not exist, but it is worth comparing several to avoid making a hasty decision:
But which injuries and operations are there for which more or less high costs could be incurred? In the following, we will go into the most common health problems of four-legged friends.
Cruciate ligament tear
The cruciate ligament is a tendon in the dog’s knee. As inconspicuous as this tendon maybe, a devastating cruciate ligament tear occurs more often than you might think. The risk of this injury increases, especially in older dogs. Osteoarthritis can quickly tear the cruciate ligament and suddenly tear if you make a wrong move. The result: the dog suffers from great pain.
Only the vet can help here. He can determine whether the cruciate ligament is just torn or completely torn. If the former is the case, surgery is not always necessary. The strict arrangement of little movement can help the healing process on the jumps. For the four-legged friend, this means no romping and no running.
Cuts & lacerations
Cuts and tears on the paws are also among the most common injuries. The dangerous thing about it: They can occur even while harmlessly walking or romping in nature. If the fur nose namely on z. B. splinters or sharp stones, the paw pad can tear open.
If the cut is deeper, there will be heavy bleeding and the wound will gape more and more. If dirt gets into the open area, a bacterial infection can develop. To avoid the worst, the wound is cleaned, disinfected, closed, and bandaged by the veterinarian.
Swallowed foreign objects
Most dogs have big appetites. When eating hastily, it can often happen that unwelcome foreign bodies are swallowed as well. These include e.g. B. small toys and parts of household and garden utensils. The animal then suffers from abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and apathy. In some cases, it can get fever and shortness of breath.
A visit to the vet is also essential here. During the examination, the dog’s abdominal cavity is scanned for foreign bodies and uncharacteristic physical symptoms. Blood, ultrasound, and X-ray tests are also sometimes carried out in such cases.
Tumors
Dogs are often operated on for a tumor. Skin tumors are the most common. Therefore, as a dog owner, it is very important to check the dog’s skin regularly and to look out for changes. You don’t have to know any special hand movements – just stroking, e.g. B. unusual bumps are well recognized.
Dental problems
After dangerous tumors, various dental problems are the second most common surgery in dogs. The reasons can be different: an inflamed root canal, root and tooth crown injuries, or fallen milk teeth can require an operation.
To recognize dental problems as early as possible and to be able to act accordingly, dog owners must watch their furry friends play and eat from time to time. If the dog suddenly drops its stick or doesn’t look at its food, it can be a warning sign that something is wrong with its teeth.
Torsion of the stomach
A completely unexpected torsion of the stomach can often occur, especially in large dogs. The dog has just romped around happily and the next moment he is crouching on the ground, howling loudly, with a swollen stomach. With the extremely painful gastric torsion, only an operation can put an end to the dog’s torment.
Blood ear
The so-called blood ear is a bruise on the ears of the dog. This is caused, among other things, by quick shaking of the head or fights with other four-legged friends. Small veins in the ear burst, swell, and fill with blood. The vet has to surgically remove them. Breeds with drooping ears are affected by blood ear: e.g. B. Great Danes and Cocker Spaniels.
Conclusion
Anyone who owns a dog knows that the four-legged friend not only needs a lot of attention but also costs a lot of money. Regular vaccinations, examinations, and the occasional operation are associated with more or less high costs. However, the 7 most common injuries and illnesses should not stand in the way of getting a dog. After all, dog insurance can cover most of the veterinary costs.