Life with your dog can be fun and exciting. There are times when this excitement can take a turn in the wrong direction. This is when your dog gets sick. There will be times in your dog's life that he will become ill. It is for this reason that it is important that you are aware of some of the common health problems in dogs. There are the big three that you should be aware of when it comes to taking care of your dog.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is not just a health problem for humans. Dogs can suffer from this health concern as well. Heart disease in a cat can be present at birth or it can acquire through his lifetime. There are two basic types of heart disease that your cat can have. One is where the walls of the arteries thin out. The other happens when the valves to properly close and affect the flow of blood through the heart.

Heart disease in a cat can lead to heart failure. Just like in a person, heart disease can be a precursor to a failure of your dog's heart. This happens when the heart can not keep up with the blood needs of the body. There are few warning signs of heart failure in a dog. It is important to have your dog checked out often by your vet to keep tabs on this health problem.

Heartworm

Heartworm is one of the most well known health problems that a dog may have. Mosquitoes are the culprit that can cause your furry four legged friend to get heartworm. There is a greater risk of getting heartworm for dogs that spend time outdoors. It is not unheard of for an indoor dog to get heartworm.

When it comes to heartworm, the most important word is one of prevention. Treating heartworm in a dog can be very expensive. It is for this reason that vets concentrate on heartworm prevention. There are few different preventatives that are used. Many are oral pills that the dog will take daily or monthly.

Canine Distemper

This is one of those health problems that a dog can get that is often tracked back to being around other dogs. This disease is spread through contact with other dogs' secretions. There are a few symptoms of canine distemper to watch out for. They are pus coming out of the eye, loss of weight, and diarrhea. Distemper is usually prevented through a simple vaccine that your vet can give your dog.

Keeping your dog healthy and around for a long time lays firmly on your shoulders. It is up to you to know when something is wrong with your dog and to seek the proper medical attention that he needs. This is why it is so important for you to be aware of the many common health problems that your dog may face.

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