Dog sickneses

 

DIARRHEA

 by Dennis Fisher.

 

This article is one of a great many articles written by Dennis Fisher about a very wide variety of subjects concerning different  dogs, such as obedience training, breeding, showing, health matters, training problems and other subjects.  All these articles appear on Dennis Fisher's websites.   Visit  http://www.allaboutgermanshepherddogs.com the site that has been set up specifically for German Shepherd Dog enthusiasts, or http://www.freedogadvice.com  if you interested in a breed   other than German Shepherd Dogs

 

It is very important to watch the dog’s stool closely, if not every day at least periodically.  The condition of the stool is a very reliable indication of the dog’s general health.  The stools of healthy animals should be firm and not runny.   If the appearance of the runny stool is only occasional there is no cause for concern, but if it persists for a few days then it will be necessary to take action.

The diarrhea may be quite simply a sign of the dog  having eaten  too much, but on the other hand it might be a sign of a more serious condition.

If the stool is liquid and this continues for the entire day, and this is  accompanied by a general feeling of listlessness and the animal refuses any food, then one should not wait until the next day, but take the animal to your Veterinarian immediately.

This does not necessarily mean that all instances of diarrhea are indication of serious health problems, as the situation may be temporary.  If the dog is still anxious to eat, in spite of the diarrhea it is probably a good sign that it is not  a serious condition, but in any even it is probably better not to take a chance and consult a Veterinarian.

EAR INFECTIONS.

Generally speaking, ear infections are not conditions that should be taken lightly.  They can lead, fairly quickly, to quite serious conditions.  Ear infections are usually caused by microorganisms that are to be found in the warm, moist areas of the dog’s ear.

There are several forms of microorganism, the most common being bacteria and yeast.   On occasions the ear infection may be due to both bacteria and  yeast.

Very often, apart from the dog showing signs of  discomfort  by constantly scratching the ear, there is a noticeable discharge from the ear. On occasions the discharge has a very unpleasant odor.

The condition is more common with long ears, and particularly hairy ears, although it is not uncommon with dogs with erect  ears like the German Shepherd.

The dogs ears should be regularly examined and cleaned.  There are special solutions available that make the cleaning of the ear so much easier.  Usually the cleaning can be done with cotton wool and one’s finger.  The cleaning process does not hurt the animal and some dogs  find it a pleasant sensation.

If flushing of the ear is necessary,  you find probably find it more convenient to have this done at the Veterinarians surgery.

There are very effective antibiotics that can used to cure the condition, but because the Veterinarian will usually like to determine which organism it is that is causing the trouble, the wisest course of action  is probably to visit the Veterinarian straight away before attempting home treatment.