Dog owners should know a bit about the various common dog health problems that their pet couild get over the course of their lives. There is an old canine folklore held and believed by people from long ago saying that a cold and wet nose on a dog is a sign of good health. There are no scientific basis for this belief as no one can tell from how wet or how cold a dog’s is has anything to do with hereditary heart problems, parasites, intestinal worms, blindness, deafness and every other health problems that dogs can contract.

Dog owners need to pay NO attention to such thinking that have no basis in science and instead concentrate on the dog’s overall condition which includes routine checks of the eys, teeth, ears, mouth area and skin, being vigilant for anything out of the ordinary that could be a disease symptom. The dog owner should also be responsible to make sure their dog eats well, gets regular checkups and is groomed on a regular basis so that their dog will stay healthy for a long time to come.   

Symptoms of Dog Health Problems

There are several dog health symptoms that signify certain canine health problems and particular diseases. Dog owners need to make sure they are familiar with symptoms of potential dog health problems so they can take quick action and avoid bigger problems later on.

* The dog’s coat should be shiny, soft and full. With wiry coated dogs, like Australian terriers, you need to be sure that the coat is springy and has thick strands of fur. Types of dogs that have double coats need to show zero indication of thinning in the undercoats.

* Redness, sores, scabs, scales, flakes, lumps and growths on the dog’s skin can be signs of health problems. Its importatn that both your dog’s fur and skin remain free of parasites – little organisms like fleas or ticks or mites. An overabundance of scartching or biting of their own skin could mean your dog is infested with parasites like mange mites.

* Just like people, if your dog’s eyes are bright and shiny, this is a good healthy sign. Dogs have a certain area around the outside of the eyeball that should be pinkish to indicate good health. This spot is called the conjunctiva and a pale color may mean some health problems. Its important that there be no abnormal discharges from the eyes, especially no greenish or yellow fluids.

* A foul smell or bloody discharge from your dog’s ears means something is not right with your dog’s health. Your dog’s ears need to be kept clean and free of signs of parasites.

* Gums that have a healthy pink color which may contain some black pigmentation is a sign of good health. Pale gums might mean your dog has a problem with anemia. Reddish gums that leak droplets of blood can often be signals that there is something amiss peridontally and this combined with a rank breath odor can spell trouble with a hidden health problem.

* Going back to the age-old belief on the dog’s nose, a healthy dog normally has a cold and wet nose but this should be caused only by clear and watery discharges that are common in dogs. If your dog has a bad smeling discharge coming from the nose, this could be trouble and you need to get your dog examined. Discharges like this in puppies could spell signs of distemper and may be fatal if not cared for immediately.

A few of the other factors to indicate good dog health are weight, body temperature and the appearance of urine and feces. The important thing here is to know and understand these signs and symptoms of health problems so that the moment you notice something abnormal, you can immediately take action.