5 Health Conditions That Can Affect Your Dog's Well-being

As dog owners, we want to ensure that our furry companions live long, healthy lives. However, despite our best efforts, our dogs can still fall victim to a variety of health conditions. In this article, we'll explore 5 common health issues that can affect your dog's well-being. By knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions, you'll be better equipped to recognize when your pet may be in need of veterinary care and can take proactive steps to help keep them healthy and happy.

Kidney Disease

The kidneys, the frequently forgotten life-sustaining organs, remove waste from the bloodstream and regulate fluids in the body. If the kidneys are not able to do their job, the result could be life-threatening for your dog.

Kidneys are very important because they remove waste from the blood, and maintain the normal balance of fluid and minerals within the body. Any condition which damages the kidneys is referred to as kidney or renal disease. In some cases, dogs may show early warning signs of kidney disease. However, signs of serious illness only appear after 75% of the kidneys’ function has already been lost. This is the reason why early detection is so important, especially for dogs age 7 or older. A simple blood test and urinalysis are all that is required to detect kidney disease.

The kidneys can be damaged by a wide range of conditions including injury, infection, toxins, and cancer. This damage is usually irreversible. Kidney disease is common in dogs, but with early diagnosis and treatment, progression can be limited and many dogs go on to live happily for years after diagnosis. Factors that can make dogs more prone to kidney disease include the following:

● Age: The chance of developing kidney problems in dogs increases after the age of 7.

● Food: Some dog foods high in phosphorus and dog foods with increased levels of protein can increase the progression of kidney disease.

● Breed: Some dog breeds, including English Cocker Spaniels, Bull Terriers and German Shepherds, are more likely to develop particular types of kidney disease.

● Environment: Some chemicals including certain disinfectants, antifreeze, lead paint, and some human medications can damage the kidneys.

Remember, simple blood testing will catch kidney disease. See your vet regularly to prevent issues.

Diabetes

Diabetes in dogs takes two main forms. The first and most common is canine mellitus, or “sugar diabetes.” As in humans, sugar diabetes in dogs can be of the type 1 or type 2 variety. The other form is diabetes insipidus, commonly called “water diabetes” or “drinking diabetes.” It is a rare disorder, marked by a dog's inability to regulate its water content.

Recognizing the symptoms of diabetes in dogs:

In dogs, sugar diabetes and water diabetes present with different symptoms, most of which are non-specific. This can make recognizing the condition difficult, so be sure to consult a veterinarian if you notice any of these telltale signs.

● Urinary Abnormalities: In dogs, sugar diabetes usually has a slow, gradual onset marked by a steady intensification of symptoms. One of the earliest symptoms is changes in your dog’s urinary habits. Your pet may urinate more often than usual, and it may excrete an unusually large volume of urine when it relieves itself. These urinary abnormalities frequently coincide with a noticeable spike in the amount of water your dog drinks. It is also common that a housebroken pet may also begin to have accidents inside the home. This can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection, so make sure to get your dog tested for both.

● Loss of Weight: You may notice your dog is eating normally, but losing weight. This can be a result of the body's inability to regulate blood sugar. Again, many things can cause this.

● Fur Loss: Water diabetes often causes fur loss, but yet again, many things can.

● Increased Thirst: Again, the main symptom of water diabetes. Just remember, because all of these symptoms have no specificity as to cause, the best thing to do is get regular blood work done at your regularly scheduled checkups.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial illness that can be transmitted to humans, dogs, and other animals by certain species of ticks. It is caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried inside a tick and gets into a dog or person’s bloodstream through a tick bite.

Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria can travel to different parts of the body and cause problems in specific organs or locations, such as joints, as well as overall illness.

A tick can transmit the disease once it has been attached to a dog for 24 to 48 hours. So, check often.

Lyme disease happens in every state, but infection risks vary. Over 95% of cases are from the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and the Pacific coast. In Canada, Lyme-positive dogs are found mostly in southern Ontario and southern Manitoba. A smaller number of cases are reported each year in Southern Quebec and the Maritime Provinces.

The best prevention for Lyme Disease is using a good flea and tick preventative and staying out of tall grass and thick vegetation such as bushes. Ticks get onto their host by waiting at the tips of vegetation. When a dog brushes against a bush, for example, the tick quickly grabs on and then crawls to find a place to bite.

What are the symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs?

● Fever.
● Loss of Appetite.
● Reduced Energy.
● Lameness, which can be shifting, intermittent, and recurring.
● Generalized stiffness, discomfort, or pain that resembles arthritis.
● Swelling of Joints.

Also, if untreated, symptoms can progress to kidney failure, which can be fatal. Serious cardiac and neurological effects can also occur.

The primary carrier of Lyme disease is the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis), also called the “deer tick” or “bear tick.” The tick acquires the Lyme disease bacterium when it feeds on an animal that has been infected, such as a mouse, deer, or other mammal, and then transmits the bacterium to the next animal it feeds on.

Obesity

If your dog is overweight, there are special foods that veterinarians can prescribe. Or you can cut when your dog is eating and take them for a run. Fewer treats, less food, more exercise. If you follow that formula, your dog will lose weight.

One of the biggest problems is that people with overweight dogs often think their dog is fit, strong, and all muscle. This is a German Shepherd-specific page, so let’s get into specifics: German Shepherds are distance runners. They are not Rottweilers. They should be lean, muscle, and sinew. Not hulking or heavy. The max standard weight for large males is 90 lbs. For females, it's 50-75 lbs. If your female is 90 lbs., she's obese. If your male is over about 105 lbs., he's obese.

Obesity can be and often is the root cause of several of the diseases and conditions on this list.

Cancer

Hemangiosarcoma is a common and deadly cancer in dogs. Specifically German Shepherd Dogs. The cancer tends to grow and spread rapidly, rarely giving the owner any clue that their dog is harboring a deadly disease. I have a dear friend who is a vet tech. They had their dog checked at the vet, blood draw, the whole nine yards, and everything came back good. The day after the results came in, the dog's tumor ruptured in the heart and the dog passed immediately. Hemangiosarcoma is sneaky.

Hemangiosarcoma often is found in sites with a rich blood supply. Like the heart and arteries around it and other organs. There is growing evidence that hemangiosarcoma cancer cells originate in the bone marrow but rapidly spread to other locations in the body.

Hemangiosarcoma often is first detected in the heart and spleen, the two most common sites where this type of tumor is found. This predilection for the heart and spleen is the reason these tumors are so deadly. Hemangiosarcoma can suddenly rupture, causing massive blood loss, and forcing owners and veterinarians to make difficult decisions within minutes of diagnosis or even resulting in instant death.

Hemangiosarcoma is a disease of larger breeds and older dogs.

Hemangiosarcoma most commonly affects:

● Middle-aged to older dogs.
● German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Portuguese Water Dogs, and Labrador Retrievers.
● Slightly more males than females seem to get this cancer, but females are still very much at risk from it.

Unfortunately, no symptoms show for hemangiosarcoma. Your first hint that your dog has it is sudden, extreme internal bleeding. But sometimes people have noticed a few other symptoms.

● Intermittent lethargy or fatigue.
● Anorexia.
● Panting.
● Sudden collapse.
● Sudden death ... if you can call that a symptom.

Long-term survival statistics are bleak.

Even when a tumor is quickly detected and removed, the outlook for dogs with hemangiosarcoma is grim. Statistics show that:

The average survival time with surgery alone is one to three months. The average survival time with surgery and chemotherapy is five to seven months. 90% of dogs are deceased one-year post-diagnosis despite surgery and chemotherapy with almost 100% mortality two years post-diagnosis.

In conclusion, while there are many health conditions that can affect our furry companions, being aware of the signs and symptoms of the most common issues can help us catch problems early and get our pets the care they need. Remember to always monitor your dog's behavior and well-being, and never hesitate to seek veterinary care if you notice anything out of the ordinary. By taking a proactive approach to your dog's health, you can help ensure that they live long, happy, and healthy lives by your side.

We hope this information helps your German shepherd feel better fast. As always, please feel free to share with your friends.

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