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Dog Diseases

Let's face it. Sometimes Sammy gets sick and sneezes. As a matter of fact, Arnie has dog Asthma, April has dog Arthritis, and Duke has dog Diabetes. As dog owners, we can do everything in our power to ensure a happy life for our pets, but dog diseases come regardless of our every effort.

The day might come when, during a routine veterinary check up, you learn that your best four-legged friend is exhibiting some early stages of dog diabetes or even cancer. Rely on your vet for sound information and make a comprehensive treatment plan with someone who can actually look at and examine your dog. The same is true with many of the following dog diseases. It is important to always discuss all issues pertaining to your dog’s health with your regular and/or holistic veterinarian (click here to find a vet near you). However, if you have come here to find sound information on common dog diseases and good rules of thumb for symptom relief, then you are in luck! Once again, Lucky Dog Health is here with more free, unbiased information that can help you get Fido back on his feet! Just browse the headings below alphabetically for ideas for treating the symptoms of the most common dog ailments (see Prevention Magazine’s The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Dogs and Cats and Pet Care in the New Century, by Amy Shojai for more information).

Quick Dog Disease Links:

Dog Allergies

Dog Arthritis

Dog Asthma

Dog Cancer

Dog Constipation

Dog Dandruff & Dog Eczema

Dog Diabetes

Dog Allergies

When humans get allergies, our symptoms usually include red, watery eyes, runny noses, and explosive sneezing. On the contrary, when dogs experience allergies, their most common reaction is an itchy body. So, while your dog may sneeze now and again as a part of his allergic reaction, the most important thing to keep your eye out for is an increase in the amount of his itching. The most common allergy that dogs experience is hay fever. Focus on relieving his symptoms for his own comfort while protecting him from exposure to his allergens during the spring.

How to Relieve Dog Allergy Symptoms:

• See a Vet - sometimes a dog’s excessive scratching can cause hair loss, skin damage, and even infection. When this is the case, see your veterinarian and ask if receiving allergy shots is something you should consider for your dog.
• Antihistamines – ask your vet if you should consider administering antihistamines, like Benadryl. Dosage is 1-3mg. per lb. so, if you have a 20 lb. dog, mix 20-60 mg. in with his food to stave off itchiness.
• Supplements – find fatty acid supplements at your vet or at your local pet store. These work to alleviate many skin conditions on 20% of dogs. Open the capsule and squeeze the liquid into his food to see if it will help yours!
• Sooth His Feet – draw a cool bath only a few inches high and add a few tbsp of Epsom salts. Soak itchy feet for 5-10 minutes, making sure not to let your dog drink the salty water.
• Cool Water Soak – fill a bath tub with cool water and add a packet of soothing colloidal oatmeal (try Aveeno brand). A 10 minute oatmeal soak will sooth even the worst of itching, and there is no need to rinse when you are done. Just dry him off and let him go.
• Go Dust-Free – with cat-litter, that is. Often, dogs who share quarters with their feline friends can react to the dust from cat litter. Look for dust-free varieties at your local pet store.
• Stay Inside – in the spring, when hay fever is at its peek, keep him inside as much as possible, especially in the early morning and evening, when pollen levels are at their highest.
• Find an Echo – carpeted, upholstered rooms are storehouses for dust, pollen, and other allergens. Keeping your allergic dog in a clean room with mostly hard surfaces will help.

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Dog Arthritis

The vast majority of dog arthritis sufferers have what is called "degenerative joint disease". As dogs age, misaligned or malformed bones, unstable tendons, and damages from injury cause the cartilage (and eventually, bones) at their joints to rub against one another. Eventually, waste products get stuck in the joint areas, causing pain, inflammation, and restricted movement. The most common areas affected by dog arthritis are the hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow.

How to Relieve Dog Arthritis Symptoms:

• See a Vet – with your veterinarian’s blessing, anti-inflammatory drugs like buffered aspirin or cortisone can be very helpful. Give ¼ of a 325 mg. pill per 10 lbs. of your dog twice daily. Crush it in his food dish and he’ll lick it right up!
• Weight Loss – this reduces the stress on his joints. For tips on healthy feeding, see our Dog Nutrition page.
• Exercise – stick with low-impact exercise like walking or swimming to get those joints moving. This will help clear the joints of inflammation. If he is more lame the next day, you know you have pushed him too far.
• Rest – keep him from jumping up and down and watch him around the stairs. Install a ramp or be willing to carry him up and down the stairs. Starting this early will do wonders in keeping arthritis from worsening.
• Warmth – cold stiffens joints, so make sure he spends his days and nights in a heated area. Consider having him don a coat or sweater in the winter months.
• Comfort – if he currently sleeps on a hard surface, invest in a comfortable dog bed or make one out of old blankets and towels.
• Warm Compress – using a water bottle or a soaked and rung-out towel as a warm compress over sore areas can bring much relief. Remember to use warm, not hot, water and leave on for 15 minutes.
• Raise his Food – invest in a pet bowl stand or simply serve his food on a box or stool so he won’t have to stoop his neck to reach his food.
• Acupressure – learn how massage can work wonders for your dog. See our comprehensive Acupressure section to learn how to do it yourself, or learn about veterinary acupuncture from a licensed professional.

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Dog Asthma

While there is nothing you can do to change the condition of asthma in your pet, there is much you can do to create a living environment that will relieve many of his symptoms and help him function normally.

How to Relieve Dog Asthma Symptoms:

• Weight Loss – while maintaining a healthy weight is important for all dogs, it is especially important for those with dog asthma. If your dog is overweight, weight loss will decrease asthma symptoms noticeably. For tips on healthy feeding, see our Dog Nutrition page.
• Keep Him Inside - many asthma symptoms in pets are linked to simple hay fever. Pay attention to your dog’s symptoms during hay fever season and consider keeping him inside during those months (this is especially important in the early morning and at night).
• Time to Quit – the concentration of second hand smoke at the floor level affects our furry friends much more than it does us. Consider quitting, or at least take breaks outside to keep the inside of the house clear of irritating second hand smoke.
• Keep Clean – vacuum up dust mites that live in mattresses, furniture, pillows, and other absorbent materials around the house at least twice a month. Asthmatic animals react to dust, so maintaining clean surroundings is important. You might consider using milder cleaning products (like vinegar and baking soda).
• Go Dust-Free – with cat-litter, that is. Often, dogs who share quarters with their feline friends can react to the dust from cat litter. Look for dust-free varieties at your local pet store.
• Humidify – use a humidifier or vaporizer while he sleeps to raise the humidity 30-40%. The added humidity will keep dry air from irritating his airways. Note that raising the humidity above 40% will attract dust mites and mold, so keep it below that.
• Acupressure – learn how massage can work wonders for your dog. See our comprehensive Acupressure section to learn how to do it yourself, or learn about veterinary acupuncture from a licensed professional.

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Dog Cancer

Like with humans, dog cancer can come in many varieties and can be detected at many stages. The earlier cancer is detected by a veterinarian, the more treatment options are available and the better the chances of remission. Cancer is like a parasite in that it replaces healthy tissues with abnormal growth. These growths turn into tumors which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors are most often not removed from dogs when they are found but malignant tumors are life threatening. If left alone, they will metastasize (or spread), spreading the cancer throughout the body.

There is very little you can do at home to fight cancer in your pet. If the cancer is detected before it metastasizes, surgery can remove the entire tumor. Often, radiation is prescribed along with surgery to ensure that all malignant cells were removed. Conventional beam radiation shoots intense X-Rays directly at the cancer, killing both malignant and healthy cells. The final treatment for cancer is chemotherapy. It is used once the cancer has spread throughout the body. Cytotoxic or cell-poisoning drugs are administered intravenously to kill the malignant cells. Thankfully, chemotherapy side effects are very minor in dogs. Your veterinarian will determine which treatment options are right for you.

Diet Ideas That Can Help Aid Cancer Treatment at Home:
Dog cancer causes nutritional deficiencies that can leave your dog malnourished and underweight even when he is eating enough food. Some have theorized that eating foods that fuel your body’s regular processes while abstaining from foods that fuel tumor growth can play an important role in fighting off cancer.

• Go Carb Free – tumors take in the glucose normally used in regular body processes and use it to grow the cancer. Simple carbohydrates turn into glucose as they are absorbed into the body, so cutting out all simple carbohydrates from your dog’s diet might stunt the growth of any cancer that is currently growing.
• Increase Fatty Acids – while simple carbohydrates are used by tumors to grow, fats can be virtually indigestible to them even while fats do a fine job of feeding the body. Try feeding your dog a diet high in fat, specifically focusing on Omega 3 fatty acids (like those found in fish, flax, and eggs) and polyunsaturated fats such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

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Dog Constipation

Constipation can be as debilitating for animals as it is for humans and, thankfully, intermittent bouts of it can be treated without the help of a veterinarian. Pay attention to your dog’s bowel movements and notice when it has been longer than normal since he would have normally moved his bowels. If he has been straining with little success for a whole day, it is time to try one or more of the treatment options below. Do note, however, that dog owners often mistake diarrhea for constipation when they see their dog straining over and over again with no success. When a dog has had diarrhea, he will often continue to strain as though constipated when, in fact, he has already completely cleared his bowels. Be sure you know which you are dealing with before proceeding with the following treatments.

How to Clear Up Dog Constipation:

• Increase Water Availability – make sure that there are plentiful opportunities for your dog to drink fresh, clean water. Water is necessary for functioning digestive systems as it ushers waste products out of the body.
• Increase Potty Time – some dogs take longer than others to become comfortable enough to defecate. Make sure that yours has plenty of time and opportunity to go throughout the day. The longer he waits to go, the harder and dryer it becomes and the more difficult it will be for him to go.

• Exercise – when your dog gets his body moving, it kick starts his digestive system, loosening stools and inducing defecation. Try taking him for a walk and see if a little movement isn’t all he needs.
• Discontinue Bones – these hard-surfaced, hard-to-digest treats can block his system. Stay away for a while and see if that clears it up.
• Add Fiber – add .5-2 tsp of Psyllium (try Metamucil brand) or oat bran, or 1-3 tsp Grapenuts cereal to his meal twice a day. You can also add 1-2 tbsp of canned pumpkin as a snack. If constipation is a regular struggle for your dog, consider switching to a commercial dog food that contains 7-13% fiber. Remember to increase water consumption as dietary fiber increases by adding water to dry food and providing multiple water bowls in your dog’s environment.

• Try Milk – dairy products can cause diarrhea in dogs. But stool softening is exactly what some constipated pets need! Serve .15-.5 cup twice a day and stop once regularity is attained.
• Mechanical Constipation – this is the term used for constipation caused when the hair around your dog’s anus gets tangled and physically blocks defecation. Keep that area trimmed and clean to keep this from happening to your pet.

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Dog Dandruff & Dog Eczema

Dog dandruff can look much like a severe case of human dandruff. It is usually a byproduct of normal skin formation and shedding; however, it can be indicative of some allergies, parasites, or infections. Eczema is not a common problem among dogs, however many owners complain that their dog suffers from its symptoms. Many times, what people think is "dog eczema" is simply severely dry skin or dandruff. Try the following treatments first then if symptoms persist, take your dog to the vet to diagnose possible causes.

How to Relieve Dog Dandruff & Dog Eczema Symptoms:

• Fatten Up – make sure your dog is getting enough fat in his diet. He should be getting 1tsp–1 tbsp a day depending on his size and if he is not getting enough, it might show in the strength and vitality of his skin and coat. Try supplementing his diet with .5-1 tsp of fish, flax, canola, or olive oil mixed into his food each day. For tips on healthy feeding, see our Dog Nutrition page.
• Check His Food – the poor quality of his commercial pet food could be causing your dog’s dandruff. Some generic dog foods skimp on the array of vitamins and minerals your dog needs and others provide sources of nutrients that can’t be digested by your dog. A good dog food is extremely important for all aspects of dog health. See our Dog Nutrition page for information on picking the right commercial dog food for you.
• Brush Regularly – this is an important part of overall dog health. Regular brushing distributes and stimulates your dog’s natural oils, maintaining natural moisture levels and aiding overall skin health. Once a day is not too often to brush the average dog, especially as shedding increases with higher temperatures.
• Bathe Regularly – use a mild baby shampoo or specially formulated dog shampoo to bathe your dog 1/month in the winter and 2/month in the summer to keep his skin clean and healthy and to wash away extra flakes. Stay away from drying flea shampoos and, during periods of excess dandruff, use a dandruff shampoo for dogs (never use human dandruff shampoo on your dog) that has sulfur or salicylic acid. Lather and let sit 5 minutes before rinsing.
• Colloidal Oatmeal Bath –add a packet of soothing colloidal oatmeal (try Aveeno brand) to his bath. It will take some effort to get it lathered, but it is very moisturizing to dry, flaky skin.
• Lotion Up – rub your own hand lotion into his coat and work it down into his skin. It works for us, and it works for them.
• Oil Spritz – purchase an oil rinse at a specialty pet store near you then spray it onto his skin to supplement his own oil production.

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Dog Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a disorder that suppresses or interferes with the body’s production of insulin, a hormone that helps turn the glucose from the animal’s diet into energy. Diabetes cannot be cured. One in every two hundred dogs will develop diabetes mellitus in his lifetime and most of those will be Type I insulin-dependent diabetics, requiring insulin shots. Like with all serious dog disorders, you should always consult your veterinarian for treatment, specifically in this case as your pet may need to receive multiple daily shots (click here to find a vet in your area). Once you have developed a treatment plan with your veterinarian, you can control it’s symptoms by maintaining healthy levels of insulin to break down the glucose in your dog’s diet.

How to Manage Symptoms of Dog Diabetes:

• Weight Loss – diabetes is much more difficult to control in overweight animals. Like with humans, dogs with diabetes must maintain a healthy weight in order to overcome many of the complications associated with diabetes mellitus. For tips on healthy feeding, see our Dog Nutrition page.
• Exercise – regular exercise will aid in maintaining a healthy weight. With diabetic animals, it is important that exercise is regular and daily so their body’s insulin requirements can stay regular, day-to-day. Instead of a jog every other day, opt for a 20 minute walk every day.
• Snack it Up – feeding Fido three or four smaller meals each day will keep his glucose levels more stable throughout the day. This is important for managing the disorder over time.
• Add Fiber – consider purchasing a commercial dog food with a higher fiber content, adding .5-2 tsp of Psyllium to his meal (try Metamucil brand), or giving him 1-2 tbsp of pumpkin or sweet potatoes. You can also replace meals with whole grains, cooked oat bran, Grapenuts, or Fiber One cereal. Increasing fiber intake slows the digestion of carbohydrates, keeping glucose levels more stable. Remember to increase water consumption as dietary fiber increases.
• Blood Sugar Boosts – when a dog is on insulin shots, there are times when his insulin levels will be too high. In these instances, he will need a quick boost of blood sugar. Keep a bottle of honey or Karo syrup handy and rub a small amount on his gums to get him out of his slump.

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