How to Manage Small Dogs' Health Conditions
Small dogs are popular pets and it’s easy to see why. They’re incredibly cute, can be easy to take care of and don’t require a lot of space. However, owning a small dog also comes with its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to its health. In this article, we explore how to best manage your small dog’s health and give you some tips on dealing with common medical conditions.
What are some of the most common small dog health problems?
Small dogs have different health problems than medium and large dogs. A small dog's organ systems, including its digestive system, heart, lungs, and eyes, all function at a higher rate, which can lead to health problems.
They are simply less physically developed and their immune systems are not as strong. Due to their small size and lightweight, small dogs suffer more injuries than large dogs. Some of the most common small dog health problems include:
Allergies:
One of the most common health problems that small dogs experience are allergies. An allergy is an immune system reaction to something that doesn't ordinarily cause an immune response, such as pollen or pet dander. Symptoms include itchy skin, ear infections, and sinusitis. If you suspect your small dog is suffering from an allergy, he may need allergen-free food and medicine from time to time to prevent his symptoms from becoming too severe.
Ear Infections:
Ear infections are another common health issue for small dogs. Symptoms include head shaking, itching, and red ears, amongst others. They are caused when bacteria and other harmful germs or mites get in the ear. Although a dog’s ear is self-cleaning, it is infrequently cleaned, so bacteria will start to grow and cause an infection.
The first thing you need to do is to clean your dog’s ear. You can do it yourself by using a cotton swab or taking your dog to the vet. If the infection is caused by bacteria, your vet can prescribe some antibiotics.
Heartworm disease:
Heartworm disease is a common problem for dogs of all breeds but can be particularly dangerous for small dogs. Dog heartworm disease is caused by a virus that enters your dog's body through his or her mouth, then travels to your pet's small intestine where it lives. Symptoms include fatigue and difficulty breathing.
If you suspect your small dog might have heartworm disease, you can treat him with the most effective and affordable treatments available. Treatment involves prescribing an antiviral medication, taking regular checkups for liver function tests, and/or treating any other health conditions that may be related to heartworm infection.
Vomiting and Diarrhea:
If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, it may be indicative that he is experiencing an upset stomach. If your dog seems to have a lot of water in his stool, this might be evidence that he's having trouble drinking. Watery stools are often a sign of developing infection such as food poisoning or gastroenteritis.
In most cases, this will merely mean that there is a problem with his stomach and he needs some form of medical attention. If your pup has vomit or diarrhea for more than 12 hours, you may need to see a doctor.
Dental Disease:
Small dogs are also prone to dental disease, particularly bad breath and tooth loss. Dental disease can be one of the most debilitating and life-threatening conditions that a dog can suffer from. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, bad breath and even death.
Symptoms include drooling and a lack of appetite due to pain. It's important to take steps to prevent your small dog from suffering from dental disease by keeping their teeth healthy and clean. A proper diet including fresh fruits and vegetables as well as regular exercise is also essential for overall health in dogs.
Obesity:
Obesity is a serious health problem for small dogs. Small dogs have fewer muscles than large dogs and they tend to have health problems, especially obesity. It can be caused by too much food, not enough exercise, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Symptoms include weight gain and difficulty moving.
Watch for signs and symptoms of obesity, since some maltipoos may grow bigger than expected you’ll want to ensure your dog is truly overweight before making any changes. You may notice your small dog getting heavy or having trouble moving around the house, in which case you can get them some healthy snacks and treats in addition to their regular meals. It is important to monitor your small dog’s diet so they don’t become overweight. This can be done by measuring the amount of food they eat and ensuring that they get enough exercise.
Tips to maintain your small dog’s health:
The best way to maintain the health of a small dog is to establish routines. It means knowing when to feed and walk your dog, when to play with it and when to sleep/rest. This will help in keeping your dog healthy and set up its daily routine. Now there are main areas in small dog health: grooming, medical care, exercise, and nutrition.
Keep vaccinations up to date:
As with regular veterinary check-ups, your small dog also needs regular vaccination appointments to ensure that they’re up-to-date on their shots and preventative medications like monthly heartworm medication. If you live in an area where there is a high prevalence of ticks and Lyme disease, you should also consider vaccinating your small dog against the disease.
Establish a grooming routine;
Grooming is one way of taking care of your small dog’s health. It is very important to keep your dog clean and well-groomed because hygiene is a very big factor in small dog health. If your dog is not clean, then he can develop skin problems. If he is not groomed, he will get tangled up in his hair.
Grooming a small dog is not a hard job. It is the process of keeping a smaller dog in tip top shape. Small dogs have unique grooming needs as compared to bigger ones. Their coats are short and they have delicate skin, so regular grooming is necessary to keep them clean, healthy, and smelling great. Taking care of the dog’s teeth, nails, and ears is important to avoid any health issues. There are a few basic things that you have to keep in mind when you groom your small dog.
Brush daily:
Brushing is not essential for every dog breed, but if you have a smaller breed dog then there are certain benefits of brushing it regularly. Regular brushing can prevent the build-up of tangles and matting in the dog's fur. This is because brushing helps them to remove the dead hair. In the absence of brushing, your pet might experience pain when shedding.
You can brush your dog's fur regularly by tying him to a table and brushing from head to tail. Daily brushing is good for their skin and hair, but make sure you only use a soft brush. Also, trimming their fur can help to keep it healthy.
2. Trim their nails regularly:
Trimming your dog’s nails is not something you should do every once in a while - it's important to do it regularly so that their nails don't grow too long and curl. This could lead to infections and other kinds of injuries. You should trim your dog's nails every three or four weeks.
For small dogs, the safest way to trim the nails is to use a handheld dog nail grinder. You should never use scissors to trim the nails because they are too small and sharp. If you want to trim your dog's nails yourself, you should do it on a soft surface like a towel or blanket, and put some sort of cushioning under the paws to prevent them from hurting them.
3. Routine dental care:
Routine dental care is important, so be sure to brush your dog's teeth daily by using dog-specific toothbrushes and toothpaste. Dogs require a different type of brushing than people do, so it's important to use the right brush for your pet. Dog toothpaste is specifically formulated to clean and protect dog teeth from plaque and bacteria. The vet might also recommend special diets or treatments for dogs that suffer from dental problems such as cavities or bad breath.
Regular veterinary check-ups:
Just like larger dogs, small dogs need regular veterinary examinations to ensure that they’re staying healthy. Sometimes it can be difficult to spot health problems in small dogs on our own and a professional would provide better insight into their health. For example, smaller dogs are more prone to food allergies and skin issues. These problems cannot be identified by the owner, and only a professional veterinarian can spot them.
A visit to the vet regularly can keep your dog safe from many diseases, including heartworm disease, diabetes, and infections. If you haven’t already, it might be a good idea to invest in pet insurance for your small dog so you can be prepared for any possible medical emergencies.
Conclusion:
As with all dogs, small dogs can suffer from a range of common health problems. Some of these are quite usual in all dogs, such as obesity, but some are unique to small dogs. These health conditions can be managed or even cured with small changes to a dog's diet, or other small lifestyle changes. So, the best thing you can do for your small dog is to be aware of common health conditions and make sure that they are getting the treatment they need.