Pets are like a part of the family, and we want to keep them healthy for as long as possible. While many pet owners have had experience with cat or dog health issues, it’s important to know what types of diseases are common in other types of pets. This will help you prepare and know what steps to take if your pet becomes sick or injured.
Urinary Incontinence
This is a common ailment among pets, affecting dogs and cats. It can happen to animals of any age, but many pets affected are older than ten years old.
If your pet is suffering from urinary incontinence, you’ll notice that they’re urinating in the house or having accidents. Other signs include frequent urination and straining to urinate without producing much urine. Sometimes the only sign of trouble will be dribbling urine after going outside to relieve themselves.
The causes of urinary incontinence can vary depending on the animal’s species; for example, bladder stones are more likely in dogs than cats because their bladders are shaped differently than humans (more like an hourglass). Some other possible causes include bladder cancer, diabetes mellitus (a disease that affects glucose levels in the body), kidney disease, and prostate gland enlargement (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia).
Proin urinary chewable tablets are an FDA-approved treatment option for urinary incontinence that can help control the amount of urine your dog produces. Proin is available over-the-counter and has no extreme side effects. It’s safe for dogs of all ages and works best with other treatments like medication or surgery.
Kidney Disease
Kidney ailments are a common cause of death in older dogs but can also affect younger dogs. The kidneys play a vital role in removing waste products from the body and regulating blood pressure. In kidney disease, the kidneys no longer function properly and cannot perform these tasks effectively. This can result in anemia (low red blood cell count), high blood pressure, fluid retention, and urination problems such as incontinence or difficulty peeing.
If your dog shows any signs of kidney disease—anemia, difficulty urinating, or often peeing while eating—you should see a veterinarian immediately.
Bladder Stones
They can form in any pet, but they’re most common in cats, particularly male cats. They are formed when crystals form in the urine and then stick together to create a stone. If left untreated, these stones can cause serious pain for your cat and even blockage of the bladder.
Bladder stones can be treated with surgery or medication to dissolve them, depending on their size and location within the body. Some pet owners choose not to treat them because it could lead to other health problems like cancer later on down the road (which is why it’s best if you take your pet in to see your vet as soon as possible if you suspect that they have bladder stones).
If you want to prevent this from happening again: increase water intake by giving them more frequent baths or running water through their bowl multiple times throughout the day; reduce salt intake by only cooking with low-sodium ingredients (like fresh vegetables) instead of packaged foods that contain high amounts of sodium chloride preservatives like MSG (monosodium glutamate).
Cushing’s Disease
This is a common endocrine disorder in dogs. The disease is caused by the overproduction of cortisol, leading to other health problems such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure.
Cushing’s disease is usually caused by a benign pituitary gland tumor (located at the base of your pet’s brain). When this happens, your pet’s adrenal glands will produce extra cortisol to compensate for it. However, too much cortisol can damage organs like the liver, pancreas, and heart and cause skin infections and seizures.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can affect dogs, cats, and humans. The bacteria responsible for Lyme disease are carried by deer ticks and dog ticks, which is why it’s such an issue in areas where there are lots of deer or other wild animals.
The symptoms of Lyme disease vary depending on what stage the infection is in. If your pet has just been bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria, it will usually show no symptoms at all—you may not even notice that your dog has been bitten.
If left untreated, however, the bacteria can move from its initial site in your dog’s body to its joints and nervous system, causing severe pain and lameness that can last for years afterward.
Conclusion
Pets can have many of the same health problems humans have, and the solutions to those problems are often similar. If you see your pet acting sickly or strange, it’s important to get them examined by a vet immediately so it can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible.
