Dogs have been man’s best friend for ages. They’ve also been getting sick and have needed our help for as long as anyone can remember. Unfortunately, they can’t tell us what’s wrong when they do get sick. That’s why we have veterinarians! Vets have years of schooling and on the job experience diagnosing and treating all sorts of animals, especially dogs. Here are a few common problems dogs can have and signs that they need to visit a pet clinic in D’Iberville, MS.

Ear infections

A dog’s hearing is one of his or her best assets. Their ears are also incredibly vulnerable to becoming infected in one way or another. Ear infections in dogs are just as painful as they are in humans. They can be caused by things like mites and bacteria, or simple allergies. In either case, your four-legged friend needs to be treated with special medication prescribed by a vet. Symptoms for an ear infection include:

• Head shaking
• A bad odor
• Scratching
• Lack of balance
• Redness
• Swelling
• Discharge

If an ear infection is left untreated for too long, surgery may be required to correct problems caused by scratching and/or head shaking.

Worms

All animals are susceptible to contracting parasites. A variety of types of worms are extremely common in dogs. Tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms are a few of the most common parasites that Fido can catch. Signs of worms include:

• Weight loss
• Change in appetite
• Dry or rough coat
• Diarrhea
• Scooting across the floor
• Vomiting

Some of these symptoms can be caused by a variety of issues. Regardless, they’re nothing to ignore. All parasites make your dog uncomfortable, but some parasites like hookworms can be fatal in puppies and smaller breeds.

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most common problems that affect dogs, particularly if they spend a lot of time outside. While you can treat a flea infestation yourself, it’s easier to take care of by making a quick trip to your pet clinic in D’Iberville, MS. A professional will prescribe powerful medicine to eliminate the problem once and for all. Signs of a flea infestation include:

• Scratching or biting skin
• Hair loss (as a result of scratching or biting)
• Tapeworms (which are carried by fleas)
• Black spots on the skin

Take care of fleas before your dog suffers any longer—and before they take over your home and start biting you, too!

Vomiting

Dogs who are constantly vomiting have some sort of serious health problem. There are many different causes for it, and figuring out the root of the problem is impossible without bringing your pet to an experienced veterinarian. Vomiting can be caused by eating bad food, parasites, kidney failure, heatstroke and even pancreatitis.

Give D’Iberville Veterinary Hospital a call or stop by our pet clinic in D’Iberville, MS if you’ve noticed any of these problems with your dog. Our professionals are also trained to treat problems in a variety of other animals. There’s no issue too big or too small for us to treat!