South Bellmore Veterinary Group Review: How to Tell if your Pet is Sick

Much like humans, pets have their own set of health concerns you need to pay attention to. As a pet owner, keep in mind that you are responsible for giving him a healthy life. To help him have a long and happy life, visit your veterinarian regularly and watch out for the following health symptoms:

Presence of worms and parasites

Generally, there are five types of worms that your pet can get: heartworms, hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms and whipworms.

Common symptoms:

•             Diarrhea

•             Vomiting

•             Lack of energy

•             Potbellied appearance

•             Change of appetite

•             Loss of weight

•             Visible worm in your pet’s stool

Treatment: Bring your pet to a veterinarian for examination. The cure and medication for these conditions vary depending on what type of parasite corrupted your pet’s body.

Dental disease

Common symptoms:

•             Bad breath (halitosis)

•             Inflamed and bleeding gums

•             Irritability and drooling

•             Difficulty chewing or eating

•             Sensitivity around the mouth

•             Loose or missing teeth

Treatment: Dental diseases can be avoided if you practice proper oral care on your pet at home. Regularly brush his teeth to keep plague from accumulating on your pet’s teeth. Visit your vet for regular dental cleaning to keep your pet’s mouth healthy too.

Skin problems caused by external parasites

Some external parasites that can cause discomfort and serious skin problems are fleas, ticks and ear mites.

Common symptoms of having this creepy crawlies on your pet’s skin are:

•             Itchiness, including scratching, licking, rubbing and persistent shaking of head

•             Rashes

•             Sores

•             Hair loss

•             Thinning coat and bumps

•             Visible ticks, fleas and mites

Treatment: The treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Treatment includes prescribing a shampoo or medical products; there are instances where it is necessary to shave the dog completely as part of the treatment.

Vomiting and diarrhea

Vomiting alone or diarrhea alone with no signs of loss appetite, lack of energy and blood on the stool then it might be an effect of a bad food that your pet ate. However, if it became persistent for more than a day or two with all these signs and gets worst, bring him to a vet for an examination because it may indicate an underlying health issue.

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition most commonly occurs in middle-aged pets. In general, diabetes cannot be cured, however, it can be treated and controlled by taking medication and establishing a healthy lifestyle for your pet.

Symptoms of this lifelong condition are:

•             Excessive thirst

•             Increase urination

•             Change in appetite along with weight loss

•             Urinary tract infections

•             Lethargy and breathing abnormalities

•             Cataract formation

Treatment: Since diabetes mellitus is incurable, sticking to a diet plan with proper exercise and insulin therapy is recommended to control the progression of diabetes in your pet.

In South Bellmore Veterinary Group, complicated and uncomplicated diabetes mellitus are one of the most common diseases they diagnose and treat in their facility. And in order to provide the best possible medical care for your pet’s chronic condition, we routinely consult advice and recommendations from Dr. Pat Hopper, a board-certified internist and a pioneer in veterinary ultrasound and internal medicine.

Bringing your pet to an animal hospital for regular check-ups and examination are one of the best ways to make sure that he is perfectly healthy and in good shape. Keep in mind that it is better to prevent and treat illness early than dealing with it when it already occurs. If you are looking for a veterinary clinic who can give high-quality health care to your pet without any complaints, visit South Bellmore Veterinary Group.