Guest blog post: What To Know About Your Dog’s Organs

Leo Wilson from Cyber Pet writes for us...

Like humans, dogs can suffer from a variety of health problems ranging from intestinal parasites, skin disease and ear infections, eye problems, digestive upset, and dental disease.

Every organ in your dog’s body works to keep them healthy and happy. Knowing a little bit about your dog’s organs and how they function can help you spot those problems. Keep reading the article!

1. Eyes

If you thought your canine was only seeing in shades of gray, black, and white – you're mistaken! While dogs have fewer cones than humans, their eyes contain almost triple the rods – meaning that they have an incredibly keen eye for motion and can see much better in low light than humans can.

Dog eyes are prone to various ailments and injuries. Common eye problems in dogs are cataracts, injuries, conjunctivitis, and eyelid deformities.

To avoid some of these dog eye problems, special care should be taken to keep the hair around the eyes short, it will protect your dog from pokes and scratches from wayward hair.

While eye problems in dogs are prevalent in our precious pooches, the good news is that treatment is not only always effective – but affordable too!

2. Mouth

A dog’s mouth is much more than a woofer for various vocalizations — it’s actually a barometer of his overall well-being.

Dog mouth problems are surprisingly common and can be caused by anything from abrasions, infection, or chewing on inappropriate items, to a genetic predisposition for oral cancer.

Chewing is not bad. It is a normal and necessary activity for a dog. It only becomes a problem when your dog chews things you don't want him to chew.

When you are away from home or are too busy to watch your dog, confine him in a place where he can't get into trouble. For some dogs, this can be a small room. For many, this means his own crate. When confined, your dog will be safe and will not be able to get into anything he shouldn't.

3. Stomach

Stomach problems are very common in dogs. Most dogs will have some type of stomach upset in their lifetime, perhaps even frequently. However, if an upset stomach persists, especially with vomiting and diarrhea, it can be a major problem.

Stomach problems in pets could be a result of many factors. If you notice your dog is having signs of stomach upsets, always ask your vet for proper advice before giving medications to your dog as not to worsen the condition.

While all dogs have more sensitive stomachs than humans and can experience digestive upsets, these types of problems are most common to deep-chested breeds as well as shepherds, collies, and golden retrievers.

Taking good care of your pet means feeding it the right type of food as well as taking precautionary measures. If you’re owning a large, deep-chested dog it’s necessary to give him a large breed diet to prevent stomach issues.

4. Kidney

Much like the liver, the kidney is prone to damage from toxins and medications. This kind of damage can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure in dogs. Kidney disease is classified in two ways; acute and chronic.

Antifreeze is one of the most common toxins that causes kidney failure in dogs.

When the kidneys are no longer able to filter out toxins from your dog’s bloodstream, the kidneys go into failure. It means the kidneys have stopped working altogether.

Can kidney disease in dogs be prevented?

A balanced nutrition for seniors will supply your pet with the fundamental nutrients needed for their body, which will give your dog the best chance of staying healthy.

Always take them to your vet for an annual health check to ensure any signs of disease can be spotted as soon as possible.

Want to discover more information? Take a look at this infographic 15 Interesting Facts About Your Dog’s Organs from CyberPet to get more details.