Common Animal Ailments and How to Handle Them

If you are preparing to welcome a pet into your family home in the not-so-distant future, you may be wondering how you can protect its health and wellness ahead of time. It can be difficult to get accustomed to becoming a pet owner but by familiarising yourself with a number of common animal ailments and how to handle them, you can find out everything you need to know ahead of time and ensure you are prepared to deal with any pet-related medical accidents or emergencies down the line.

Fleas

 If you are an experienced pet owner, you have more than likely had to contend with fleas at some point or another during your time as a pet owner. They can latch onto your pet with ease and, as a result, are known to infect both cats and dogs. If you are worried at the prospect of your future pet returning home with fleas, however, it may benefit you to know that they are relatively simple and straightforward to eradicate with sprays, shampoos, oral pills, and topical liquids all common treatment methods that have proven to have successful results. If administered at the earliest convenience, you can protect your pet from developing a number of complications including allergic reactions, infections, and anaemia.

Vomiting

If your pet suffers from bouts of vomiting on a regular basis, it may have an underlying medical condition that can be covered with the right pet insurance policy. It can, however, also be triggered by a wide range of causes, such as parasites, infections, food poisoning, heatstroke, pancreatitis, or stomach obstruction, with cats particularly prone to vomiting as a result of accumulating hairballs, developing diabetes, or suffering from a urinary tract disease. If your pet is vomiting alongside drooling or heaving, you must seek emergency veterinary care as soon as possible to prevent the situation from worsening or rapidly deteriorating.

Ear infections

When it comes to the most commonly reported animal ailments in both cats and dogs, ear infections are a frequent complaint. They can be triggered by a number of reasons, including bacteria, germs, yeast, and ear mites. If your furry friend repeatedly shakes or scratches their head, is struggling to retain their balance, or suffers from unusual discharge, odour, or swelling of the ears, they are more than likely suffering from a minor or major ear infection with a top-rated veterinary surgery able to get to the root of the problem, deliver an accurate diagnosis, and administer the correct treatment sooner rather than later.

Worms

Internal parasites can wreak havoc on your pet’s digestive systems and are particularly common amongst cats and dogs. This can include tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms with the quickest and easiest way of diagnosing your pet to examine their faeces on a regular basis. It may also be possible to find out whether your pet is suffering from worms by keeping an eye out for symptoms of diarrhoea and weight loss.

If you are an inexperienced pet owner or are preparing to become a pet owner for the first time, it may benefit you to familiarise yourself with a number of common animal ailments and how to handle them. This can include fleas, vomiting, ear infection, and worms. By knowing exactly what to keep an eye out for and how to administer the correct care upon noticing a number of common symptoms, you can ensure your furry friend is happy and healthy in your care and is always treated to the expert care of a first-class veterinary professional at the earliest convenience if and when necessary.