Ear Infections

There is no doubt the summer season is full of environmental allergens, bugs, parasites, mites and whatnot. These are all factors that can increase the risk of your dog getting a bad ear infection. As you take him on a walk on daily basis, you don’t know that kind of bugs and mites that may jump onto his fur or land right in his ear. Look for these symptoms of ear infection:

1. Ear odor
2. Head tilting or head shaking
3. Lack of balance
4. Excess scratching
5. Redness of the ear canal
6. Swelling of the outer ear
7. Yellow, brown, or bloody discharge

Dehydration

Low water content in the body leads to dehydration. However, this problem can also be caused by excessive vomiting, not eating enough food and water, high fever, and diarrhea. Keep in mind that dehydration is not as harmless as it sounds and can prove to be fatal for your dog. Symptoms include:

1. Sunken eyes
2. Decrease in desire to eat food
3. Weight loss
4. Excess urination
5. Weakness
6. A dry mouth

Seasonal allergie

Dogs may be allergic to a variety of seasonal items, such as grass, fleas, and several other plants, during summer. You can tell if your dog is allergic by looking out for the following symptoms:

1. Constant itching
2. Allergic reactions like rashes and redness
3. Shedding coat
4. Excess sneezing

If you notice any of these signs, get in touch with your vet as soon as possible.

Worms

Hookworms, tapeworms, roundworms, and whipworms are pretty common internal parasites in dogs. And even though any worm infection can make your canine uncomfortable, some, such as hookworms, can even prove to be fatal in younger dogs and puppies. If you notice any of these signs, seek medical help for your dog immediately.

1. Weight loss
2. Diarrhea (may be bloody)
3. A change in appetite.
4. A dry, coarse coat
5. Scooting on bottom
6. A general poor appearance
7. Vomiting (particularly true for roundworms)

Visiting your vet is the best thing to do here, but you can also include oral medicine as a follow-up. Don’t try to treat him on your own unless you have comprehensive knowledge about the type of worm infestation in your dog. Remember that a medication that kills tapeworms, for instance, does not kill roundworms.

Fleas

It takes only three weeks for one flea to turn into a massive infestation of 1,000 bugs. Fleas are a pretty common canine problem, but thankfully they are pretty easy to get rid off as well. Symptoms of fleas in your dog include:

1. Hair loss
2. Allergic response resulting from contact (known as allergic dermatitis)
3. Excessive licking, scratching, or biting at the skin
4. Tapeworms (they are usually transferred by fleas)
5. Flea dirt, which looks like tiny black dots on your dog’s skin

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infectious condition, caused by germs. It is usually transferred by drinking lake, ditch, or puddle water infected by urine from other infected wild animals. This might also contract via body tissues and can also affect your dog if he comes into direct or indirect contact with another infected dog or cat. The problem may prove to be fatal if not addressed right away. Symptoms include:

1. Body pain
2. High fever
3. Joint pain, weakness,
4. Vomiting
5. Discharge from eyes and nose
6. Diarrhea