The 3 Most Common Pet Health Problems

Pet health problems exist in virtually every animal. It's guaranteed that your pet will have some sort of health problem over the course of his lifetime. Knowing about the most common health problems for your pet is a good way of preparing yourself to best be able to deal with these problems if and when they do come up. Because different animals, like dogs and cats, have different types of health problems, and different breeds, genders and other subgroups of pets may even have different common health problems, it's difficult to pinpoint an exact list of the most common problems across the board. The following are, however, some of the most frequently seen health problems in pets.

1. Infections

It's almost guaranteed that your pet will have an infection of some point over the course of his life. Infections are caused generally by a buildup of unhealthy bacteria in one of your pet's body. This may lead to a huge variety of different symptoms. It's important to recognize the symptoms of various types of infection as early as possible, as one of the characteristics of an infection is that it will spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. This can be dangerous and, in some cases, even potentially fatal for your pet.

2. Obesity

Another of the most common health problems affecting pets in the United States is obesity. Just like obesity and overweight issues in human beings, pets become obese when they consume more calories than they are able to burn. This can come about for a variety of reasons, although it's most commonly due to a lack of exercise and an overabundance of food. As the pet's owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that he does not eat more than he should in order to maintain healthy weight. You can also influence the amount of exercise that your pet gets to a great degree as well; be sure to take your pet outside for walks or playtime and encourage him to be active in other ways as well.

3. Cancer

Cancer is one of the more common of the serious health conditions that you may find in your pet. Cancer can strike any animal at any age, although it's more common in older animals, and certain breeds and animals than others. Cancer consists of the unnatural growth of certain cells in your pet's body. Left untreated, it can metastasize and spread to other parts of your animal's body as well. This can cause a variety of different problems, including potentially fatal ones. Prompt treatment of the cancer is necessary to protecting your pet's life.

There are a host of other common pet health problems that may affect your pet, ranging from the mild to the very serious. Consult with your vet for more info.

 

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