Small Dogs, Big Health Problems

By Gary Pearson

Small dog breeds are quite popular today, with many dog owners opting for the toy breeds as a pet. Even small dogs get ill, but managing your pet's health is key to their survival. Small dogs face greater obstacles than their larger breed brothers. One of the greatest obstacles faced by small dogs is injury. While no dog is immune from injury, smaller dogs tend to acquire more injuries than most, due to their size. Keeping your dog injury-free and maximize your pet's health is solely up to you.

Smaller dogs tend to have the "small dog' syndrome, in that, they tend to be more aggressive when facing another dog. If you have ever seen a small dog dart across a lawn at an innocently passing by Golden retriever, then you know what I'm talking about. Small dogs attempt to make up with aggressive behavior with what they lack in size. This can lead to serious dogfights and injury to your pooch.

Maintaining control over your dog will help you alleviate any serious injury from dog attacks. Remember that dogs are pack animals, so this means you must become their pack leader. If you have control over the animal, assert your own leadership within your family pack, and then your pooch's bad behavior will cease. Without any further small dog syndrome fits, your pet's health can be free of injury.

Small dogs are also prone to certain medical conditions that can adversely affect your pet's health. Hypoglycemia is a common ailment with smaller dogs. This low blood sugar medical condition stems from the fact that smaller dogs have faster metabolisms then larger breeds so their blood sugar can drop dramatically. Smaller dogs are also quicker to react to bacterial and viral infections. Since they are so compact, the bacteria can spread quicker and causing a rapid infection.

No matter what size dog you get, your pet's health is just as important as their happiness. Make sure to get their regular check ups, keep their vaccinations up to date, and get a regular dental check up. Most dog owners do not consider their pet's health will be affected by poor dental hygiene; yet, plaque build up is one of the leading causes of dog illness. A veterinarian can assist you in this process. Some dogs with considerable plaque and tarter build up will need to be put under to make it more comfortable for them. You don't like the dentist, why should they, right? But dog dental hygiene is a necessary part of their yearly regiment and should be included. There are also dog treats that you can give your pooch on a regular basis to help prevent plaque build up between cleanings. Or if you feel comfortable enough doing so, you can purchase a doggie dental kit at your local pet store and clean their teeth yourself! These few small tips can help your pet's health tremendously, and keep all of your family members- two legged and four legged- happy and healthy for years to come.

Gary Pearson is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about small dog health visit Pet Health Knowledge for current articles and discussions.