The 14-year-old black Lab mix with a gray face sat in a kennel at Dallas Animal Services with a confused look on her face.

Her kennel card revealed some of her sad past. It said her former owner dropped her off at the shelter right after Thanksgiving and requested she be euthanized.

The poor pooch was incredibly thin and had trouble walking. She only had two teeth and was heartworm positive.

Rescuers and animal lovers heard about the dog and started posting about her on social media.

And when Tommy Bull from Crowley, Texas, read about the dog, he was stunned.

“I looked at her eyes and she looked like she had given up,” Bull told The Dodo. “She was a black dog, a senior, and heartworm positive; she had little chance of getting saved. The holidays are one of the worst times of the year for dogs, a lot of people turn them in to shelters.”

Bull contacted CAMO Rescue, which made arrangements for him to pick the dog up from the shelter. “The workers carried her out to me because she was a little wobbly,” he said. “I grabbed her and I hugged her closely. I wanted her to know she was safe. I fell in love with her instantly.”

He lifted her out to his car and drove home, where Bull’s wife bonded with her right away. They named her Ettie, short for Henrietta. “We gave her a lot of attention and introduced her to our other rescue dogs, she had no problem,” Bull said.

The senior girl blossomed in the Bulls’ home. They fed her nutritious canned food that was easy for her to eat, and she gained weight. Ettie also started arthritis medication and treatment for her heartworms.

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10 Common Dog Health Problems

Some health problems are specific to certain breeds, such as breathing complications for flat-faced dogs. But several other canine health issues can affect any dog. Here are 10 typical health conditions you need to watch out for in your four-legged best friend:

Top 10 Common Dog Health Problems

Skin Problems

One of the most obvious signs that your dog has a skin condition is itching. Other symptoms that may suggest that your dog has a skin problem include rashes, redness, dry skin, lumps, bumps, skin sores, dandruff, and hair loss.

Ear Diseases

Approximately 20 percent of dogs suffer from ear disease. It’s particularly common in breeds with floppy ears like cocker spaniels and basset hounds. It’s common to see wax buildup or discharge in their ear canal. But others may experience pain, itchiness, redness, swelling, and crusting in the ears.

Urinary Tract Infections

Simply known as UTI, this condition can make it uncomfortable for your beloved companion to pass urine. Signs of urinary tract infection include drinking water more than usual and passing urine more often than usual. Your dog may also only pass a small amount or lose bladder control. Additionally, you may see blood in their urine or notice a strong smell to it.

Vomiting

There are countless reasons why your pet may throw up. You don’t need to visit the vet each time your dog vomits. But it’s also not something you can just ignore. Don’t try to guess. If the vomiting persists or occurs with other symptoms like diarrhea or lethargy, you need to rush to the vet. It could be a sign of severe health problems, such as poisoning or gastrointestinal blockage.

Diarrhea

This symptom may occur on its own or be accompanied by vomiting. Its potential causes are similar to vomiting. One or two episodes of diarrhea may not be a pet emergency. But recurring diarrhea can result in dehydration.

Parasites

At some point in their lives, your pet may have to deal with discomfort due to internal or external parasites. Symptoms of parasites generally vary, depending on a few factors. These include the kind of parasite that has plagued your pet, where it lives, and how severe its infestation is.

Dental Issues

Like us, your dog can develop canine dental diseases due to high levels of plaque buildup. Several signs indicate that your pet may have dental disease. These include difficulty eating, bleeding of the gums or teeth, loose teeth, and bad breath.

Obesity

Nearly 30 percent of the general dog population is considered obese. Several factors contribute to a pet’s risk. These include age, genetic predisposition, lack of exercise, and overfeeding, among others.

Arthritis

This joint problem can restrict your dog’s mobility. Bring Fido to the vet if you see your dog slow down or limp before and after walks. Other signs include licking or chewing on tender areas and behavioral changes.

Poisoning

Symptoms of dog poisoning vary widely, depending on the kind of toxin a pet has been exposed to. The signs can range from vomiting to drooling, breathing difficulties, seizures, or worse, coma. Some of the most common poisonous substances are human foods like chocolates, grapes, raisins, onions, and caffeine. Other known culprits are human medications, household cleaning products, pesticides, and some plants.