Common Dog Diseases and Parasites

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A good diet and plenty of exercise are important to a dog’s health, but they can’t make a dog totally immune to illness. Early detection is the key to helping your dog overcome any health problem. If your pet’s stools become very loose, or you notice a marked decrease in your dog’s appetite and/or that she is very lethargic, she may just have a short-term “bug.” On the other hand, if any symptoms continue for more than a few days, you should have your veterinarian examine her for parasites and infections.

Diarrhea is a common symptom in dogs, especially puppies. It can be triggered by stress or a sudden change in food, but also by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be deadly to dogs. It is extremely dangerous in puppies, because they dehydrate faster than mature dogs.

If your dog has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. You will probably be asked to collect a sample and bring it in so they can examine it to determine the cause and proper treatment.

Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from your dog’s nose and/or eyes often indicate a respiratory infection. A lethargic dog with no appetite is likely fighting an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). URI, caused by airborne viruses and bacteria, is highly contagious among dogs, but is not transmitted between dogs and humans. Early detection of URI is important; ignored dogs suffer from severe dehydration and risk developing pneumonia.

Bortadella, also called ‘kennel cough” is another contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted in animal shelters, boarding kennels, or anywhere groups of dogs have close contact with one another. It is a short-term disease, and most dogs get over it with a few days of rest and tender loving care from you. It is possible to have your dog vaccinated against Bortadella – a good idea if you plan on boarding her or placing her in “doggie daycare.”

Vaccinations are also available to protect your dog against more deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Most municipalities require that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies; some include distemper and parvovirus as well. Making these vaccinations mandatory protects the health of all dogs, and, in the case of rabies, human health as well. If your dog was vaccinated as a puppy, she’s off to a good start. However, without yearly booster shots, your dog is at risk of great suffering from one of these diseases.

Dogs serve as hosts to a number of parasites. You will probably be asked to bring a fecal sample to your dog’s yearly vet appointment, so that the staff can check for the presence of internal parasites. If you notice small, rice-like granules on your pet’s bedding or around her anus, she is suffering from an infestation of worms and needs to be seen by your vet to get proper treatment. Other parasites take up residence on the outside of your dog’s body. Mange and sarcoptic mites live on the hair follicles and skin of dogs, while ear mites live on the inside of the ear. These parasites are so small you might not see them, but they cause your dog extreme discomfort. Head shaking and pawing at ears are signs of ear mites. Frequent scratching and skin-biting can indicate either skin mites or a dog’s worst enemy: fleas.

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Dog Viral Infections & Diseases

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An infectious disease is a clinically evident disease resulting from the presence of pathogenic microbial agents, including pathogenic viruses, pathogenic bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions. Many of these pathogens causes diseases and death both on animals, plants and human. Many dog viral infections and diseases have been discovered, most of them affects dogs in their puppyhood causing your death and some carried over as they age and suddenly affects our canine companion. It is better to know them, prevent them and how properly deal these dog viral infections.

Rabies. Hydrophobia or rabies is fatal viral disease that can affect any mammal, although the close relationship of dogs with humans makes canine rabies a zoonotic (transmitted by animals) concern. The rabies virus makes its way to the brain by following the peripheral nerves. Rabies is a viral neuroinvasive disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) in warm-blooded animals, it is fatal if left untreated. In some countries it is a significant killer of livestock. The symptoms starts with malaise, headache, and fever, while in later stages it includes acute pain, violent movements, uncontrolled excitements, depressions, and the inability to swallow water. final stages, the patient begins to have periods of mania and lethargy, and coma, and death generally occurs due to respiratory insufficiency. Vaccination of dogs for rabies is commonly required by law.

Canine Parvovirus. It is a contagious virus that mainly affects dog. The disease is highly infectious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces, puppies usually suffer severely if they are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccinations. Cardiac and intestinal form were the distinct presentation of the virus. Intestinal form signs are sever vomiting and bloody diarrhea while cardiac form causes respiratory or cardiovascular failure in young puppies. Main treatment involves veterinary hospitalizaion and can be prevented with vaccinations.

Canine Coronavirus. A gastrointestinal disease that is usually asymptomatic or with mild clinical signs, the disease is highly contagious and is spread through the feces of infected dogs. The virus invades and replicates in the villi of the small intestine and causes death of cells. Coronavirus infection of the intestinal villi makes the cells more susceptible to parvovirus infection. Puppies are more susceptible to this virus and needs vaccinations. Treatment usually only requires medication for diarrhea, but more severely affected dogs may require intravenous fluids for dehydration.

Canine Distemper. A serious virus that mostly affects domesticated animals like dogs, cats, ferrets and more. Canine distemper virus (CDV) spreads through the aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids including nasal and ocular secretions, feces, and urine. Puppies from three to six months old are particularly susceptible. Canine distemper virus tends to orient its infection towards the lymphoid, epithelial, and nervous tissues. Number of vaccines are available against canine distemper, and antibiotics for bacterial infections of infected dog and usually quarantined from other dogs for several months due to the length of time the animal may shed the virus.

Canine Influenza. A newly emerged infectious virus causing respiratory diseases, which discovered caused by varieties of Influenzavirus A such as H3N8 (equine virus) and dogs have no natural immunity with this virus and can be epidemic. Dogs with the more severe form may have a high fever and pneumonia, they need immediate veterinary attention.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis. Is an acute liver infection in dogs caused by canine adenovirus spread through feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. Symptoms include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen. Corneal edema and signs of liver disease, such as jaundice, vomiting, and hepatic encephalopathy, while severe cases will develop bleeding disorders, which can cause hematomas to form in the mouth. Most dogs recover spontaneously without treatment bu prevention can be done through vaccinations.

Canine Herpesvirus (CHV). A fatal virus most importantly causes a fatal hemorrhagic disease in puppies less than two to three weeks old while the virus infects the reproductive tract of adult dogs and cann sexually transmitted. CHV is transmitted to puppies in the birth canal and by contact with infected oral and nasal secretions from the mother or other infected dogs. Symptoms include crying, weakness, depression, discharge from the nose, soft, yellow feces, and a loss of the sucking reflex. Treatment of affected puppies is difficult, although injecting antibodies to CHV into the abdomen may help some to survive. Keeping the puppies warm is also important.

Pseudorabies. An infectious disease that primarily affects swine, but can also cause a fatal disease in dogs with signs similar to rabies. Other domestic and wild mammals, such a cattle, sheep, dogs, pigs, raccoons, black bears, panthers, coyotes and deer are also suscetible. PRV can cause abortion, high mortality in piglets, and coughing, sneezing, fever, constipation, depression, seizures, ataxia, circling, and excess salivation in piglets and mature pigs. In dogs, symptoms include intense itching, jaw and pharyngeal paralysis, howling, and death.

Canine Minute Virus. An infectious disease that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal signs in young puppies. Dogs and puppies are infected orally, and the virus is spread transplacentally to the fetuses. Symptoms are seen most commonly between the ages of one to three weeks and include severe diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and anorexia. In severe cases it is fatal.

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Dog Diseases: The Bad, the “Badder”, and the “Baddest”

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Dog diseases are something that no pet owner wants to think about, but they do and can happen, even to your pet who has seemed to very healthy.

Dog diseases are, for a large part, preventable if you go to your veterinarian and have regular heck ups and have your dog routinely vaccinated and receive medication for any sort of health issues that he may have.  If you do notice a behavioral change in your dog and you are sure that your dog is suffering from one of the many dog diseases, it’s important to research the symptoms and to schedule an appointment with the veterinarian. Some of the most common dog diseases are listed below.

Kennel Cough

Kennel cough is very, very seldom fatal and is usually just that – a cough that may last for up to three whole weeks.  Kennel cough is comparable to a human being having a really bad cold.  Though it may sound awful, it is easily treatable and also preventable if you do have your dog get the kennel cough vaccine.

Ringworm Infections

Of all of the dog skin problems, ringworm fungal infections are one of the most common (though it is often mistaken as being a symptom of dog skin allergies).  The skin will become infected with fungi, which results in scaly skin and hair loss.  If noticed soon enough, which it tends to almost always be unless the affected skin is in a discrete area of the body, it is rather easily treated with ringworm medications.

Retinal Dysplasia

This is one of the dog diseases that affects the dog’s eyes.  This type of disease can either be very mild or quickly escalate to being very severe in a short period of time.  If a dog is suffering from a mild case of retinal dysplasia, then owners may notice some folds in the retina.  Slightly more serious forms may involve vision problems, though this can result in complete blindness or cataracts.

Rabies

The good news about rabies is that almost every dog across the world now is given a rabies vaccine, which has put an abrupt stop to the spread of this horrible dog health issue.  Rabies is usually spread through saliva, and it can also be spread to human beings if they are bitten by an infected animal.    It is a deadly disease for dogs and humans alike, which is why vaccinating your dog from this disease is so important.

 

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What Are The Top Ten Dog Diseases?

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Dog Diseases number in the scores, just as in humans. But, veterinarians tend to see some much more than others. Sadly, a great deal of grief could be avoided if more dog owners were careful to see that their pets are immunized regularly against preventable dog diseases.

While experts, as usual, may differ, what are the top ten dog diseases? Here’s a list (not necessarily in order of seriousness) with a brief explanation of each disease:

Distemper:

Of all the dog diseases, the American Veterinary Medical Association considers the distemper virus to be the worst canine disease threat to dogs world wide. Distemper is fatal in 80% of puppies and 50% of adults. All dogs are extremely vulnerable, and should be vaccinated, with subsequent boosters in keeping the recommendation of a Veterinarian.

Parvovirus (Parvo):

Parvovirus is a worldwide dog disease. It is extremely contagious, especially among puppies, and can overwhelm a dog leading to death within 48 to 72 hours after exposure. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Parvo vaccination is essential with booster shots as recommended.

Rabies:

Rabies is a virus and becomes fatal when symptoms appear. Because rabies can be fatal to humans and other mammals, state and local laws uniformly require rabies vaccination, many mandating booster shots yearly.

Kennel Cough:

This is a respiratory disease especially prevalent in kennels and shelters. There are a variety of virus strains, including Bortadella. Symptoms can include a dry hacking cough along with inflammation of the larynx, bronchial tubes and trachea. Vaccination, as often as every six months is recommended.

Leptospirosis:

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include lethargy, kidney inflammation, low-grade fever, vomiting, reddening of the mucous membranes and conjunctiva, and blood clotting abnormalities. Since it is a bacterial disease, also found in humans, it is treated with antibiotics. Veterinarians are often reluctant to innoculate against this dog disease, since there is questionable effectiveness, and puppies can have adverse reactions.

Infectious canine hepatitis:

While this dog disease often manifests itself with mild symptoms such as a slight fever or slight lethargy, it can, in some instances become fatal. Recovery is usually rapid. Vaccination is recommended.

Lyme Disease:

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs will include lethargy, joint pain, lack of appetite, lymph node enlargement, and fever. Lyme Disease is bacterial and is spread by ticks. Treatment is with tetracycline, an antibiotic. The available vaccine is not generally recommended.

Coronavirus:

Diarrhea and vomiting are symptomatic of this dog disease so it can be confused with parvovirus. Other indications are loss of appetite, smelly diarrhea, lethargy and dehydration. Replacement of lost fluids and control of vomiting and diarrhea are the recommended treatments. A vaccine is not generally recommended.

Obesity:

Just as in humans, this dog disease is a serious medical problem. Frequently, obese humans own obese dogs. Obviously, limiting food intake, withholding human food and enough exercise will contribute to a dogs longer life.

Heartworm:

Heartworms are parasites that grow and multiply, infesting the chambers in the heart, arteries in the lungs. Symptoms appear gradually, usually manifested in easy tiring, lethargy and a soft cough. If not treated, it eventually brings on death by congestive heart failure in a once active animal. Prevention with products such as HartGard is recommended.

Your veterinarian should give you a certificate showing your pet’s immunization against the common dog diseases. Ask for a wallet sized card which you can carry with you.

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