vetscan.petDogs are beloved family members who offer affection, company, and emotional support. As a pet parent, it is important to know about different dog diseases and their causes, symptoms and treatment.
Humans and other animals can be impacted by certain dog diseases that affect dogs. Preventing the spread of zoonotic illnesses and promoting public health can be achieved by ensuring the health of dogs through vaccination and disease prevention.
Common Dog Diseases
Parvovirus
Dogs, especially pups and unvaccinated dogs, are the main victims of the extremely contagious parvovirus virus.
Symptoms
- Dehydration, bloody diarrhoea, and violent vomiting are among the symptoms of parvovirus, which mostly affects the gastrointestinal system.
- Lethargic, feeble, and unable to consume food or liquid. In addition, they might become less hungry.
- High fevers are common in infected dogs, and they can exacerbate their general pain and sickness.
- Dogs with dog diseases like Parvovirus infection may lose weight quickly as a result of vomiting, diarrhoea, and appetite loss.
- Dogs infected with parvovirus are more vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections because the virus compromises their immune systems.
Prevention
- The best defence against dog diseases like parvovirus infection is vaccination. Starting at about 6–8 weeks of age, puppies should get a series of immunisations. Boosters should be given every 3–4 weeks until the puppy reaches about 16 weeks of age. To preserve immunity, adult dogs should have booster doses on a regular basis.
- To stop the parvovirus from spreading, afflicted dogs should be kept apart from other dogs due to their high contagiousness. This entails keeping the dog away from public areas like parks, dog parks, and grooming salons until it has totally healed.
- Keeping living spaces, bedding, and food and water bowls clean and sterilised on a regular basis can help stop the virus from spreading.
- If your dog is not completely vaccinated or has not had all of the shots, stay away from locations where infected dogs may have been.
Treatment
- Dogs with parvovirus infections frequently need to be admitted to a hospital for supportive care, which includes intravenous fluids to treat electrolyte imbalances and dehydration.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed.
- Medication to prevent vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as anti-nausea drugs, may also be given.
- If the dog is unable or reluctant to eat because of severe gastrointestinal issues, nutritional support—such as bland foods or feeding tubes—may be required.
- To evaluate an infected dog’s state and reaction to treatment, a veterinarian must closely watch the affected dog.
- Certain dogs with severe symptoms might need to receive critical care, which includes oxygen therapy and other forms of assistance.
- When a dog has parvovirus, the prognosis is contingent upon several circumstances, including the degree of infection, the dog’s age, general health, and the promptness of treatment initiation.
- The most effective way to avoid contracting this potentially fatal illness is still vaccination.
Canine Distemper
Canine infectious diseases like Canine distemper are a highly contagious viral disease that affects not just dogs but also raccoons, wolves, foxes, and ferrets.
Symptoms
- Canine distemper dog diseases have symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge. In severe circumstances, these symptoms can develop into pneumonia.
- Dogs that are with this kind of dog diseases may vomit, have diarrhoea, and lose appetite, which can cause them to get dehydrated and lose weight.
- The canine distemper virus can cause a range of neurological symptoms, including paralysis, tremors, seizures, spasms in the muscles, circling behaviour, head tilting, and muscular twitches.
- Squinting, discharge from the eyes, and eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) are all possible in some dogs.
- During the duration of the illness, infected dogs frequently experience sporadic fevers.
- Damage to tooth enamel during development may cause abnormal formation of permanent teeth in puppies infected with distemper at an early age.
Prevention
- Canine distemper can be prevented most effectively with vaccination. Starting at about 6–8 weeks of age, puppies should get a series of immunisations. Boosters should be given every 3–4 weeks until the puppy reaches about 16 weeks of age. To preserve immunity, adult dogs should have booster doses on a regular basis.
- To stop the virus from spreading, infected dogs should be kept apart from other dogs. This entails keeping the dog away from public areas like parks, dog parks, and grooming salons until it has totally healed.
- Keeping living spaces, bedding, and food and water bowls clean and sterilised on a regular basis can help stop the virus from spreading.
- Steer clear of any areas where wildlife or other animals may have been contaminated.
Treatment
- Supportive care is necessary for infected dogs in order to control their symptoms and avoid consequences.
- In order to treat dehydration, this may entail intravenous fluids, nutrient rich food, and medication to manage fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and secondary bacterial infections.
- In order to evaluate a dog’s status and optimal health and reaction to treatment, a veterinarian must closely watch a dog that has distemper. Dogs with severe illnesses might need to be admitted to the hospital for critical care.
- The severity of the infection, the dog’s age, general health, and the speed at which treatment is started all affect the prognosis for canine distemper.
- The most effective way to avoid contracting this potential dog diseases is still vaccination.
Kennel Cough
Canine tracheobronchitis, commonly referred to as kennel cough, is a highly transmissible respiratory illness. Canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus type 2, and Bordetella bronchiseptica are the main viruses and bacteria that cause it.
Symptoms
- A dry, hacking cough that lasts for a long time and sometimes sounds like a honk is the primary sign of kennel cough.
- Activity, excitement, or pressure on the trachea might make the cough worse.
- Some dogs with kennel cough, particularly after coughing episodes, may gag or retch as if trying to clear their throat.
- Dogs suffering from kennel cough may exhibit a mild nasal discharge, which is usually clear or slightly mucous.
- Sneezing is occasionally displayed by infected dogs, particularly when other respiratory infections are present.
- Dogs that are infected may experience a minor fever, although this is a rare symptom that usually goes away soon.
- In mild situations, dogs with the infection may not exhibit any other symptoms save a chronic cough.
Prevention
- It is generally advised to vaccinate to most of the common dog illnesses. Vaccination against kennel cough, particularly for dogs that are regularly in dog-friendly settings like training sessions, dog parks, and boarding facilities need to be given. Typically, the kennel cough vaccine is given as an injectable or intranasal dose.
- Dogs should be kept away from places where there is a high chance of encountering other dogs, particularly if those other dogs are coughing or exhibiting other symptoms of dog diseases.
- Keeping kennels, food and water bowls clean and sterilised on a regular basis, along with toys, can all help curb the spread of dog diseases like kennel cough.
Treatment
- Dogs that are infected should be kept apart from other dogs in order to stop the illness from spreading. This entails keeping your dog away from other dogs until the cough goes away, which usually takes one to two weeks.
- With supportive treatment and rest, the majority of dogs with kennel cough recover on their own. Giving the dog time to relax and refrain from intense exercise can be beneficial and giving the dog some downtime can aid in healing and less coughing.
- If a dog’s cough is severe or negatively affecting its quality of life, a veterinarian may prescribe cough suppressants to help lessen coughing and pain.
- Antibiotics may be administered to treat secondary bacterial infections if there is evidence of a bacterial infection or if the cough lasts for a long time.
- The dog’s throat can be soothed and coughing can be decreased by providing humidified air, such as by the use of a humidifier or by putting the dog in a steamy bathroom.
- It’s important to keep a close eye out for any indications that a dog’s kennel cough is getting worse or developing complications, like lethargy or difficulty breathing.
Heartworm Disease
Dirofilaria immitis, a parasitic worm, is the cause of dog diseases like heartworm disease, a dangerous and sometimes fatal illness. Dogs’ hearts and lungs are the main organs that these worms attack, but they can also harm cats, ferrets, and wild mammals.
Symptoms
- One of the most typical early indicators of heartworm disease is persistent coughing, especially after physical activity or effort. As the infection worsens over time, the cough could get worse.
- As a result of the stress on their cardiovascular systems, infected dogs may exhibit an aversion to exercise or quickly grow tired during physical activity.
- As the infection worsens and the worms proliferate, dogs may experience breathing problems, such as rapid or laborious breathing or even respiratory distress symptoms.
- Dog diseases like Heartworm illness in dogs can lead to a decrease in appetite and weight loss. This is frequently because the condition puts stress on the heart and reduces the amount of oxygen getting to the tissues.
- Lack of interest in past hobbies and appearing lethargic or less active than usual are some of signs of sick dog
- In extreme situations, dogs may collapse or faint, particularly when they’re excited or engaged in vigorous activity.
Prevention
- Always follow the dog vaccination schedule. Veterinarian-prescribed oral or topical treatments can be used to prevent heartworm disease on a monthly basis. These drugs function by eradicating the heartworms’ immature larval stages, which are spread by mosquitoes, before they can develop into mature earthworms.
- Parasite control for dogs and annual heartworm testing is advised for all dogs, including those on preventive medicine. For preventing dog diseases basic blood test is usually conducted at the veterinarian’s office as part of the testing process.
- Reducing your exposure to mosquitoes will help lower your chance of contracting heartworm disease. This includes keeping dogs indoors during periods of high mosquito activity, applying repellents to repel mosquitoes, and removing standing water where mosquitoes thrive.
Treatment
- Although it can be challenging to completely eradicate adult heartworms from a dog’s body, therapy with melarsomine, which is marketed under the brand name Immiticide, can be successful.
- To eradicate the adult worms in the heart and lungs, a veterinarian will inject the patient several times during this course of treatment.
- In order to lower the risk of problems such blood clots or respiratory distress, dogs receiving treatment must rest and refrain from vigorous activity.
- Dogs may also be administered other drugs to treat symptoms including inflammation, coughing, or secondary infections, in addition to melarsomine.
- To evaluate the dog’s reaction to the medication and keep an eye out for potential consequences, dogs receiving heartworm disease treatment need to be closely observed by canine veterinary care. To make sure that all adult worms have been eradicated, further testing could be required.
- It’s crucial to remember that heartworm disease prevention is simpler, safer, and less expensive than treatment. The two most important ways to shield dogs from this potentially fatal illness are yearly testing and regular use of prophylactic medicines.
Lyme Disease
The bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, can infect both humans and animals when they are bitten by an infected black-legged tick, commonly referred to as a deer tick.
Symptoms
- The characteristic rash known as erythema migrans is one of the telltale indicators of Lyme disease.
- It frequently manifests as a red, spreading rash with a bull’s-eye-shaped clearing in the middle. But not everyone who has Lyme illness gets this rash.
- Dog diseases like Lyme disease may have flu-like symptoms in the early stages, including fever, chills, headaches, exhaustion, muscular aches, and joint pain.
- Lyme disease can cause symptoms like facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), meningitis, nerve pain, and cognitive impairment as the infection worsens.
- Lyme disease can result in joint inflammation, which can cause pain and stiffness. Although other joints might potentially be impacted, the knees are the most frequently affected joints.
- In rare instances, Lyme disease may have an impact on the heart, resulting in symptoms like dysrhythmias, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Prevention
- Preventive measures include avoiding tick-infested regions, such as grassy or forested areas, as this can help lower the risk of contracting Lyme disease.
- Remain on trails and steer clear of brushing up against plants whether hiking or spending time outside.
- After spending time outside, thoroughly inspect yourself, your pets, and your clothing for ticks. Ticks frequently settle on warm, humid spots including the scalp, armpits, and groyne.
- When in places where ticks are present, wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. It can be simpler to detect ticks if trousers are tucked into socks and if clothing is bright in colour.
- To lower tick populations, think about treating outdoor areas with acaricides (chemicals that kill ticks) and utilising tick control products for pets.
Treatment
- Depending on the severity of the canine ailments and illness, oral antibiotics such doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil are typically administered for a duration of 10 to 21 days during the initial stages.
- Fever, aches in the muscles, and discomfort in the joints are examples of symptoms that may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs).
- To keep an eye on their symptoms and reaction to therapy, patients with Lyme disease may need to schedule follow-up appointments with a medical professional.
- If the infection has moved to other areas of the body or if symptoms are still present, it may occasionally be required to take extra doses of antibiotics.
Rabies
The central nervous system is impacted by the viral disease rabies, which is often contracted by humans from the bite of an infected animal.
Symptoms
Prodromal Phase
- Dogs may show signs of anxiety, restlessness, and impatience.
- There may be a modest rise in body temperature.
- Dogs may refuse food or exhibit a decrease in appetite.
- It is possible to notice sensitivity to light, sound, touch, or temperature changes.
- Certain canines have the potential to exhibit atypical levels of aggression or fear.
Furious Rabies Phase
- Dogs may exhibit hyperactivity and become extremely active during the furious rabies phase.
- Violent or unprovoked behaviour directed at people or other animals is not uncommon.
- Dogs that vocalise too much may bark, snarl, or howl too much.
- Dogs may experience disorientation and start to circle or walk aimlessly.
- Excessive drooling may occur as a result of swallowing difficulties caused by paralysis of the throat muscles.
- Dogs that have hydrophobia may grow to have a severe fear of water and frequently exhibit panic attacks while around it.
Paralytic Rabies Phase
- Dogs may become paralysed or weak, usually beginning in the hindquarters and moving forward.
- Breathing problems can arise from respiratory paralysis, which can ultimately result in respiratory failure.
- Uncontrollably twitching or trembling of the muscles may be seen.
- As the illness worsens, dogs may get progressively sluggish.
- Dogs with severe rabies may have a coma before their death from the illness.
Prevention
To stop the virus from spreading, rabies vaccinations are available for pets, cattle, and animals.
- Regular Vaccination: As part of their regular immunisation plan, all dogs should have the rabies vaccine. Usually administered between 12 and 16 weeks of age, the first immunisation is followed by booster doses at your veterinarian’s recommendation.
- Booster Shots: To preserve protection against rabies, booster shots must be administered on a regular basis. Depending on the type of vaccine administered and local laws, booster shot frequency may change.
- If there is any indication of exposure, stray animals should be apprehended and checked for rabies. Animals suspected of harbouring rabies can be captured and tested with the help of animal control organisations and municipal health departments.
Treatment
- Unfortunately with dog diseases like Rabies, once clinical symptoms manifest, there is no reliable treatment. As soon as symptoms appear, rabies is nearly invariably lethal. Vaccination against the rabies virus and avoiding exposure to it are the only ways to prevent rabies in dogs.
- However, in order to stop the disease from spreading, quick action is required if a dog is suspected of having been exposed to rabies but is not yet exhibiting signs.
- To stop the virus from possibly spreading, keep the dog away from people and other animals. Depending on local laws, quarantine protocols can be needed.
- To estimate the danger of rabies exposure and decide on the best course of action, seek prompt veterinarian evaluation. The veterinarian could advise euthanasia, quarantine, or observation depending on The dog’s immunisation history and the circumstances surrounding the exposure will determine whether the doctor advises observation, quarantine, or death.
- A dog may need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if its rabies vaccination record is out of current or if there is a significant chance that the dog may be exposed to rabies. To stop rabies from spreading, a series of immunisations against the disease and, in certain situations, rabies immune globulin (RIG) are given.
- Following rabies exposure, dogs should have their behaviour closely examined for any indications of sickness. Reporting any questionable symptoms to a veterinarian right away is advised.
Importance of Veterinary visits
- Veterinarians offer dog health tips and recommend following a regular dog care guide for the betterment of the dog’s health. They can detect health issues early through routine physical examinations and diagnostic tests. Early detection allows for prompt treatment and management of conditions, which can improve outcomes and prevent complications.
- Veterinarians can develop personalized healthcare plans and help in pet wellness for dogs based on factors such as age, breed, lifestyle, and medical history. These plans may include recommendations for nutrition, and dog food, also nutrition for cats with proper food for cats. Exercise, and preventive care to optimize the dog’s health maintenance and quality of life.
- Veterinarians can guide nutrition and diet to ensure that dogs receive the appropriate nutrients for their age, size, and health status. A dog health checklist will be maintained by the veterinarians which helps in the overall well-being of the dogs.
- Veterinarians can offer advice and support for addressing behavioural issues such as anxiety, aggression, or compulsive behaviours. Behavioural counselling can improve animal health care focusing on the dog’s well-being and strengthening the bond between the dog and its owner.
- It’s very much necessary to start veterinarian visits during the puppy stage itself, which helps to prevent puppy diseases, puppy vaccinations need to be given to prevent certain dog diseases.
- As dogs age, they may develop age-related health issues such as arthritis, dental disease, or cognitive decline. Regular veterinary visits allow for monitoring of these conditions and adjustment of treatment plans to meet the changing needs of older dogs and help in dog illness prevention.
- Veterinary visits provide an opportunity to discuss emergency preparedness and develop a plan for responding to medical emergencies or natural disasters. Being prepared can save valuable time and the dog’s life in critical situations.
- In many regions, vaccination against rabies and other dog diseases is required by law. Regular veterinary visits ensure that dogs receive the necessary vaccinations and documentation to comply with legal requirements and boost the canine immune system.
Conclusion
Dog owners may contribute to the health and well-being of their canine friends by keeping up with frequent dog diseases and ailments and placing a high priority on preventative healthcare measures. Balanced food, immunisations, regular veterinary exams, and parasite treatment are crucial for keeping your dog healthy and happy.
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