Common dog diseases
Common dog diseases: Tips you should know to keep your pet safe
As a dog parent, it is essential to learn about general dog care to keep your pet’s health and happiness a prime concern.
There are many common dog diseases and illnesses that dogs can suffer with in their life, and it is interesting to know that how common dog diseases can be and the tips pet owners should learn to keep their pet safe:
Heartworm
It is a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis that lives in an infected animal’s heart and pulmonary arteries. This worm is spread through the bite of a mosquito. It results in heart failure, lung diseases and other organ damage and even leads to death.
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath.
- Vomiting.
- Coughing.
- Fatigue.
- Weight loss
Some dogs show no symptoms until the last stages of infections.
This infection is mainly diagnosed by examination, ultrasound and blood test as recommended by a veterinarian. A thorough inspection should be conducted for the treatment of the disease.
The most underused course of treatment is a series of injections of drugs called adulticides into the dogs’ muscle. This cure has a high success rate and usually requires hospitalization. After treatment, it is necessary to keep your dog on a preventive medication to avoid infection.
Rabies
Rabies is the most common viral diseases among mammals that may affect the brain and spinal cord. Rabies becomes a fatal dog disease when symptoms start to appear. It is most often transmitted through a bite of an infected animal. It can be passed on to another animal or even a human through the saliva of an infected animal.
Symptoms will not show immediately, but they can be varied from two to eight weeks. Signs and symptoms include:
- They start attacking at any form of stimulus.
- Biting, chewing and licking at the bite site
- Fever
- Hiding in dark places
- Foaming at the mouth, seizures and many more.
Rabies can be prevented through vaccination. Dogs who have bitten humans are required to be quarantined for at least ten days to see if rabies develops.
Parvovirus
It is a highly contagious dog disease that often results in the death of an infected animal. Parvovirus most severely affecting the intestinal tract and attack the rapidly-diving cells of the dog’s body. It can also attack white blood cells and can cause damage to heart muscles and lifelong cardiac problems.
Symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite.
- Bloody diarrhea that results in dehydration.
It can easily be transmitted to any person or animal that comes in contact with the infected animal’s faces.
Parvovirus can be prevented through vaccination. There is currently no medication available for parvovirus. The infected animal needs intensive treatment to receive antibiotic therapy to prevent secondary infection and supportive medicine to avoid dehydration, but dealing is not always successful
so make sure about your dog’s vaccination.
Kennel cough
This term is used to describe several respiratory infections that result in the inflammation of the dog’s voice box and windpipe. It mostly clears up on its own, but it is highly contagious, just like chest cold in humans.
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Persistent dry cough
- Nasal discharge
It is most often spread directly from dog to dog or through germs on the contaminated object.
Treatment: Dogs with kennel cough should be isolated. A cough suppressant or anti-microbial may be prescribed. Supportive care is essential.
Leptospirosis
It is usually contracted from contaminated water and caused by leptospira bacteria. These bacteria primarily found in soil and water. Dogs can develop leptospirosis if their mucous membrane comes in contact with infected urine and through a bite from an infected animal.
Signs may include:
- Increased thirst.
- Loss of appetite and jaundice. Dogs may develop kidney diseases that result in shortness of breath.
It is generally treated with supportive care and antibiotics. Annual vaccination is recommended for at-risk dogs, which can prevent leptospirosis for at least a year.
Tips to keep your pet safe
It is essential to provide your pet clean and protected environment to keep it safe.
- Observe your pet by a veterinarian regularly.
- Always keep healthy food and fresh water available.
- Please provide them with the needed vaccination on time.
- Try to engage with them and do not leave them for a long time.
- Keep them away from an unhygienic environment.
- Feed your dog on a regular schedule.
- Keep exercising, socializing and playing with your dog.
- Try to train your pets with little practice.
The most important tip for taking care of your dog is to treat them with love and respect.
If you have encountered these common dog diseases, share how you dealt with them in the comments below
Let’s help more people to protect their pets!
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