Serious Dog Diseases

Whether your dog is a house pet, a show animal or a working dog, you need to take care of its health. Your dog can contract a number of common, serious diseases. Many of these conditions can be prevented with vaccines and proper care but cannot be effectively treated or cured. Knowing about the diseases that can affect your dog is an important part of taking care of your pet.

  1. Distemper

    • Canine distemper is highly contagious and spread by an airborne virus. This disease affects the nervous system, digestive system and respiratory system. The early symptoms look much like a cold, but as the disease progresses, it can cause seizures, twitches and paralysis. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for distemper, but early and regular vaccination can protect your pet.

    Rabies

    • This well-known viral disease is fatal once symptoms appear, and is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals. The virus causes an infection in the brain, but it can be prevented by routine vaccination. Most veterinarians will give a three-year rabies vaccination, but in areas where rabies is common, your dog will receive an annual booster shot.

    Parvovirus

    • Parvovirus, also referred to as parvo, is a highly contagious disease that strikes quickly. It can overwhelm your pet within hours of symptoms appearing, and some dogs die within two or three days. The disease is spread through contact with the feces of infected animals and can be tracked in by pets, on the shoes of owners or on equipment. A single infected dog at a show or kennel can kill hundreds of animals. Young dogs are at a higher risk, and the disease is untreatable, but vaccination can last as long as seven years

    Canine Hepatitis

    • Also called canine adenovirus type 1, canine hepatitis is spread via ingestion or inhalation. It targets the kidneys and liver, as well as the cells on the inside of blood vessels. Some animals have few symptoms and recover quickly; others die within a few days. There is no cure for this disease, but supportive treatment may allow your pet to recover. Preventative vaccinations can protect dogs for up to seven years.

    Leptospirosis

    • Leptospirosis, or lepto, is a bacterial disease transmitted in the urine of infected dogs. It causes inflammation of the kidneys, digestive problems and low-grade fever and may create chronic kidney and liver problems. Lepto is treated via antibiotic therapy and supportive care, and vaccinations aren't recommended unless there's a documented danger; this is because lepto vaccines do not fully prevent the disease and may cause adverse reactions.

    Lyme Disease

    • This bacterial infection is spread through tick bites and causes fever, lack of appetite and lethargy. Some dogs never show symptoms, however. Lyme disease is less serious for dogs than it is for humans, but it can still cause problems. Lyme disease is treated with tetracycline and can be prevented by removing ticks from your dog and eliminating them from the areas your dog frequents.