There are many common diseases that can cause your dog to become seriously sick and may even cause death. Knowing what canine diseases are most prevalent will help you better care for your pet. Thankfully, with some basic information, you can prevent your dog from ever contracting these canine diseases.
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Canine Parvovirus
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Canine parvovirus is a devastating and often deadly illness that usually affects puppies. The virus that causes parvo can survive for long periods of time outside of the body, and is not easily killed by cleaning and disinfecting. This makes it a highly contagious disease for dogs. The virus starts to attack the dog's body within three weeks of infection. The virus spreads throughout the body via the bloodstream and bone marrow and causes deterioration of the intestines. The most common symptoms of parvo are severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Dogs with parvo are usually hospitalized and cared for with IV fluids and sometimes medication to control any vomiting. Dogs can be vaccinated against parvo; something that is usually recommended at the first veterinarian appointment. Puppies should not be exposed to unknown dogs until they have received all three dosages of the canine parvovirus vaccine.
Canine Distemper
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Canine distemper is another contagious canine virus that is easily prevented with a vaccine. Unlike parvovirus, it does not survive easily outside of the body, making it easier to avoid. The first symptoms that a dog with distemper will have are a fever and a runny nose and runny eyes. Blood tests will show that the dog has a reduced number of white blood cells. In severe cases, dogs will have neurological symptoms, which can include muscle twitching or spasms and even paralysis. Dogs have a good chance of recovering from canine distemper if they are treated by a veterinarian before the neurological symptoms set in. Treatment may include IV fluids and antibiotics to prevent secondary infections.
Heartworm
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Heatworm is an internal parasite that dogs get from mosquito bites. Once in the bloodstream, the heartworm larvae are carried to the blood vessels in the dog's lungs, where they grow and live as adults, leading to heart and lung disease. Left untreated, heartworms will eventually kill the dog. Treatment must be done carefully. Dogs are given a medication to kill the heartworms, which die while still in the dog's lungs. Dogs undergoing heartworm treatment will need to be kept confined for several weeks because their heart and lungs will be compromised during this time. Heartworm can be easily prevented by giving medication to your dog once a month.
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