There are a number of diseases a dog might suffer from in its lifetime. Being attentive of these illnesses and the proper way to care for them can assist you greatly in caring for your dog better. Dogs must be vaccinated and given booster at least once every 6 months to keep them safe. Some of the more common diseases your dog can be vaccinated against are hepatitis, distemper, rabies, corona, leptospirosis, kennel cough and parvo. At some point, he could suffer from internal or external parasites and there are several types of infections which a dog owner should know about.
You might consider getting Pet Insurance if you have one or more pets. A small occasional investment and decent care for your pet usually cost much less than running the risk of an infection and having to fork out hundreds of dollars to treat them later.
The Parvo virus is the most common and deadliest dog infection. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and eventually death.
Distemper is another common strain of viral infection. Symptoms usually include fever, loss of appetite, nasal and eye discharges.
Note that Canine hepatitis may cause like symptoms as Distemper and should be treated with IV fluid therapy, dietary, nutritional and antibiotics care(consult your vet before administering medication).
Rabies is often spread by the bite of another animal. If your dog has rabies, he will behave oddly. Your dog can be vaccinated against Rabies from 4 months of age. There is no cure, vaccination is crucial.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection which attacks the dog’s liver and kidneys. Consuming contaminated liquids or infected urine from another dog may cause Leptospirosis. High Fevers, yellow gums, sadness, depression and blood in the dog’s urine might mean leptospirosis.
Bordatella, or Kennel cough, is a respiratory tract disease. A loud and harsh cough, nasal and eye discharges are clear symptoms of Bordatella or kennel cough. The treatment is usually anti-inflammatory medication, cough suppressants and a medium dose of antibiotics.
Coronavirus is a contagious viral illness. Vomiting, weight loss and diarrhea are possible warning symptoms and should be looked into. IV fluids and Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Corona.
The ear of a dog is very infection prone and may often cause common infections like blood clots. Symptoms include pawing at the ears and shaking of the head constantly. Do a quick examination on your dog’s ears every 2 weeks and take him to your local vet for treatment if you spot any signs, as soon as possible. Even the most common ear infections like blood clots may cause deafness and even lead to severe blindness if not treated appropriately.
Heat, swelling and sluggishness are a few more possible indications of an infection. Appearing to be in hurt or pain, fretfulness or listlessness are also some more obvious indications.
If the infection is intense, then the dog might have a high temperature and be swollen around it’s neck, armpits or groin area. If you are unable to get to a vet straight away, you should keep the dog lying down to avoid any physical exertion that might pilot the infection to spread even more rapidly.
Dogs with infections might reject food and water so it is important to seek your vet’s advice.
These common infections can pose a serious hazard anywhere in a dog’s body but especially if the infections are around the body’s ‘wet’ regions like the mouth or nose as they could spread more easily to the blood stream and eventually to the vital organs. The most important thing is to get your dog immunized as soon as he is old enough. Also be sure to follow up with a bi-yearly infection booster.
Remember, your dog is part of the family and if you find your dog acting a little peculiar or a bit ill, call the vet and make an appointment straight away. Unlike human beings, infections in dogs can become severe very quickly and it is not a good idea to ‘wait for the clouds to clear’ to see if the infection or illness heals itself.
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