Serious Dog Diseases and Symptoms

If you own a dog, it is your responsibility to keep him healthy. So, you have to understand some of the common health problems that dogs will get. No matter if your dog is a big dog breed or a small dog breed, it is always important for you to recognize the signs and symptoms before it develops into the full blown disease. If you are prepared, you will know when you can use home remedy solution to treat the illness and when you should take your dog to the veterinarian. Below are some serious dog health problems that all dog owners should be aware of.

Rabies in Dogs

Rabies is caused by virus infection that will lead to the inflammation of brain. It can be considered as the most dangerous dog health problem because the fatality rate for the dog that has been infected by the virus is at 100%. Human can also be infected with rabies. Majority of the cases are from the bite of the dog which has the virus. It can be fatal too if that human is left untreated. Because of the seriousness of the disease, many countries especially The United States has strict law on rabies vaccination. To protect your dog and family, it is essential for you to remember the schedule for the rabies vaccination. Please consult your vet if you are unsure on the rabies vaccination. Symptoms of the dog rabies are as follow:

• The dog has fever
• Some eye discharge (See: dog eye problems)
• Act aggressively towards people and other animals
• Dog is vomiting frequently
• Unable to move (paralyze)

Canine Distemper

Another serious and highly contagious disease for dogs is canine distemper. Young puppies that are aged between 3-6 months are more susceptible. The virus is spreading through contact with feces, urine and bodily fluid. The virus will attach different body systems such as gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous system. Until today, the affected dogs with the virus were always discovered too late and it is still considered as incurable dog disease. The only effective “cure” for the disease is actually to prevent it. There are a couple of canine distemper vaccination in the market and please consult your veterinarian or breeder for more information about that. Below are some of the symptoms when a dog is infected with this virus:

• The dog is nausea and vomiting
• Discharge coming out from nose and eyes
• The footpads of the dog are rough
• Dog has asthma like symptoms (coughing)
• Do not feel like eating
• Fever once in a while
• Excessive salivation

Canine Parvovirus

This is another deadly disease among canines and the motility rates for infected young puppies are only at 20%. This disease is spreading very fast and can be fatal if treatment is not given at the right time. Most of the time, a dog gets the virus feces of another dog that has the virus. The virus has the ability to cover itself with spore and may stay inactive in your house for months. So, if you want to prevent your dog from contact with the virus, please clean your carpets, floors and other things your dog may come across. But, the virus that is in your yard can live for many months. Therefore, you really should ensure that the new puppy that you bring home has all the up to data puppy shots before you bring him/her for outdoor activities. Symptoms of a puppy that has canine parvovirus are:

• The dog has diarrhea and vomiting
• No appetite to eat or drink
• Slowness in response
• The dog has frequent drooling

It is very rare for an adult dog to get infected with parvovirus. However, if you have an adult dog that has wound, the virus could spread to that dog too. So, the solution for your dog is making sure that your dog has all the necessary vaccination.

Conclusion

The above are 3 examples of the most severe, fatal and contagious dog diseases you should be aware of. If you want your dogs to be healthy always, it is best to check with your vet and make sure that your dogs have all the up to date shots. The best way to treat all the diseases here is to prevent it. Remember that prevention is always better than cure. If you want your dogs to live for at least 10 years, you have to take care of your dogs' diet, exercise and veterinarian care.

About the Author:

Ricky Chea is a dog lover who has lived with over 20 dogs. To know more about common dog health problems, please visit: Common Dog Health Problems