Disease

Here are some of the more common diseases found in dogs:


Giardia

Giardia are flagellated protozoa, or one-celled organisms, that are found not only in the small intestine of dogs and cats, but also in most wild animals and, actually, in a lot of people living in third-world countries.


Parvovirus
Parvovirus is a viral infection that quickly at- tacks the rapidly dividing cells in the body such as those present in the lining of the digestive tract or in developing white blood cells. Parvo then manifests itself as bloody diarrhea, vom- iting, nausea and decreased immune function. Puppies are more severely affected than adults.The hallmark of Parvo is blood stained feces with perhaps a yellowish tinge and a very dis- tinct and unpleasant smell.  Parvo itself rarely kills dogs – it is the associated dehydration and secondary infection that can be deadly. Certain breeds of dogs seem to show greater susceptibility to Parvo and most of these are black and tan breeds such as Rottweilers and Doberman Pinschers.   Fortunately, Parvo is easy for vets to diagnose.  A stool sample can be analyzed for Parvo antigen in minutes using a SNAP test.  Most vets have this simple andfast test available right in their clinic.


Distemper

Distemper is a viral dog disease which is extremely contagious. Affecting the respiratory system as well as the nervous system, this dog disease causes fever and fatigue, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, and finally seizures. And if untreated Distemper can lead to death.


Coronavirus

Coronavirus is another viral diarrhea that can affect dogs of all ages, though puppies are most at risk and will suffer the worst symptoms, from diarrhea to vomiting and weight loss, accompanied by constant drinking. At times, a dog may be infected with both Parvo and Coronavirus, in which case his symptoms will be more severe and may lead to death. 


Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is dangerous bacterial disease which can cause irreversible damage to a dog's health. Symptoms of Lyme disease include arthritis and lameness, sudden limping indicative of pain, fatigue and lack of willingness to play or even walk, depression and loss of appetite. If left untreated, Lyme disease will damage the heart, kidney and even the brain.


Jan 2015