We all know about this disease. But most of us mistakenly believe that it occurs mainly in dogs. This is false as it can occur in any warm blooded animal: raccoons, bats, foxes, humans, anyone. The disease is contracted when the saliva of a rabid dog diffuses into the bloodstream of its victims.

Quick Look at Rabies

Using the bloodstream as the medium the virus then attacks the brain and through the neural pathways reaches the salivary glands where they begin to multiply. A long distance between the location of the wound or bite and the brain can delay the arrival of the symptoms.

Causes: encephalitis, or the inflammation of brain.

Symptoms: shift in behavioral patterns. For ex- a shy dog can become unnaturally aggressive. The dog may also start vomiting and have diarrhea with a slight fever. In the advanced stages almost all dogs become very furious. They tend to bite anything that comes in the path.

This violent strain is what is called the mad dog behavior. This is followed by sporadic convulsions and setting in of paralysis. As the head muscles paralyses the jaw drops open and the tongue hangs out. The dog is extremely thirsty and has difficulty swallowing. Resultantly, the dog drools. In the final stages paralysis takes over the whole body and the dog slowly dies.

Constipation and Flatulence

As your dog ages his muscles also slowly stiffen up. Resultantly it may not be able for it to function as smoothly as it used to. It may loose its flexibility and elasticity. So it is with the muscles lining the rectum and the colon. With the loss of tractability it may not be able to propel the feces out as smoothly as it could.

Resultantly what happens is that it has difficulty defecating. Another cause of constipation can be that the stomach and intestinal juices are drying up thereby forming a very stiff mass of stool that requires a lot of strain on the dog’s part to expel out of the system. Another reason for constipation can surely be the relative abundance of dry food in the diet of the dog or reduce water intake.

Another very significant cause for constipation can be the enlargement of the prostrate gland that presses against the rectum. You must also ask the vet to check for any kinds of tumors that may be obstructing the path of the feces. If constipation continues then it will stretch the rectal muscles thus aggravating the problem further.

If the condition of your dog advances to this stage then there won’t be many options, but that of enemas and fecal softeners that would lubricate the rectal pathway and facilitate the movement of the feces. The longer the stool remains inside the colon the worse for the dog. The bacterium in the stool starts working and results in putrefaction that generates a lot of gas and causes the dog all the more anguish.

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In the world of canines, many diseases and infections exist everywhere, even in the most sophisticated homes and yards. Diagnosing a dog disease comes from seeing the symptoms your dog may show and then having the necessary tests done to find the exact cause of the disease. The top canine diseases are canine viral hepatitis, bloating, aortic steonosis, distemper and the parvovirus. With proper health care and diet, dogs can live a healthy life as your faithful companion for many years.

Diagnosis of Dog Diseases- Canine Viral Hepatitis

This viral disease affects younger dogs and puppies. Affecting the liver and inner lining of the blood vessels, this disease is transmitted from dog to dog by way of a discharge from the infected dog. Some symptoms of the disease stomach bleeding, increased thirst, lack of appetite, vomiting and a tender stomach when touched. Dogs do show discomfort when experiencing canine viral hepatitis.

Diagnosis of Dog Diseases- Bloating

A life threatening and serious problem in dogs, also called gastric dilation volvulus, comes from over eating as well as other health problems. Some breeds are prone to this because of their breed, but others just plain over eat. The symptoms of bloating are a restless dog and a fat looking stomach that happens quickly. Dry heaves follow such a condition and proper diagnosis is required by tests. Sometimes taking food away for twenty-four hours will help reduce the bloating problem in your dog.

Diagnosis of Dog Diseases- Canine Distemper

Canine distemper is a viral infection that affects the immune system and can lead to serious complications if not death. This disease is contracted from contact with the excretions of an infected dog. Airborne particles can also contribute to infecting other dogs. Dogs rarely survive, but when they do, they suffer from muscle spasms and convulsions. The symptoms of a fever over 104 degrees, depression, pus in the eyes, convulsions, diarrhea and vomiting, if you see these signs, you need to contact your vet immediately. Proper vaccination of your dog prevents this viral disease from taking the life or livelihood of your companion.

Diagnosis of Dog Diseases- Aortic Steonosis

Aortic steonosis is an obstruction of the blood vessel that carries blood from the left ventricle and is an inherited health problem. No symptoms are visible for mild cases, but severe cases prevent the dog from any type of exercise. Dogs tend to faint when performing any kind of exercise due to the severity of the blockage. If your dog shows symptoms of fainting, tests will determine the exact cause and the vet will describe treatment objectives.

Diagnosis of Dog Diseases- Canine Parvovirus

Puppies under six months of age succumb to this particular disease. The intestinal tract, lymphoid tissue, immune system and the bone marrow are affected. Symptoms may be vomiting, convulsion weight loss and dehydration with coughing. For some puppies, death is immediate. Puppies need proper medical attention and proper vaccinations to prevent such an untimely demise.

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Sometimes, it can be hard to tell whether dogs actually have an ailment. Since not everyone takes their dog to the vet on a regular basis, I figured it would be helpful to know more about dog health, recognize symptoms and detect diseases at an early stage.

One of the most common dog diseases I’ve read about is distemper, which is a viral infection. If your dog suffers from diarrhea, fever, heavy nasal discharge and coughing, then your dog may have possibly been infected by another animal. Distemper is a really fatal disease, and unfortunately, all we can do is prevent it and protect our pets from it through proper vaccination.

The Parvovirus attacks a dog’s intestinal tract, making it more prone to an infection. Symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection are vomiting, diarrhea where the discharge has a foul smell and is often with blood. The virus can also attack the cardiac system, in which case the dog will have difficulty breathing (caused by an inflammation of heart muscles). If you suspect that your pet has been infected by the Parvovirus, contact your vet immediately so he can initiate the treatment right away. This virus can manifest symptoms within just a few hours, which also means though that if left undetected even for just a couple of days, the results could be fatal.

One common respiratory disease among canines is the Kennel cough. It is a type of bronchitis that is caused by a complex of infections that dogs can be exposed to when kept in areas with poor air circulation and warm air. Again, vaccination is the best way to keep your dog from being infected. But once you suspect that your dog may already have the Kennel cough, you should take your pet to the vet where it will be given proper antibiotics. Your dog may also be given cough suppressants to give your dog relief from constant coughing while recovering from the infection.

Lastly, the following are some symptoms that when manifested, it means you’ve got no time to lose in asking your vet for help:

Vomiting or Diarrhea – especially when discharge is bloody
Difficulty urinating – bloody urine, loss of appetite
Unusual eye conditions – blinking more than normal, scratching or rubbing the eyes
Foul discharge – inflamed skin, excessive licking of wounds (especially old wounds)
Physical trauma – difficulty with movement, difficulty urinating, coughing

The one thing that all complications in dog health have is that they can all be prevented with proper pet care, meaning getting your dog the vaccinations he needs at the right age and at the proper intervals. Another thing is that pet care is especially important when your pet is still at a young age, because this is when even minor infections can bring your pet’s life in danger.

I personally find that knowing what to look for and what to do when you find something takes a lot of worries from my head since I’m not able to take my puppies to the vet on a regular basis.

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We have all heard about rabies affecting dogs and cats when we first adopted a pet. We even hear of cases happening around our city or town on occasion. The state often has laws that you must follow, especially with dogs regarding rabies shots to make sure there are no outbreaks, but what is rabies? Why can it be such a traumatic experience for both you and your dog?

Rabies is a virus. The dog or human can actually contract the virus, which is why many states have made the vaccinations a law. A carrier of the disease can spread it through biting. This means if your dog comes into contact with a rabid animal and is bitten the virus will be transmitted. You will find that rabies does not live long outside of the host and therefore the transmission via air is usually impossible unless you are in some enclosed space like a cave with bats. Most often the rabies is shed by the saliva and that is why when bitten it transfers to the new animal. For dogs the disease can be deadly and there are really no ways of testing for rabies in animals without harming the dog. For humans there is treatment.

One of the reasons I keep mentioning humans along with dogs is that most dogs have owners and when they become infected it will affect your care just as much as the dogs. It is important to understand that you and your dog can be harmed if you don?t take the proper care. When you are out walking with your dog you should take care that they don?t run off in the woods, or that they don?t engage another animal in a fight or play that could be a carrier. It is best to always pay close attention to your dog and make sure you stay in the safe zones. Even if you are in the woods there are precautions you can take. You will also find that the vaccinations of rabies required for your dog will help them be immune to the disease in the unlikely event they do come into contact with a carrier. There are about 15% of exposed individuals that will contract the disease. For dogs there has been only about 100,000 cases a year that contract rabies in the entire world.

There are symptoms to look for if you believe your dog has come into contact with a rabies carrying animal. First the incubation can last for 3 to 8 weeks. Then they will experience the first stage, which last 2-3 days. There is a difference in character from apprehension nervousness, anxiety, and fever. They then move to the second stage that last 1 to 7. They become restless and irritable. The third stay is marked by an inability to swallow, face muscle weakness, and labored breathing. They then go into respiratory failure and can die.

To test for rabies a brain exam is needed. In some new testing the skin or blood can be studies, but this is not as effective as doing a microscopic exam of the brain. Unfortunately there is no treatment once the disease develops and most often death will occur. There have been rare cases that a dog has survived. This means that it is very important for the vaccination and prevention of the disease. If you do not take care you are at risk in life as well once infected. Make sure that you speak with your vet about the proper vaccinations and if there are requirements for more than one vaccination in the life of the dog. Usually there are stages in the growth period where the rabies vaccination should be given.

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A good diet and plenty of exercise are important to a dog’s health, but they can’t make a dog totally immune to illness. Early detection is the key to helping your dog overcome any health problem. If your pet’s stools become very loose, or you notice a marked decrease in your dog’s appetite and/or that she is very lethargic, she may just have a short-term “bug.” On the other hand, if any symptoms continue for more than a few days, you should have your veterinarian examine her for parasites and infections.

Diarrhea is a common symptom in dogs, especially puppies. It can be triggered by stress or a sudden change in food, but also by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Diarrhea causes dehydration, which can be deadly to dogs. It is extremely dangerous in puppies, because they dehydrate faster than mature dogs.

If your dog has diarrhea for more than a day, contact your veterinarian for further instructions. You will probably be asked to collect a sample and bring it in so they can examine it to determine the cause and proper treatment.

Coughing, sneezing, and discharge from your dog’s nose and/or eyes often indicate a respiratory infection. A lethargic dog with no appetite is likely fighting an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI). URI, caused by airborne viruses and bacteria, is highly contagious among dogs, but is not transmitted between dogs and humans. Early detection of URI is important; ignored dogs suffer from severe dehydration and risk developing pneumonia.

Bortadella, also called ‘kennel cough” is another contagious respiratory disease commonly contracted in animal shelters, boarding kennels, or anywhere groups of dogs have close contact with one another. It is a short-term disease, and most dogs get over it with a few days of rest and tender loving care from you. It is possible to have your dog vaccinated against Bortadella – a good idea if you plan on boarding her or placing her in “doggie daycare.”

Vaccinations are also available to protect your dog against more deadly diseases such as rabies, distemper and parvovirus. Most municipalities require that all dogs are vaccinated against rabies; some include distemper and parvovirus as well. Making these vaccinations mandatory protects the health of all dogs, and, in the case of rabies, human health as well. If your dog was vaccinated as a puppy, she’s off to a good start. However, without yearly booster shots, your dog is at risk of great suffering from one of these diseases.

Dogs serve as hosts to a number of parasites. You will probably be asked to bring a fecal sample to your dog’s yearly vet appointment, so that the staff can check for the presence of internal parasites. If you notice small, rice-like granules on your pet’s bedding or around her anus, she is suffering from an infestation of worms and needs to be seen by your vet to get proper treatment. Other parasites take up residence on the outside of your dog’s body. Mange and sarcoptic mites live on the hair follicles and skin of dogs, while ear mites live on the inside of the ear. These parasites are so small you might not see them, but they cause your dog extreme discomfort. Head shaking and pawing at ears are signs of ear mites. Frequent scratching and skin-biting can indicate either skin mites or a dog’s worst enemy: fleas.

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Dog Diseases number in the scores, just as in humans. But, veterinarians tend to see some much more than others. Sadly, a great deal of grief could be avoided if more dog owners were careful to see that their pets are immunized regularly against preventable dog diseases.

While experts, as usual, may differ, what are the top ten dog diseases? Here’s a list (not necessarily in order of seriousness) with a brief explanation of each disease:

Distemper:

Of all the dog diseases, the American Veterinary Medical Association considers the distemper virus to be the worst canine disease threat to dogs world wide. Distemper is fatal in 80% of puppies and 50% of adults. All dogs are extremely vulnerable, and should be vaccinated, with subsequent boosters in keeping the recommendation of a Veterinarian.

Parvovirus (Parvo):

Parvovirus is a worldwide dog disease. It is extremely contagious, especially among puppies, and can overwhelm a dog leading to death within 48 to 72 hours after exposure. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and severe diarrhea. Parvo vaccination is essential with booster shots as recommended.

Rabies:

Rabies is a virus and becomes fatal when symptoms appear. Because rabies can be fatal to humans and other mammals, state and local laws uniformly require rabies vaccination, many mandating booster shots yearly.

Kennel Cough:

This is a respiratory disease especially prevalent in kennels and shelters. There are a variety of virus strains, including Bortadella. Symptoms can include a dry hacking cough along with inflammation of the larynx, bronchial tubes and trachea. Vaccination, as often as every six months is recommended.

Leptospirosis:

Symptoms of Leptospirosis include lethargy, kidney inflammation, low-grade fever, vomiting, reddening of the mucous membranes and conjunctiva, and blood clotting abnormalities. Since it is a bacterial disease, also found in humans, it is treated with antibiotics. Veterinarians are often reluctant to innoculate against this dog disease, since there is questionable effectiveness, and puppies can have adverse reactions.

Infectious canine hepatitis:

While this dog disease often manifests itself with mild symptoms such as a slight fever or slight lethargy, it can, in some instances become fatal. Recovery is usually rapid. Vaccination is recommended.

Lyme Disease:

Symptoms of Lyme Disease in dogs will include lethargy, joint pain, lack of appetite, lymph node enlargement, and fever. Lyme Disease is bacterial and is spread by ticks. Treatment is with tetracycline, an antibiotic. The available vaccine is not generally recommended.

Coronavirus:

Diarrhea and vomiting are symptomatic of this dog disease so it can be confused with parvovirus. Other indications are loss of appetite, smelly diarrhea, lethargy and dehydration. Replacement of lost fluids and control of vomiting and diarrhea are the recommended treatments. A vaccine is not generally recommended.

Obesity:

Just as in humans, this dog disease is a serious medical problem. Frequently, obese humans own obese dogs. Obviously, limiting food intake, withholding human food and enough exercise will contribute to a dogs longer life.

Heartworm:

Heartworms are parasites that grow and multiply, infesting the chambers in the heart, arteries in the lungs. Symptoms appear gradually, usually manifested in easy tiring, lethargy and a soft cough. If not treated, it eventually brings on death by congestive heart failure in a once active animal. Prevention with products such as HartGard is recommended.

Your veterinarian should give you a certificate showing your pet’s immunization against the common dog diseases. Ask for a wallet sized card which you can carry with you.

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Like all pet animals, dogs too are prone to lots of diseases. To keep the dogs free from the diseases, they should be understood first and accordingly treated well with the assistance of the veterinarian. Some of the common dog diseases are discussed below:

Rabies: Rabies is a very common dog disease caused by a virus affecting the central nervous system of the dog. Rabies is known to be spread through saliva. There are several stages observed in the dogs. In the first stage the dogs are seen with a behavior change, in the second stage the dogs become very violent and in the third stage body parts of the dogs stop coordinating with each other. There is no cure till now for this deadly disease.

Bloat: This is a serious condition of the dog. The stomach of the dog gets twisted, which is due to over eating. The symptoms of bloat are restlessness and depression combined with dry heaves.

Distemper: It is considered to be the worst dog disease worldwide. This leads to fatal condition of the puppies up to 80 percent and adult dogs up to 50 percent. The common symptoms of this disease are congestion in the chest, coughing, diarrhea, gunky eyes, nasal discharge etc. At later stages it affects the nervous system of the dogs leading to paralysis. It is a highly contagious dog disease. It can be transmitted from the feces of the infected dog. This dog disease too does not have any cure.

Parvovirus: It is a very contagious disease affecting the intestinal tract of the dogs. It is also said to affect the heart of the dogs. The symptoms of this disease are severe diarrhea, depression, decrease of appetite. The feacel matter of the dog is found to be in a different color with blood stains. The symptoms appear within hours of the infestation and can even kill the dog within 2 to 3 days of infection. Hence, it is considered as a deadly disease.

Kennel Cough: It is very common among dogs. It is a kind of respiratory disease. This can be easily treated.

Canine Viral Hepatitis. This disease affects the liver, kidney and the blood vessels of the dogs. The common symptoms are profuse thirst, vomiting, hemorrhages, loss of appetite etc. This virus too spreads through the faeces of the dogs.

Leptospirosis: This disease is caused by bacteria and, even human beings get affected by the bacteria. There are several species of bacteria found to produce the disease in dogs. The common symptoms include lethargy, fever, kidney inflammation, clotting of blood and conjunctivitis. In more chronic conditions it can produce pneumonia, intestinal inflammation and jaundice.

Heartworm: Heartworms are a kind of parasites which multiply and grow, causing infection in the chambers of the heart and arteries of the lungs. The symptoms may start with mild cough, fatigue and lethargy. If it is not treated properly it can lead to congestive heart failure.

Retinal Dysplasia: Abnormal development of the retina is the disorder. This is very common in most of the dog breeds. The minor forms lead to vision problems and the acute forms leads to total blindness in dogs. Cataract can also accompany with this disorder.

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Like all the domestic animals, dogs are susceptible to many diseases. So in order to keep them healthy, it is necessary to understand the various diseases they can suffer from. Here is your quick guide on common dog diseases:

Rabies: This disease is caused due to a virus which affects the central nervous system of the dog. It generally spreads through the saliva. Rabies has several stages. In the first stage, there appears some behavior changes in your dog. As it reaches the second stage, the dog becomes very aggressive and by the third stage the body parts of the dog stop coordinating with each other. Once encountered the disease, there remains no cure.

Distempter: This is considered as the biggest threat to the whole population of the dog species. The symptoms are heavy nasal discharge, congestion in the chest, weight loss, coughing, gunky eyes and diarrhea. As the disease reaches its later stages, it has a direct effect on the nervous system of the dog causing paralysis. It is a contagious disease and the virus can be encountered by the air. Even by coming in contact with the excretion of the infected dog, the healthy dog can get afflicted. Once the dog is infected, then there is no cure for the disease. This deadly disease can be prevented by giving a proper vaccination to the dog.

Bloat: It is a serious disorder in a dog, wherein there occurs a twisting in the stomach of the animal. It generally occurs due to over eating. If the dog appears restless and depressed with dry heaves, then you must treat him for bloat.

Parvovirus: This virus is a fast killer as the symptoms can be seen in the dogs within hours of the virus attack, even killing the dog within 48-72 hours. It is a contagious disease and directly attacks the intestinal tract of the dog’s digestive system. The effect of the virus can also be seen on the heart of the dog. The symptoms include depression, severe form of diarrhea, vomiting and also loss of appetite. In this disease the color of the feacel matter changes and often have blood stains.

Canine Viral Hepatitis: This disease directly targets the kidney, the liver and the blood vessels of the dog. The symptoms include loss in appetite, intense thirst, vomiting and hemorrhages. The virus of the disease spreads through the faecel matter of the other dogs. The dogs can be prevented from this disease by administering them with the vaccination.

Kennel Cough: This is the most common respiratory disease among the dogs, wherein a typical kind of cough can be seen in the dogs. If given proper treatment, the disorder can be mended.

Leptospirosis: It is a bacterial disease. It spreads through the excretion of the animals. If human beings any how come in contact with this virus, they can also be infected. There is not one but several species of bacterias that produce this disease in dogs. The common symptoms of this disease are kidney inflammation, lethargy, conjuctivita, low grade fever and even sometimes clotting of blood. If the disease is more chronic the symptoms can be jaundice, pneumonia and intestinal inflammation.

Retinal Dysplasia: It is a disorder where there is an abnormal development of the retina. There occurs folds in the outer layers of the retina. It is the most common type of disease that is present in most of the breeds of dogs. A minor form of dysplasia causes minor vision problems, whereas an acute one can lead to total blindness in dogs. Cataract is also accompanied by this disorder.

Lyme Disease: It is a bacterial disease that is spread by ticks. The dog suffers from joint pains, loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. Tetracycline, an antibiotic is used for the treatment of this disease.

It is thus important to detect early symptoms of these diseases in your pet dogs and meet your vet as soon as possible. This will not only keep your dog healthy but will also keep it away from any of the life threatening diseases.

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