Other dog viral diseases
Other canine viral diseases of note include parvovirus, distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, herpesvirus, and influenza.
Canine parvovirus causes a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection that is especially severe in puppies. It is spread through contact with infected feces. The virus attacks rapidly dividing cells, notably those in the lymph nodes, intestinal crypts, and the bone marrow. There is depletion of lymphocytes in lymph nodes and necrosis and destruction of the intestinal crypts. Symptoms and signs include vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, severe dehydration, fever, and low white blood cell counts. Although there is no specific treatment for the canine parvovirus, aggressive intravenous fluid therapy and antibiotics for dogs with secondary bacterial infections is usually required.
Photo: baysideanimalhospital.com
Canine distemper, caused by a paramyxovirus similar to the cause of measles, is a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. It is spread through either direct contact with respiratory excretions, through the air, or on fomites. Symptoms and signs include discharge from the eye or nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, and paralysis. Similar to canine parvovirus, treatment is supportive.
Infectious canine hepatitis is caused by canine adenovirus type 1. The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It causes a liver infection and a bleeding disorder. Signs and symptoms include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, tender abdomen, and spontaneous hemorrhages. Treatment is symptomatic.
Canine herpesvirus is a virus of the family Herpesviridae which most importantly causes a fatal hemorrhagic disease in puppies less than two to three weeks old. It is transmitted to puppies in the birth canal and by contact with infected oral and nasal secretions from the mother or other infected dogs, but it is not spread through the air. Signs and symptoms include depression, nasal discharge, and weakness. The inability of very young puppies to mount a febrile response seems to be a significant contributing factor to the high mortality rate in this age dog - it can reach 80 percent. In adult dogs, canine herpesvirus can cause abortion.
Canine influenza usually refers to infection with equine influenza virus H3N8. This virus was found to infect dogs in 2004, and the disease was very contagious due to the dog’s lack of natural immunity. Signs and symptoms include cough and nasal discharge, and in more severe cases fever and pneumonia. Canine influenza has a high morbidity but a low mortality.
from: wikipedia.org
information on canine diseases and their treatment
Comment by jawad — August 4, 2009 @ 6:11 pm
i am so pissed! could u not at least… warn someone about these horrible pictures u have up close and personal!? i am a dog lover and have six. i volunteer at the shelter….as a lot of other people that have been to this site. u are disgusting. u need to at least have a warning before u show these pics for anyone to see. u have been very irresponsible. i understand about getting people to help….but u have definitely went about it the wrong way!!! children can even run across this site looking for help with a pet condition. hey, u can describe the horrors to an extent, but to show these pictures of death…without a warning??? these pics are something that would be on faces of death or something else equally horrible. at least they have a warning. u need to revaluate…
Comment by lisa — August 25, 2009 @ 3:34 am