In addition, there are many diseases that can affect, sicken, or even kill your lovely dogs.  Vaccinations are extremely important to yours and your dog’s health and it is your responsibility as a dog owner to have regular visits with the vet. Although your new puppy will likely squirm and maybe even cry when getting his shots, it is just as important for your dog as it is for your children or yourself. Don’t feel bad about it because you have a good hope for them.

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After vaccinations are given, your dog’s immune system will recognize the presence of a disease and will then create barriers or reinforcements to fight it of. These barriers only last from six months to a year, which makes regular appointments extremely important for your dog. Therefore, it’s your duty to check whenever the vet makes an appointment especially for the puppy which has to take vaccination frequently.

Canine Distemper, it is caused by a virus that attacks the body and can be damaging to the dogs central nervous system.  50 percent of dogs who contract this disease will have a fatal outcome.  It mainly affects middle aged dogs.  Puppies and older dogs are usually safe from contracting it. Regular vaccinations can prevent your dog from contracting these diseases; however you should still be aware of what they are.

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Infectious Hepatitis, it is important to your dog’s health and should not be confused with the human disease, Hepatitis which is a life threatening viral disease. All ages of dogs are at risk for this disease.  Luckily, it’s not contagious to humans.  It is transmitted through urine, saliva and feces.  

Leptospirosis also known as mud fever, sewerman’s flu and more. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect a dog’s blood, liver, and kidneys. The bacteria that cause the illness are carried primarily by rats and other rodents, but dogs that are infected with the disease can infect other dogs as well. Ingestion of the urine of an infected animal is the most common means of transmission, but the bacteria can be contracted through damaged or thin skin as well. It is an odd disease that can often show no signs or symptoms at all. In these cases the bacteria are eventually defeated by the dog’s natural defenses. Other times, and more often, however, the disease can be life threatening to the infected dog.

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The three main forms of the disease are;

1. Hemorrhagic Leptospirosis tends to start with a high fever, loss of appetite, and general lethargy. Small hemorrhages start to occur in the mouth and eyes and the dog may develop extreme bloody vomiting and diarrhea. This form of the disease is often fatal.
2. Icteric Leptospirosis will often start the same way as the hemorrhagic form; with fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. The mouth and whites of the eyes will take on a yellow appearance, similar to victims of jaundice. In some cases the dog’s skin may also appear yellow and jaundiced.
3. Renal Leptospirosis also starts with fever, appetite loss, and lethargic depression, but eventually leads to kidney failure.

All disease forms are treatable and curable and all three forms can be potentially fatal. Often dogs that survive renal Leptospirosis will have chronic kidney disease for the rest of their lives. Treatment is accomplished with the use of antibiotics and, if the disease is caught early enough, is generally successful. Cases of Leptospirosis in North America are fairly rare, thanks to the development of a vaccine.

Puppies are inoculated for the disease as early as six weeks of age and receive annual renewal shots to maintain their immunity. Vaccination and clean, hygienic conditions are the best way to avoid Leptospirosis in dogs. If the animal is not able to come into contact with disease carrying rats and their urine, the dog is unlikely to become infected, even if unvaccinated.

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The leptospirosis vaccine is the most likely of all dog vaccinations to cause an adverse reaction in the dog. This reaction is generally mild and most often includes lethargy, loss of appetite, and depression. These effects last only a few days and afterward the dog is fine and, more importantly, protected from the disease.

Leptospirosis is one of the nastier diseases a dog can get and no one wants to see his or her pet suffer with this illness. Fortunately, thanks to the existence of a good vaccine, few dogs have to endure this life threatening illness in today’s day and age.
 

Parvovirus or Parvo is a viral disease that affects dogs. The disease is highly infectious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It can be especially severe in puppies that are not protected by maternal antibodies or vaccination. It has two distinct presentations, a cardiac and intestinal form. It is far more common in puppies than adult dogs and can have serious ramifications for the infected animal, including death. Parvo grows best in the rapidly dividing cells of the dog’s intestines. As the virus attacks and kills these cells it causes massive diarrhea and halts or slows the creation of white blood cells. In young puppies it can often directly infect the heart, leading to death.

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The symptoms of Parvo start with fever, depression, and lethargy. The dog will usually experience a loss of appetite as well and then eventually show more sever signs like vomiting and diarrhea which is often bloody. Once the virus reaches this stage dehydration and death usually follow.

Parvo is carried and transmitted by dogs. The vomit and feces of an infected animal will also carry the virus which is rather resilient and can survive outside the dog’s body in the surrounding environment for as long as nine months. Sometimes an adult dog can be infected by the virus and show no symptoms but act as a carrier transmitting the virus to the other animals it comes into contact with.

There is no cure for Parvo. Dogs that are infected will die of dehydration without treatment. That treatment primarily consists of providing fluids, giving repeated blood transfusions, and preventing dehydration. The mortality rate in dogs affected by Parvo is about 20% if the dog receives treatment in time. Without treatment, about 80% of those infected will die from it. It is a very serious disease.

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Parvo tends to affect some dog breeds more than others. Dobermans, Rottweilers, and other black and tan dogs have a greater chance of contracting the virus. The reason for this is unknown but the fact that these dogs are at higher risk does not mean that owners of other types of dogs can rest easily. Dogs of any breed can become infected.

While there is no cure for Parvo, puppies can (and should) be vaccinated against it at an early age. Most vets recommend puppies be immunized starting at six weeks of age with vaccinations continuing until twenty weeks of age. Proper immunization is the best way to prevent a dog from contracting Parvo. 

Treatment ideally consists of crystalloid IV fluids and/or colloids, antinausea injections such as metoclopramide, dolasetron, ondansetron and prochlorperazine, and antibiotic injections such as cefoxitin, metronidazole, timentin, or enrofloxacin. IV fluids are administered and antinausea and antibiotic injections are given subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously. The fluids are typically a mix of a sterile, balanced electrolyte solution, with an appropriate amount of B-complex vitamins, dextrose and potassium chloride.

In addition to fluids given to achieve adequate rehydration, each time the puppy vomits or has diarrhea in a significant quantity, an equal amount of fluid is administered intravenously. The fluid requirements of a patient are determined by their body weight, weight changes over time, degree of dehydration at presentation and surface area.

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The hydration status is originally determined by assessment of clinical factors like tacky mucous membranes, concentration of the urine, sunken eyes, poor skin elasticity and bloodtests. A blood plasma transfusion from a donor dog that has already survived CPV is sometimes used to provide passive immunity to the sick dog. Some veterinarians keep these dogs on site, or have frozen serum available. There have been no controlled studies regarding this treatment.

Additionally, fresh frozen plasma and human albumin transfusions can help replace the extreme protein losses seen in severe cases and help assure adequate tissue healing. Once the dog can keep fluids down, the IV fluids are gradually discontinued, and very bland food slowly introduced. Oral antibiotics are administered for a number of days depending on the white blood cell count and the patient’s ability to fight off secondary infection.

A puppy with minimal symptoms can recover in 2 or 3 days if the IV fluids are begun as soon as symptoms are noticed and the CPV test confirms the diagnosis. However, even with hospitalization, there is no guarantee that the dog will be cured and survive.

As your dog ages, certain changes occur. There are two major areas of concern as your dog enters the twilight years. These include metabolic effects and physical effects. Both indicate the need for special treatment.

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Metabolic effects

As your dog ages, his or her metabolism slows down. The metabolic rate decreases. This is a natural aging process. When this combines with a lack of activity, including exercise, the need to absorb and use calories also decreases. As a result, your dog is subject to weight increases. To counteract this effect, you will need to adjust the caloric intake. You can accomplish this by switching to lite or lifestyle food. This will ensure the amount of food ingested matches the amount required to be healthy.

Adjusting the amount of food eaten daily will ensure the dog does not become fat or obese. Make sure you consult your Vet if you are considering a change in diet. Do not, however, make a change in dietary intake an excuse not to take your pet for a walk. Older dogs do require amounts of exercise. At this stage of life, you may reduce the strain and amounts, but never eliminate it. Exercise is a way of maintaining healthy bones, joints and movement capabilities.

The ability of your dog to competently fight off disease becomes compromised with increasing age. Your dog is a little more susceptible to various diseases and infections. While vaccines continue to defeat many types of health issues, certain problems remain. Do not place your dog in a stressful situation. This will increase the chance of them developing problems. If your pet receives a serious cut, be aware of the increased recovery rate. Avoid places and environments conducive to causal factors of diseases and illness.

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Physical effects

Different physical changes occur as the pet’s body ages. These range from the obvious to the less overt. They are all part of the natural aging process. You cannot reverse them. You need to recognize them. You need to adjust to the alterations and make sure they have no negative impact on you and your dog’s relationship.

The skin of your elder canine is no longer as elastic as it was in the past. It is now thicker. The footpads and claws also change in flexibility, sensitivity and appearance. Claws are no brittle. Joints and muscles become stiff and knotty if the dog develops arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Some dogs have a genetic predisposition towards osteoarthritis. Check to see if this is true of your pet. While you cannot eliminate this problem, you can manage it. Adopt a system of appropriate exercise. Keep the weight of your dog under control. You do not need extra pounds straining the capabilities of joints. Medication may also help. In addition, you can consider various alternative treatments. These include visiting a chiropractor or using massage.

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You may also notice teeth loss and gum problems. Gum retraction and gingivitis are possible. The dog’s teeth are often, by this time, blunter. Make sure there are not serious difficulties. Have your vet describe things to look for. You can avoid or reduce some of these problems through consistent dental hygiene. In other words, brush your dog’s teeth regularly. When he or she visits the vet, include a dental check-up.

There are many other possible physical problems to consider part of the reality of old age. Humans and pets share many of these common ailments. As the body ages, human of canine, it does exhibit various changes. A dog may suffer from incontinence or the prostrate may enlarge. The chance of cardiac enlargement increases. Some dogs become senile.

The extent of the difficulties depends upon many different factors. The breed of your dog, the size, gender and upbringing all affect the types and degree of health issues and physical problems. How you address the situation and treat your dog will also influence the outcome. You have an unwritten and unspoken contract with your dog. Live up to it.

Information written by Anthoney Morrison of www.ohmydogsupplies.com, where you can find a fantastic collection of large dog clothes online.

Heartworms are parasitic worms that are common in both dogs and cats. Like their name suggests, they live in the dog’s heart, normally free-floating in the right ventricle and nearby blood vessels. The worms are transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes which pass the worm larvae through their saliva. The presence of heartworms can be very dangerous to the dog’s health.

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Although the dog will not display signs of infection until it has progressed considerably, heartworms can be life threatening and are sometimes difficult to detect and diagnose.

How do we know?

When a dog is first infected with heartworms, there are literally no signs and the presence of heartworms can not be detected even with a blood test. Once the worm larva reaches the heart and matures, however, signs that are detectible by X-ray start to develop almost immediately. These include damage to the blood vessels around the heart and lungs. It is rare that a dog will be infected by only one worm and as the mature worms in the heart grow in size and number, the conditions worsen, eventually causing a blockage of blood flow. It is at this point that the dog will start to display physical signs which can include pain, hypertension, difficulty breathing, lethargy or even fainting.

In extremely progressed cases the dog can suffer from heart failure and death although by the time the heartworm disease has reached this stage the owner has probably realized that something is going on and sought veterinary care.

How to Treat them?

Once a dog has been diagnosed as having heartworms, treatment must be started. What this treatment is and how it is administered is dependant on the stage of heartworm infection. Generally, there are four stages of heartworm disease.

• Stage One – Dogs at the lowest risk – heartworms are detected in X-rays but all other tests appear normal.
• Stage Two – Dogs are moderately infected, may have some difficulty breathing and be demonstrating coughing
• Stage Three – Dogs are severely affected & may display weight loss, have difficulty breathing, blood tests likely show kidney and/or liver damage
• Stage Four – Dogs have Vena Cava Syndrome and are in shock, essentially dying – surgery may be undertaken to remove worms, but there is no guarantee that it will save the dog.

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When it comes to heartworms in dogs, prevention truly is the best medicine.  The best time to begin a preventative treatment is early in puppy-hood, before the dog is seven months old since dogs older than seven months are at a great risk for adverse reactions to the preventative treatments.