Dog Health Information
There are many dog health issues your dog could go through in a life time. Some are genetic, exposure to the elements, old age or develop from genetic traits in the breed. Disease, body ailments, parasites, de-worming, flea and tick control, accident injury, spay and neuter operations and vaccinations and shots are all health topics you will need to know some information about. We love our dogs because they are essentially apart of our family. We will protect them from harm and aid them in recovery. Prevention is the best way but some times things are our of our control.
In all cases, consult with a professional veterinarian or dog expert when dealing with dog health issues. We will only provide knowledge for understanding these ailments. We do not provide treatment. I leave that up to the professionals.
Dog Diseases
Many dog diseases can be prevented by proper vaccinations through out the dog's life. Early as 4 - 6 weeks old, puppies can begin a life long treatment of vaccinations and shots. Monitoring your dog, allowing them only to play with dogs you know are healthy, will also limit there chances of contracting a disease or parasite. Some of the most common diseases to look our for are:
Distemper - This highly contagious air bourne virus affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous system. Symptoms include, runny eyes and nose, cough, fever, diarrhea, paralysis and seizures. Rabies - This viral infection is often contracted through a bite from an infected animal. The disease can affect any mammal including humans. The virus attacks the central nervous system causing brain infection which will lead to death. Symptoms often are seen as over produced saliva and aggressive behaviors. Parvovirus - This disease is contracted from contaminated feces. Dogs with out treatment will die in a few days most likely from dehydration. The symptoms are loss of appetite, depression, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Corona - Is a similar disease to the parvovirus, attacking the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms are also similar. Leptospirosis - Dogs may develop this by coming in contact with contaminated urine, saliva, or nasal secretions. It attacks the kidneys causing vomiting, diarrhea, fever, jaundice and it can leave your dog with permanent kidney damage. Kennel Cough - Highly contagious, it infects the respiratory system resulting in a severe cough. If left alone dogs may develop pneumonia. Hepatitis - This canine form of the disease is spread through feces, urine or saliva of other animals already infected. Affecting the kidneys, liver and blood vessels, dogs will develop fevers, tissue swelling and hemorrhaging. |
There are many other diseases dogs can contract. Please click for a list of other dog diseases and ailments.
Dog Body Ailments
Often dogs can have body ailments due to prior injury, rough housing, over eating and breed characteristics. For instance, longer dogs, such as the basset hound, will be more prone to back issues if allowed to jump up on people and objects. Not all body ailments are life threatening but can leave your dog unable to perform daily activities Common dog body ailments are:
Bloat - This serious body ailment is the result of a dog's aggressive over eating habits causing a twisted stomach. With gas build up and lack of blood supply to the twisted tissue, your dog will die if untreated. Symptoms are often seen as depression, dry heaving and restlessness.
Eye Ailments - There are numerous diseases that cause symptoms in the eyes. Non disease ailments include lodged debris such as sticks, dirt and seeds. Chemicals, smoke and other irritants can reduce your dogs site, and cause conjunctivitis or keratitis.
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Conjunctivitis - Often caused by debris lodged in the eye causing inflammation of the mucous membrane, lining the inner surface of the eye lid and eye ball surface.
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Keratitis - Is either inflammation or an ulceration of the cornea.
Hernias - A rip or tear in the abdominal wall allowing internal organs to bulge through. Painful and discomforting for dogs it is often caused by being struck in the abdominal region. There are several types of hernias including diaphragmatic hernias and umbilical hernias. Hernias are fixed through surgery.
Ear Health - Dog are prone to all sorts of ear related ailments. Dogs with longer or larger ears are more prone to issues. Otorrhea or ear cankers can be located on the outer and inner part of the ear. Dogs that shake there head frequently or paw at their ears may have an ear canker. Hematomas can also develop in or around the ear canal. Many factors of ear ailments can be prevented with proper cleaning.
Dysplasia - Often found in the hip or elbow can drastically reduce movement and alter the gait of the dog. Dysplasia also causes severe pain, discomfort and arthritis in the joints. This is usually found in larger breeds of dogs but even in small animals such as cats can develop dysplasia. Hip Dysplasia is characterized as a genetic disease. Factors of every day life such as obesity from over feeding, poor nutrition and lack of exercise can further effect dogs with Hip dysplasia. Elbow Dysplasia, an abnormality of the elbow joint, can often be related to osteochondrosis.
Back - Dog back problems can be associated with breed traits such as dogs with long necks or backs. Trauma to the spine is also a contributing factor to back problems. Muscle problems, soreness, lack of movement are all issues dogs can face with a back injury. Intervertebral disk disease can also lead to severe back problems, causing degeneration and protrusion of the disk.
Dog Parasites
Parasites such as worms, mites, ticks, fleas all like to spend their time living in or on your dog causing much discomfort, sapping energy and leading to serious health problems. There are 5 different types of worms that can be found inside of a dog.
Roundworms - The most common type of dog worm. These parasites affect the intestinal tract causing your dog to have a swollen mid section, frequent vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss. Puppies are more at risk to have roundworms. Contracted through the mother before birth, after birth through the mothers milk or in the soil. Roundworm eggs can stay dormant for several years in dirt. For roundworm medicine click here.
Tapeworms - Named after the tape like appearance, they are contracted through ingesting infected fleas and affects the intestines. The symptoms are vomiting, weight loss, nervousness and abdominal pain. For tapeworm medicine click here.
Hookworms - Hookworms get their name for the ability to hook on to the intestinal walls. From there they slowly suck the blood resulting in blood loss or anemia. Like roundworms, hookworms can also be a parasite found in humans. Dogs of all ages can contract hookworms. Symptoms are anemia, weight loss, bloody stools and low energy levels. For hookworm medicine click here.
Heartworms - Easily prevented through heartworm medication, these tiny worms are contracted through infected mosquito's that bite the dog. The heartworm will attack the muscles and tissues of the heart resulting in heart failure if untreated. Symptoms are shown only when the dog reaches the advanced stages resulting in coughing, lack of energy, dull coat and a swollen mid section. Since symptoms are not shown until your dog is in immediate danger, it is best to start your dog on a heartworm medication for prevention. For heartworm medicine click here.
Whipworms - Are one of the smallest and hardest worm parasites to get rid of. They often attach themselves to the lower regions of the intestinal tract near or in the colon. Similar to hookworms they can cause severe intestinal bleeding. Symptoms include, bloody stools, anemia, weight loss, gas, diarrhea. For whipworm medicine click here. |
Consult with your veterinarian if you have the slightest belief that your dog has contracted a dog worm parasite. Prevention in many cases will protect your dog. Some of these worms can enter humans as well so take the necessary precautions.
De-worming Your Dog
Puppies should begin preventative medicine as early as 2 weeks old. Treatment should continue as the puppies age and if there is an increased risk, such as infected mother, treatment should go till about 6 months of age. After this a good heartworm medication effective against hookworms and roundworms is recommended.
Remove dog stools found in their environment. Do not allow your dog access to eat other animal feces. If you see worms such as the tapeworm in the dog's stools contact your veterinarian for care. Dogs with more freedom to run around outside are at a higher risk than indoor dogs. Puppies are also more prone to contracting a worm parasite than adults.
Fleas, Ticks and Mites
Fleas, ticks and mites are called ectoparasites. They live on or burrow into the skin of your dog. They may spend most of their life on one animal or travel around between different animals and species. This means a tick may attach themselves to you. Ticks will put you and your dog at risk for lyme disease which can be deadly if not treated.
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Fleas - These tiny little wingless blood sucking insect is a cause for headache and torment. Not just for the dog but for people as well. There are over 2500 different species of fleas but the most common are the cat flea. A nuisance not because of the biting but an allergic reaction your pet may have to the flea's saliva. The result of the reaction is excessive biting, chewing and scratching themselves. Treatment in the form of medication, collars, drops and sprays are all available to fight off these little invaders. Since only adult fleas live on your pet, their eggs and larva may live in your carpet and other fibers. Cleaning the dogs environment is a must to completely rid your self of fleas. 
Ticks - Are larger than fleas and account for as many as 800 different types. They attach to a host and feed off of the blood. Like fleas their saliva can also cause irritation but it can also transfer different diseases and illnesses. Rocky mountain spotted fever, canine ehrlichiosis and lyme are the most common. It is best to remove a tick as soon as possible if you find one. Do not slap, press or pinch the tick as it can push more saliva into the dog. Using tweezers, gently grab as close to the skin as possible and pull out quickly. 
Mites - Are found all over the world. currently there are 30,000 known species but more are found all the time. Those that inhabit the skin of animals are called ectoparasitic. An outbreak or infestation of mites, called acariasis, can cause dermatitis also known as mange. The most common mites found on dogs are ear mites, scabies and demodectic mange.
To protect your loving dog, prevent fleas, ticks and mites by using medication, drops, sprays or flea collars to deter these parasites. Speak with your veterinarian for help if your dog has fleas, ticks, or mites.
Spay and Neuter Operations
These operations put an end to your dogs ability to reproduce. Spaying is for female dogs while neutering is generally used for male dogs. Technically the process for male dogs is called castrating, while the term neutering is used to describe the act on both sexes. There has been some known side effects to neutering. Cancer, thyroid disease and joint problems are just a few. Benefits of neutering can help reduce pet population, limiting the number of pets that have to go into shelters and be euthanized. Better behaved dogs, and health concerns associated with dog's sexual organs are no longer a problem. Plus your dog is less likely to run away from home and mark territory.
It is best to perform these operation while the dog is a puppy. Spayed female dogs, before their first heat cycle, are less likely to develop problems later in life such as breast cancer. The choice is up to you as a pet owner.
Dog Vaccination and Shots
These shots stimulate the immune system to understand how to recognize and fight off diseases. The vaccination is a lesser form or stripped down version of the disease. It allows the dogs immune system the ability to create an antibody that can destroy the virus. Once learned the immune system will remember how to develop those antibodies and stop the disease from entering the dogs system.
Some dogs may react to the vaccination with flu like symptoms. Fever, sore muscles, and excessive sleeping is common, especially in smaller breeds.
Vaccinations are not 100 percent guaranteed. In rare cases a dog may still contract the disease even after a vaccination was given. This does not mean vaccinations can be skipped. All dogs should have them done. Certain breeds are also more prone to catch certain diseases and may need further vaccinations.
It is recommended to vaccinate your dog against; Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, corona virus, lyme disease, rabies, bordetella, and giardia. Speak with your veterinarian to begin your vaccination process or to continue vaccinations where your breeder has left off.
In all health concerns we only provide some knowledge for you to understand things that can put your dog at risk. Do not look at this site with answers to your dogs health. Your veterinarian is the real expert and should be contacted if you have any health concerns.
Prevention is important for having a healthy loving dog.
