Dog Disease Glossary Part 1

Information about different diseases that can affect your dog.

During his or her lifetime, your dog might be affected by any of several common ailments.
Fortunately, there are vaccinations for many of these problems. The type of care you will seek is preventive. This is better than reactive treatment. There is more than a little truth in the old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

There are many different types of diseases and health issues that can affect the health of your dog. They may be viral, bacterial and parasitical. Below is a brief glossary on several common health problems your dog may meet and avoid during his or her lifetime.

Distemper

Distemper is a viral disease. It is highly contagious. Distemper affects the respiratory, digestive and nervous systems. Those most susceptible to the disease are puppies and adults. The ages to watch are between 8 and 16 weeks old.  Distemper is a serious disease. It is potentially fatal. It can spread from an infected animal to others through bodily secretions. An uninfected dog comes into contact with the material discharged from the infected animal’s nose or eyes. It can also spread through feces, urine and through the air. It can come into your home on your shoes. Signs of distemper include a runny nose. He or she may sneeze. The dog may suffer from weight loss and diarrhea. There may be coughing. The appetite decreases and the dog becomes lethargic. An advanced case of distemper involves neurological symptoms such as seizures. Dogs can live through distemper. Many that do so suffer damage to their eyes and nose. It is best to avoid the disease all together. Make sure your dog gets its distemper shot.

Heartworm

Heartworm is another serious disease. It can be fatal. The disease is caused by an invasion of the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. This is a large parasitic worm. It gets its name because of its choice of residence - your dog’s heart.  The heartworm gains foothold through the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito bite includes the larvae of the heartworm. It incubates within this new canine host, matures and reproduces. The result is damage to the heart, lungs and liver. While not all mosquitos carry heartworm, increasingly the problem is beginning to spread across certain areas of the United States and Canada. It is no longer a strictly regional disease. Heartworm is now found in all 50 of the United States. It can be treated. This, however, involves the hospitalization of your dog. The treatment involves killing off the adult worms and/or the microfilariae (baby worms). Such measures tend to be costly.  As with the case of such diseases as distemper and rabies, it is better to take preventive action. There are several types of heartworm medication on the market. All have proven effective against the parasite. Follow the instructions and you can drastically lower the chances of your dog getting heartworm.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis

Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) is viral in nature. It is highly contagious. The disease starts in the tonsils. From here, it spreads to the lymph nodes and into the bloodstream. An dog remains contagious up to 9 months following recovery.  Recovery is possible, but not always probable. ICH may be mild, expressing itself in minor symptoms. The dog may be lethargic and not eat. In more drastic cases, there is bloody diarrhea, collapsing and death. All this can be avoided with a simple vaccination.

Conclusion

There are many different types of diseases and health issues affecting your pet. Distemper,
Heartworm and ICH are 3. The second part of this article will look at more problems affecting the health of your dog.
Article written by Butch Flarity – for more dog articles by  Butch, see the recent topics on dog carriers & dog training tips.

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