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Canine Infectious Diseases
Infectious disease can spread from dog to dog, or other animals through urine, feces, and other body secretions, or picked up from soil.
So, even with the best preventative health care, your Poodle may become ill. The good news is... Most infectious diseases that affect dogs can be prevented with vaccinations.
Following are a few of the diseases that can affect your Poodle.
Rabies
Rabies can strike any warm-blooded animal and is fatal. The rabies virus is present in the infected animal saliva, and usually spread through a bite or open wound. Rabies is rare in domestic animals, it is found sporadically in skunks, bats, raccoons, and foxes.
Sign of the disease can be subtle at first. Normally friendly pets become irritable and withdrawn. Shy pets may become overly friendly. Eventually the dog becomes withdrawn and avoids light because light hurt his eyes. Fever, vomiting and diarrhea are common Once the animal develops symptoms they will die. There is no treatment or cure for rabies.
Parvovirus
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious and devastating illness. The virus is passed through contaminated feces and can be carried on an infected dogs skin or feet. It strikes dog of all ages and is most serious in puppies.
There are two types of parvovirus. The first signs of the diarrhea-syndrome type are depression and lack of appetite followed by vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The dog seems to be in great pain and runs a high fever.
The cardiac-syndrome type affects the heart muscle and is the most common in young puppies. The puppy will stop nursing , whine, and gasp for air. Death may occur suddenly or in a few days. Puppies that recover can have lingering heart failure that eventually takes their life.
Dogs with parvovirus can be treated but the outcome varies, depending on the age of the dog and the severity of the disease. Treatment may include fluid therapy, medication to stop the diarrhea, and antibiotics.
Young puppies receive some antibody protection from their mother, but they lose it quickly. Puppies must be vaccinated to prevent the disease.
Distemper
Distemper is highly contagious and caused by a virus. The virus is similar to measles in humans. It is most common in unvaccinated puppies, three to eight months old, but older dogs are susceptible as well.
The distemper virus is hardy and can live for many years. Distemper usually appears in the spring because the virus lies dormant in the ground in the winter. Warm temperatures reactivate the virus
The distemper virus attacks the epithelial cells found on the skin, eye membranes, breathing tubes, and mucus membranes of the intestines. Symptoms vary, some dogs are extremely ill and others are not.
Distemper can take on a variety of forms, and secondary infections, and complications are common. Treatment is complex and the outcome varies. The sooner the dog is treated, the better.
Hepatitis
Infectious Canine Hepatitis can affect dogs of every age, but is most severe in puppies. Hepatitis attacks the liver, kidneys, and lining of the blood vessels. Highly contagious, the disease is transmitted through urine, feces, and saliva.
The disease has several forms, in the fatal fulminating form, the dogs becomes suddenly ill, develops bloody diarrhea, and dies.
The acute form, the dog develops a fever, has bloody diarrhea, vomits blood, and refuses to eat. Jaundice, the whites of the dogs eyes appear yellow, may be present. Dogs with a mild case are lethargic or depressed, and refuse to eat.
Infectious canine hepatitis must be diagnosed through a blood test. Ill dogs require hospitalization. Hepatitis is preventable by keeping vaccinations current. Canine Hepatitis and the Hepatitis that affects humans are species-specific. Canine Hepatitis can only be passed from dog to dog.
Lyme Disease
The illness is carried by ticks and passed along when the tick bites his victim, canine or human. It is most common during tick season, May to August.
In dogs, the disease can cause sudden lameness, caused by swollen joints. The dog is weak and may run a fever. The lameness can last a few days to several months, and some dogs have reoccurring difficulties.
Antibiotics are very affective in treating Lyme disease. The sooner the dog is diagnosed and treated the better. A vaccine to prevent Lyme Disease is now available, so ask your veterinarian.
Tetanus
Tetanus, or lockjaw can affect dogs, other animals and people. It is not contagious. Dogs are usually resistant to the disease. The bacteria that causes Tetanus is found in soil contaminated by cow or horse manure. Tetanus is spread by infecting an open cut or puncture wound.
Signs of Tetanus can appear a few days after the injury or may not appear for several weeks. Symptoms include spasms, rigid extension of the legs, difficulty opening the jaw and swallowing, and retraction of the lips and eyeballs. Prompt treatment is required to prevent the dog from dying.
Leptospirosis
Canine Leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria and is transmitted through the urine of infected animals. Rats are believed to be the main carriers of the disease.
Sign of illness appear five to fifteen days after the dog ingests or comes in contact with the infected urine. Fever, lose of appetite, depression, and listlessness are common symptoms. The disease attacks the kidneys and the dog appears to be in pain in the kidney area. Vomiting and diarrhea may also occur.
Blood or urine tests are used to determine the presence of the bacteria. Hospitalization is required and dogs are treated with fluid therapy, antibiotics, and medication to stop vomiting and diarrhea. Even after treatment the bacteria can be excreted in the urine for up to a year. In areas where Leptospirosis is common, vaccines are recommended.
Infectious Tracheobronchtiis
Commonly known as Kennel Cough, this contagious disease causes a harsh, dry cough. It is called kennel cough because it can rapidly spread through kennels. The cough can persist for weeks and is often followed by chronic bronchitis. Many kennels require proof of vaccinations against certain viruses before boarding a dog. If your dog is in and out of kennels, vaccination is a good idea.
Bordetella Bronchiseptica
Frequently found in dogs recovering from a viral respiratory illness. The bacteria attacks the dogs weakened immune system, causing further illness. The bacteria has been isolated in dogs suffering from kennel cough.
Two vaccines, intranasal and injection, are available. Puppies as young as two to four weeks can be protected with the intranasal vaccine. The injection is normally given at 8 - 12 weeks.
Brucellosis
Caused by Brucellacanis, this bacteria causes reproductive failure in dogs. It is the leading cause of late miscarriages, stillborn puppies, or puppies that die shortly after birth. It can cause sterility in both the male and female dog.
Signs of an active infection include swollen and painful lymph nodes and joints. The testicle in the male may swell and then atrophy. The disease is transmittable be between mating dogs, and may be transmitted to puppies through their mother's milk.
A test for the disease is recommended before mating. There is no vaccine, treatment, or cure.
Blastmycosis
Blastmycosis is a microscopic fungus that lives in the soil and periodically releases invisible spores into the air, which dogs, other animals and people can inhale.
Blastmycosis can be fatal...Read More
