Knowing the most serious dog diseases is one of the most important things that lovers of this four-legged pet care about, as they may notice that it is exposed to many health problems that may cause it a lot of inconvenience.
There are many diseases that may affect dogs, as we see skin, respiratory, viral and other diseases of many types, each of which poses a clear threat to the life of this creature, which requires specific treatment by a veterinarian.
Are you a fan of keeping dogs in your home? Would you like to know the most common diseases that affect it and the effective treatment method? Stay with us in this article from teketrek to find out the answers to these questions and many others.
Serious dog diseases
The dog, like many other creatures, is exposed to a group of health problems that require treatment. For each of these, what most occupies the mind of the breeder of this animal are the serious diseases that may pose a threat to his life in order to prevent and act quickly. We will mention to you the most dangerous of these diseases as follows:
Ear infections: Dogs are animals that have large, drooping ears and are susceptible to many infections that often result from eating specific types of foods, such as wheat, corn, and soybeans. We see that rubbing the ears is one of its most prominent symptoms, in addition to scratching the ear and shaking the head. Redness of the ear canal, loss of balance, and loss of hair around the ear.
Perianal gland tumor: This tumor, which occurs as a result of specialized glandular tissue in the perineal area, has two types, the most dangerous of which is malignant gland cancer, and the most prominent dogs at risk of contracting it are (Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Bulldog).
Distemper disease: which is a serious dog disease as it causes loss of balance and suffocation, in addition to excessive neurological and psychological problems.
Hepatitis: which may lead to severe gastroenteritis.
Ehrlichiosis: This parasitic disease that attacks the blood cells in the body, we see it in 3 stages: acute, subacute, and chronic. Its symptoms range from tremors, atrophy, bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue.
Filariasis: The killer that is transmitted to dogs through a mosquito bite. It reaches the heart and blood vessels through the blood.
Anger: A serious disease caused by a virus directly attacking the nervous system. Its symptoms appear in behavioral problems such as aggression and fear, progressing to paralysis, fever, or convulsions that lead to death.
Leishmaniasis: a dangerous disease that affects many systems and organs, such as the eyes, skin, kidneys, and joints.
Dog skin diseases
Skin diseases are among the most prominent health problems and the most serious diseases in dogs that may affect them as a result of a bacterial infection that causes redness, irritation, and severe itching, which causes them a lot of inconvenience, the most prominent of which we will mention to you below:
Ringworm: It is a fungal skin infection that lives on the hair, skin, and nails. Severe itching and crumbly crusts are among its most prominent symptoms. It also appears in the form of circular or oval brown or red spots on the skin. They appear anywhere on the dog’s body, but the most common are the legs. And the ears and the head.
Dermatitis is a chronic disorder that causes skin irritation, the most prominent symptoms of which are bad odor, peeling, swollen eyes, and ear infections.
Water impetigo is a fungal infection that leads to the appearance of blisters containing fluid on the skin, causing irritation, severe itching, and other symptoms such as: a change in the color of the affected skin and hair loss.
Bacterial dermatitis whose symptoms include: peeling, scaling, redness, psoriasis, bleeding and tearing when the condition is severe.
There are two types of mange that is caused by mites: sarcoptic mange, which is caused by a circular mite with 8 legs that may be transmitted from dog to dog or from dogs to humans. The second type is demodectic mange, which is found naturally in the skin, meaning it is harmless.
Treatment of canine skin diseases
Treatment of skin diseases that affect dogs depends on the type of fungus that led to the infection. Treatment may be according to the following:
Oral antifungal medications that are prescribed for widespread diseases or infections that affect the nails or scalp. These medications include: fluconazole, clotrimazole and itoconazole.
Topical antifungal medications: which are prescribed in the event of a mild or localized fungal infection, and include the following: clotrimazole shampoo, terbinafine cream, and ketoconazole solution.
Treatment with cosmetic preparations such as antifungal ointments and creams.
Shampoo treatment, where the dog and the affected area are washed.
Parvo dog diseases:
Parvo is one of the serious dog diseases. It is a contagious viral disease that affects DNA and may lead to death. It causes severe effects on the digestive system in young dogs, especially dogs between the ages of 6 and 20 weeks. In addition, it affects large and long-lived dogs. Parvo is transmitted from one dog to another through feces or tools contaminated with it. The incubation period ranges between 3 and 7 days, and its most prominent symptoms are as follows:
Laziness and lethargy.
Loss of appetite for eating.
Diarrhea with blood spots in some cases.
Severe dehydration due to loss of a lot of fluid.
Internal bleeding in the intestines.
Vomiting accompanied by blood.
High fever.
Abdominal pain.
High heart rate.
Low blood sugar.
difficulty breathing.
You can protect your puppy from contracting the dangerous parvo disease by giving him vaccinations at the appropriate time, which are as follows:
An initial dose during the period extending from 6-8 weeks of age.
Give a booster dose at 10-12 weeks of age.
A second booster dose is given at 14-16 weeks of age.
Dispose of dog waste to limit the spread of disease.
Isolate infected puppies.
Disinfect hands and change shoes and clothes before moving to other uninfected animals.
Treating parvo in dogs at home:
It is unfortunate to tell you that parvo cannot be treated at home. It requires the supervision of a specialized veterinarian if treatment depends on the following:
Giving intravenous fluids.
Antiemetics.
Pay close attention to nutrition and use a feeding tube if necessary.
Pay attention to low blood sugar and treat it.
Use of monoclonal antibodies.
Give your dog a light, easily digestible diet.
Viral diseases of dogs
There are many viral diseases that are considered serious diseases for dogs, the most prominent of which we will mention below:
Infectious tuberculosis, whose symptoms appear in the form of catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nose, loss of appetite, partial paralysis, in addition to vomiting. The cause of this disease is a virus belonging to the paramyxovirus family, consisting of a collar of RNA. Puppies aged between 3-6 months with this disease through contact with objects to which this virus was transmitted. The incubation period ranges between 14-18 days.
Canine hepatitis caused by an adenovirus that damages the liver.
Dog cough is caused by a viral infection that affects the dog’s respiratory system, leading to irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
Parvovirus, which occurs as a result of contact with contaminated feces.
Dog influenza.
Viral gastroenteritis.
Viral pneumonia.
Treatment of viral diseases in dogs:
Dogs can be treated for viral diseases by:
Enteral or partial nutrition.
Pain relievers.
Antiemetics.
Hydrogen therapy.
Giving antiviral medications.
Dog diseases that are transmitted to humans:
There are many diseases that may be transmitted from animals to humans through saliva, urine, feces, or aerial spray, in addition to direct human contact with a dog, so it is necessary to point out the most prominent of these diseases in order to limit their spread or reduce their negative effects, and perhaps the most prominent are the following:
Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that spreads with saliva through an infected dog scratching or biting a human. Its symptoms are manifested in damage to the nervous system. Symptoms begin with fever, burning, and tingling at the site of infection, then some of it spreads throughout the nervous system, leading to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Canimorsus is a bacterial disease that is transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected dog. It causes humans to develop rare eye infections, meningitis, and sepsis, in addition to infection of the central nervous system.
Staphylococcus and bacteria disease, which is transmitted through dog bites, causes the patient to suffer from fever, heat, and swelling at the site of the bite, in addition to arthritis.
Cellulitis, which results from a bacterial infection transmitted through a dog bite to a human, leads to damage and swelling of the area that was bitten and the release of pus, in addition to redness in the area.
Sarcoptic mange is caused by a microscopic parasitic mite that is transmitted to humans when touching an infected dog for a long time or touching its bedding. It leads to severe itching and hair loss, in addition to red bumps, skin rashes, and ulcers.
Roundworm disease, caused by parasitic worms, results in disturbed sleep, abdominal pain, delayed growth, and malnutrition, in addition to coughing and vomiting.
Campylobacter disease, which is caused by bacteria transmitted through drink and food contaminated with the feces of an infected dog, is most prominent in its symptoms: watery diarrhea that later turns mucous and bloody, in addition to fever, abdominal pain, and general weakness.
Inflammation of bones, joints, meninges, and respiratory infections caused by Pasteurella bacilli caused by the bite of an infected dog.
Brucella.
Hookworm.
Yersinia.
Salmonella.
Common dog diseases that cause death:
You must be wondering about the dangerous dog diseases that could kill him so that you can protect him from them, the most dangerous of which we will mention to you below:
Dystrophy disease, which causes suffocation and excessive nervous and psychological problems in dogs, in addition to loss of balance.
Hepatitis, which causes the dog to suffer from a severe gastrointestinal disease that may cause death if not treated quickly.
Canine distemper disease.
Canine enteric coronavirus.
Parvo disease, which causes damage to the digestive system in dogs, in addition to bleeding that may kill them.
Deadly filariasis, which causes damage to the heart and blood vessels through the blood.
A serious illness caused by a virus directly attacking the nervous system.
Heartworm.
FAQs about serious dog diseases:
What diseases are transmitted from dogs to humans?
There are many diseases that are transmitted from dogs to humans, most notably: rabies, Pasteurella, salmonella, norovirus, campylobacter, and many others.
What is the reason for dogs being lethargic?
There are many reasons for dogs to become lethargic, most notably: broken limbs or poisoning.
What is the name of the disease that affects dogs?
There are many diseases that affect dogs, most notably: parvo, double cilia, epilepsy, ehrlichiosis, and many other diseases.
When should we worry about rabies?
When a person suffers from diabetes or immunodeficiency.
What is the harmful virus for dogs?
Canine parvovirus is the harmful virus for dogs.
What is the first cause of death in dogs?
Cancer that cannot be recognized until it is too late.
What is a dog disease for which there is no cure?
There is no cure for rabies yet.
In conclusion, serious dog diseases are among the most important points that must be understood and known before acquiring your favorite dog, in order to protect it and know how to deal with it, in addition to how to avoid some of these diseases, with the exception of some cases that require the intervention of a veterinarian
