Puppies illness: One Sick Puppy: 7 Puppy Illnesses to Look For

One Sick Puppy: 7 Puppy Illnesses to Look For

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Prevent your pup from getting sick as a dog by recognizing the symptoms of these common illnesses.

When you bring a new puppy home, there’s nothing you want to do more than shower her with affection. But the little ball of energy is more vulnerable to illness than vaccinated dogs with mature immune systems. As a new dog owner or pet sitter, you may not yet know the signs that you have a sick puppy on your hands. However, there are about seven common puppy illnesses to look out for, including: intestinal parasites, Parvovirus, Coccidia, Canine Distemper, Heartworm Disease, Kennel Cough and Hypoglycemia. Below you will find the causes, signs and treatments for all. 

1. Intestinal Parasites
   Many puppies get intestinal parasites, such as roundworms or hookworms, early in life. Symptoms include loose stool and an upset stomach. “A lot of puppies get them from their mother in the milk,” says Dr. Travis Anderson, a veterinarian at The Uptown Veterinarian in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Most puppies have them almost from birth and we usually just treat puppies right away.” The vet can offer an oral drug to paralyze the worms and enable your puppy to pass them in his poop. To prevent them, provide monthly heartworm medications that also treat and control intestinal parasites.
    
2. Parvovirus
   The virus is highly contagious and can be caught from direct or indirect contact with contaminated feces. Look for bloody diarrhea, vomiting and a loss of appetite. If you notice those symptoms, offer comfort care and get antibiotics to prevent secondary infections. However, you can easily avoid parvovirus by getting your puppy vaccinated. And if your puppy’s mom has been vaccinated, she can pass on some of her protection against this disease to her babies through her milk.

    

3. Coccidia
   This parasite, which is usually found in standing water, can infest your puppy’s gastrointestinal tract and the cells inside, Dr. Anderson says. Your puppy may get this if he wasn’t living in a sanitary environment after birth. Symptoms include diarrhea, blood in the stool or dehydration. The vet can offer a drug to kill the parasite. Looking to avoid this illness altogether? Keep your puppy’s water and environment sanitary and squeaky clean.
    
4. Canine Distemper
   Carried by unvaccinated dogs and raccoons, distemper can cause nerve damage or weight loss and is dangerous without treatment. Dogs don’t get colds, so if you notice your puppy has a runny nose, loss of appetite or stops eating altogether, get him to the vet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there’s no drug available to treat canine distemper, so comfort care is your best option. Provide lots of fluids, keep infected dogs away from healthy pups and pamper your dog with warmth and comfort. Vets recommend vaccinating your puppy.
    
5. Heartworm Disease
   If a pesky mosquito bites a dog with heartworm several houses down, it can pass the worm on to your pet if the bug then bites your dog. It takes up to six or seven months before your puppy shows signs of illness. Heartworms can cause heart failure and lung disease and are potentially deadly. You want to watch for fatigue, decrease in appetite and weight loss. To avoid this, give your dog a monthly heartworm preventative pill.

   If you see symptoms, get your dog to the vet as soon as possible, where the doctor will determine the best form of treatment. Your dog will probably receive medication to kill the heartworms, along with potential hospitalization and exercise restriction, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
    

6. Kennel Cough
   While this illness can strike any dog, Dr. Anderson says puppies are more vulnerable to kennel cough. According to the ASPCA, this is bronchitis and the closest your puppy will get to mimicking the human common cold. Your dog will have a persistent dry, honking cough. See your veterinarian for an antibiotic, offer supportive care (no stress or junk food for your little guy!) and keep your sick dog away from his puppy friends until he’s better. A vaccination is available.
    
7. Hypoglycemia
   Small dogs can end up with low blood sugar if they don’t eat enough, Dr. Anderson says. Monitor your puppy’s eating habits, especially while she’s young enough to prevent it. If your dog has hypoglycemia, she may show signs of lethargy and possibly have seizures. When caring for your suffering dog, offer a proper diet and possibly diabetes medication provided by a vet.
    

One big thing you can do to ensure your puppy’s well being is to properly care for him when he’s very young, Dr. Meadows says. Read more about loving and caring for your little puppy at Puppy Care Stages: Newborn to 48 Weeks.
 

Bayan Raji is a freelance writer.

 *This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be providing medical advice and is not a substitute for such advice. The reader should always consult a health care provider concerning any medical condition or treatment plan. Neither Care.com nor the author assumes any responsibility or liability with respect to use of any information contained herein.

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6 Common Illnesses to Watch for in Puppies | petMD

By Amanda Baltazar

Your puppy is brand new and you want to protect him. The best thing you can do is to feed him a healthy, balanced diet, says Dr. Jim Dobies, a veterinarian with South Point Pet Hospital in Charlotte, N.C., and a member of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.

“If you do, you’re giving your puppy’s immune system the best chance to fight off infection, he says. “He is in better shape to fight off illness and recover.”

But you can’t protect your baby pooch from everything. Here are six common illnesses he could catch in his first year of life.

1. Parvovirus (Parvo)

This highly contagious canine illness attacks puppies aged between 12 weeks and up to 3 years. Transmitted through bodily secretions and unvaccinated dogs, canine parvovirus is easily passed on, though most dogs are vaccinated against it starting at six to eight weeks, then again every three weeks until they are four months old (or until your veterinarian recommends).

Symptoms: A CPV infection (parvo) in dogs starts with a fever, and at this point puppies are probably very contagious (to other dogs, not humans). “After a few days, they will experience vomiting and bloody diarrhea and become dehydrated and weak,” says Dr. Dobies.

Treatment: Vaccinate against parvovirus! If you haven’t, hospitalization is the best route, where your puppy will be given IV fluids and sometimes antibiotics to prevent sepsis, which can be fatal.

Recovery time: Three to seven days. Puppies with parvo are usually hospitalized for three to four days then go home with medications.

2. Distemper

The vaccination against canine distemper virus is quite effective. The first vaccination takes place at six to eight weeks, and again after 9 weeks, “and when puppies have had one or two vaccines they are immune,” says Dr. Dobies. Consult your veterinarian for the best course of action for your dog concerning the distemper vaccine.

Symptoms: “This can really be an ugly disease,” he says. It shows in two ways: Initially distemper in dogs typically appears as an upper respiratory disease with sneezing and eye discharge. Then it can develop into pneumonia or can lead to neurological problems such as a fatal encephalopathy (brain damage).

Distemper in dogs is frequently misdiagnosed because owners think their puppy has a cold “so by the time we see them they have tons of discharge from their nose and eyes and have high fever. They are also depressed,” Dr. Dobies says.

Treatment: Seek medical attention for distemper in dogs. This usually involves inpatient supportive care.

Recovery time: It can take weeks to recover from canine distemper and pets usually go home from the hospital with respiratory medications.

The bad news about canine distemper is if your puppy survives it, the disease can lie dormant and break out again when she’s older. At that point she has an even worse prognosis because the disease can lead to neurological problems such as seizures.

3. Kennel Cough

Bacterial infection or canine parainfluenza viruses, both of which are airborne, cause kennel cough in dogs — also known as infectious tracheobronchitis. “The disease name is a misnomer,” says Dr. Dobies, “because animals that aren’t in kennels can —and do — contract it.” Puppies can be vaccinated against kennel cough starting at six to eight weeks, and then every six to 12 months after that, though the vaccine doesn’t necessarily protect against the disease, but does lead to milder symptoms.

Symptoms: Kennel cough starts with lethargy, decreased appetite and fever, then puppies develop a deep, often productive, cough. If untreated, kennel cough can lead to pneumonia.

Treatment: If you note any unusual coughing from your puppy “…it’s best to get him checked out to make sure he’s not developing pneumonia,” says Dr. Dobies.

Recovery time: Kennel cough usually runs its course in 10 to 14 days.

4. Adenovirus

Adenovirus in dogs causes infectious canine hepatitis, but Dr. Dobies says it’s rarely seen these days because of the efficacy of vaccines. Often the adenovirus vaccine is given with the canine distemper vaccine, though you may want to ask your veterinarian about canine adenovirus type-1 and canine adenovirus type-2.

Symptoms: It’s really difficult to know if your dog has adenovirus, but it typically starts with gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea and can develop into jaundice.

Treatment: Inpatient fluid therapy and nutritional support may be required. Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics and/or fluid reducers as necessary.

5. Leptospirosis

This bacterial disease can affect the kidneys and the liver and is transmitted through contaminated water and infected urine. Your puppy can be vaccinated against leptospirosis at 10 to 12 weeks, then again at 13 to 15 weeks. Be aware that not all clinics vaccinate for leptospirosis, so ask your veterinarian if it’s appropriate for your puppy.

Symptoms: Symptoms of leptospirosis are flu-like: Vomiting and/or fever and/or lethargy, but they’re very vague to being with, says Dr. Dobies.

Treatment: Antibiotics

Recovery time: Depending on the severity of the infection, an antibiotic course can last four weeks or more.

6. Vomiting (and Diarrhea)

If your puppy’s suffering from either of these nasties, the first thing to rule out is intestinal parasites. If these are not the cause vomiting/diarrhea, your pooch has probably just eaten or licked something he shouldn’t have. “Nine times out of 10 what they’ve consumed comes back out again,” says Dr. Dobies. Other causes could be one of the diseases listed above.

Treatment: Continue to offer water, and provide food if your puppy asks for it but that’s less essential than keeping them hydrated. After 12 hours (vomiting) or 24 hours (diarrhea), take your dog to your veterinarian if he’s not getting better. Your veterinarian can provide you with a therapeutic bland diet to help your puppy feel better.

Recovery time: Your puppy should recover from vomiting or diarrhea that is not related to a parasite within 12 to 24 hours.

More to Explore

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Most Common Puppy Illnesses – American Kennel Club

Raising a new puppy is exciting, but it can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to keeping our puppies healthy and safe. If you’re worried about keeping your dog healthy, Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC’s chief veterinary officer, says that prevention is the best cure. “Proper vaccination and parasite eradication, as well as good nutrition, should help to give your puppy the best chance to avoid these most common and severe illnesses,” Klein says.

While vaccinations and proper nutrition are critical, it’s still important to know the signs of common puppy illnesses so you’re able to respond appropriately if your dog ever shows symptoms. To help you navigate these illnesses, we talked to Dr. Klein about the most common puppy illnesses, including treatment, prevention, and common symptoms.

Parvovirus (Parvo)

Parvovirus is a highly contagious and common disease that can be deadly. If you have a puppy or are planning to get a puppy, you should know about the symptoms of Parvo and how to treat it.

What is it?: This disease affects the stomach and small intestines. It spreads through direct contact with an infected dog, or through indirect contact with a contaminated object. Your puppy can be exposed to this disease by sniffing, licking, or consuming infected feces. Your dog can also be exposed if they encounter a contaminated object like a leash or toy.

Puppies between six weeks and six months are most likely to get parvo. However, if you follow your vet’s vaccination protocol, puppies are vaccinated against the virus at 6, 8, 12, and up to 16-20 weeks with yearly boosters.

Symptoms: If your dog has parvo, they’re likely very sick. Typical symptoms include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, weakness, dehydration, and depression.

Treatment: While there is no cure for parvo, vets will offer supportive care and treatment for symptoms. This virus is potentially fatal, but most dogs who survive the first three-to-four days are likely to make a complete recovery. Dr. Klein notes that it usually takes one week for puppies to recover.

Prevention: Make sure your puppy gets the full parvo vaccine, and only socializes with fully vaccinated adult dogs in a private environment. Avoid public places until your dog is vaccinated.

Kennel Cough

Kennel Cough is a highly contagious disease that’s typically contracted at places with a lot of dogs, such as boarding facilities, daycares, dog parks, training groups, and dog shows.

What is it?: Also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis, Kennel Cough is a respiratory disease that’s very contagious. Like human coughs, this disease is spread through airborne droplets, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms: The most obvious symptom of kennel cough is a strong cough that may sound like “honking.” Other symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and low fever.

Treatment: For mild cases, a couple weeks of rest is recommended. However, for more intense cases, a veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic and cough medicine. Dr. Klein says that recovery time is around seven to 14 days.

Prevention: A vaccine is available, and many training, boarding, and daycare facilities require proof of vaccination.

Influenza

Another common illness in puppies is the dog flu. Most cases aren’t fatal, but it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms.

What is it?: The dog flu (also known as canine influenza virus) is a respiratory disease that’s caused by an influenza A virus — either h4N8 or h4N2. Like human flus, the dog flu is spread by airborne droplets through coughing, barking, and sneezing.

Symptoms: Typical symptoms of the dog flu include coughing (both moist and dry), sneezing, nasal discharge, runny eyes, fever, lethargy, and difficulty breathing.

Treatment: If you notice any of the above symptoms, make sure to see your veterinarian. While there is currently no cure for the dog flu, your veterinarian will likely offer supportive treatment to help with symptoms. Your vet will also provide appropriate quarantine restrictions to prevent the further spread of the disease.

If you think your dog may have the flu, call your vet ahead of time, because your vet may ask your dog to wait outside to reduce the chance of spread. Most dogs recover between seven to 21 days.

Prevention: Vaccines are available for both the h4N8 and h4N2 strains of the flu. Another way to prevent your dog from getting the disease is to avoid public places or kennels that have had recent cases.

Distemper

If you have a dog, you’ve likely heard of distemper. It’s one of the most serious, fatal, and contagious diseases your dog can get. Thankfully, it’s preventable.

“Distemper is very serious and its signs can be respiratory, gastrointestinal, and in severe (and often fatal cases),” said Dr. Klein.

What is it?: A paramyxovirus causes distemper. It is related to measles and rinderpest viruses. The disease causes illness in multiple body systems, making it hard to treat. Dogs can get the illness through direct contact with an infected animal or object, airborne exposure, and the placenta. All dogs are at risk for distemper, but especially unvaccinated dogs and puppies under four months old.

Symptoms: Dogs with distemper experience an array of symptoms, and there are usually two stages of symptoms. During the first stage, dogs experience fever, clear nasal discharge, purulent eye discharge, lethargy, anorexia, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

As the disease progresses, it attacks the central nervous system, and symptoms may include head tilt, circling, partial or full paralysis, seizures, nystagmus, muscle twitching, convulsions, and death.

Treatment: There is no cure, but vets can offer supportive care for symptoms. Most vets will recommend hospitalizing and separating the dog from others to prevent spread. The survival rate depends on the strain of the virus and the dog’s immune symptoms. While some cases resolve in 10 days, some dogs will have symptoms for months.

Prevention: Get your dog the full series of distemper vaccinations, and avoid any gaps in vaccinations. Only socialize your puppy with other fully vaccinated dogs.

Parasites

Every pet owner should be on the lookout for general warning signs that your dog may have a parasite such as worms.

What is it?: Dogs can pick up parasites in a range of ways. Worms may be picked up from another dog’s stool and contaminated soil. Other dogs can also carry the parasites and give them to your pup.

Symptoms: Each parasite affects dogs differently. However, some general symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, vomiting, poor coat appearance, pot-bellied appearance, lethargy, dehydration, deficiencies in nutrition and anemia, intestinal blockage or pneumonia, and blood in stool.

Treatment: After diagnosing a dog with a parasite, vets typically recommend deworming medications and preventative medication.

Prevention: Veterinarians recommend yearly testing and year-round administration of prevention medication.

Dog diseases and their symptoms 🐶 – treatment and prevention – ProPlan.ru

Common dog diseases – symptoms and treatment

July 15, 2022

Such a variety of breeds, sizes, shapes and colors can only be found in domestic dogs. In just a few decades, mini-dogs appeared, which are smaller than cats, and giant dogs. At the same time, the living conditions of domestic animals have changed dramatically. Some breeds have lost their purpose: so dachshunds and beagles from hunting dogs became companion dogs. Some domestic dogs travel with their owners around Europe, others do not leave the apartment all their lives. A huge selection of all kinds of food, care products, accessories not only improve the quality of life of a pet, but also help maintain the dog’s health at home. Nevertheless, a large number of disorders and diseases occur in dogs, despite new developments in nutrition, care and advances in small animal veterinary medicine.

Diseases in domestic dogs

Disease is a condition of an animal associated with damage to tissues and organs, which is accompanied by the appearance of characteristic clinical signs.

Diseases of domestic dogs can be divided into two large groups: congenital and acquired.

Congenital diseases of dogs appear in an animal at the time of birth and are associated with impaired development of systems and organs during the prenatal period. Signs of congenital diseases may be present at birth or appear in puppies at an early age.

Hereditary diseases

• Passed on from parents and other ancestors to offspring
• Due to defects in genetic material
• Not always present immediately after birth

Non-hereditary diseases

• Not transmitted from parents to offspring
• Due to environmental factors during the period of bearing puppies

Hereditary diseases are accompanied by severe health problems. With minor deviations, they speak of developmental anomalies. Defects or hereditary defects are associated exclusively with chromosomes – carriers of genetic material. In dogs 39pairs of chromosomes, among them there are active (dominant) and passive (recessive, dormant) genes. Active genes are responsible for the development of certain individual and breed traits in an individual. At the same time, environmental factors can cause the activation of dormant genes and lead to the development of a genetic disease. Diseased genes can be passed from parents to offspring or through generations. The main prevention of this type of disease is exclusion from breeding:

1. dogs with signs of defects and hereditary diseases;
2. total litter in which dogs with congenital diseases were identified;
3. parents, as well as other ancestors after genetic analysis – determining the type of inheritance of a genetic disease.

Factors causing congenital non-hereditary diseases are diverse:

• External environment
• Indoor environment

Factors

In order to protect future puppies from the impact of adverse factors, it is necessary to observe the conditions for feeding, keeping and preventing diseases of the dog before mating and during the bearing of offspring.

Acquired diseases appear during the life of a domestic dog. The causes of diseases in dogs are different. At the same time, the incidence of pets may depend on age, breed, care, feeding, walking, physical activity, gender, and so on.

All acquired diseases are divided into two groups: non-contagious and contagious.

Non-communicable acquired diseases may be inflammatory or degenerative (destructive) in nature.

Depending on the location of the lesion, there are:

1) Skin diseases. Most common in dogs are dermatitis, pyoderma, otitis media, pododermatitis, hypotrichosis, claw injuries, less often autoimmune skin diseases and neoplasia. Allergies are often accompanied by skin lesions in domestic dogs.

The main symptoms in dogs with skin pathologies are itching, scratching, redness and rashes on the skin, baldness, swelling, dandruff; darkening and thickening of the skin with prolonged inflammation.

First aid for skin diseases – normalize the diet, exclude treats and food from the table, treat the dog against ectoparasites. Animals prone to allergies and skin diseases are transferred to a therapeutic diet. For example, PROPLAN® with OPTIDERMA® complex includes a special combination of nutrients that support healthy skin and a beautiful coat

2) Diseases of the digestive system. This includes diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. Domestic dogs suffer from gastroenteritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis. Puppies are prone to poisoning and ingestion of foreign bodies. In older dogs, dystrophic liver diseases, cholelithiasis, periodontal disease, tartar, and tumor lesions of the digestive system are more common.

In case of diseases of the digestive system, the pet’s intake of food and water is disturbed, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and sometimes pain are noted. In chronic diseases – weight loss, changes in coat and skin, decreased activity.

Treatment of diseases of the digestive system is carried out with medications and special therapeutic diets, such as PROPLAN® Veterinary Diets EN Gastrointestinal for dogs with digestive disorders. Dwarf breeds of dogs are predisposed to chronic gastroenteritis, cholecystitis, often such dogs follow a therapeutic diet throughout their lives.

3) Cardiorespiratory diseases. The circulatory and respiratory systems are closely interrelated, and as a rule, in chronic diseases, the heart, blood vessels, bronchi and lungs are involved. Puppies and young dogs are prone to inflammation of the respiratory tract, for example due to colds. In older dogs, heart failure, chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs are detected.

A dog with cardiorespiratory disease begins to cough, gets tired more quickly on walks, develops nasal discharge, may experience shortness of breath, weakness; in severe forms of the disease – convulsions and loss of consciousness, blue mucous membranes and skin.

4) Diseases of the genitourinary system. Domestic dogs suffer from glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis. They may develop sand and/or stones in the bladder and kidneys. Of non-inflammatory diseases, amyloidosis of the kidneys, cysts, as well as tumors of the kidneys and bladder are common.

The first signs of diseases of the urinary system – violation of urination, discoloration of urine. Chronic kidney disease and uremia are accompanied by the development of nephrotic syndrome, decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and emaciation.

Non-castrated males are prone to inflammation of the testes and appendages due to infection or injury, with age may develop prostate hyperplasia, cysts, tumors of the prostate and testes. Enlargement of the prostate leads to impaired urination and defecation, the appearance of blood from the genitals.

Non-sterilized females are predisposed to endometritis, polycystic ovaries, which is accompanied by a violation of the sexual cycle, discharge from the genital loop. Tumors of the mammary glands, if not treated in time, can lead to bad consequences for a domestic dog.

Currently, non-breeding domestic dogs are recommended to be neutered and spayed. Neutering females at an early age (before the first estrus) significantly reduces the risk of developing mammary tumors. Castration by the male helps prevent unwanted behavior and prevents diseases of the testicles and prostate gland.

5) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and injuries. Puppies and young dogs are active and prone to trauma – sprains, dislocations. Especially dangerous for puppies of large breeds are microfractures along the growth zone, which lead to a violation of the formation of bones of the peripheral skeleton. Older dogs suffer from myositis, arthrosis, spondylarthrosis, tumors of the skeletal system and muscles. The animal has lameness, a violation of the symmetry of body parts, weakness of the pelvic limbs, swelling of the joints.

6) Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs. In dogs there are inflammatory diseases of the nervous system – meningitis, neuritis; acquired epilepsy. All this causes incoordination, trembling, convulsions, weakness. Many floppy-eared breeds are prone to chronic ear infections, and these dogs may experience itching and pain. Dogs of brachycephalic breeds are prone to injuries and inflammation of the cornea, prolapse of the eyeball.

7) Endocrine diseases. The main endocrine glands in dogs are the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, gonads, pancreas. This group of diseases is associated with impaired function of these organs, with a decrease or increase in hormone production: growth hormone deficiency, diabetes insipidus, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus.

8) Diseases of the blood and immune system. In dogs, there are iron deficiency and hemolytic anemia, acquired coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia, tumors of hematopoietic cells. Immune diseases are associated with inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes and spleen. With age, dogs can develop malignant tumors of the lymphatic system – lymphomas, hemangiosarcomas of the spleen. In diseases of the blood and immune system, common, uncharacteristic signs are usually noted: loss of appetite, weakness, weight loss.

In addition, depending on the clinical symptoms and the condition of the sick animal, diseases can be severe, moderate or mild.

According to the duration of the disease, acute (in the first week after the onset of the disease), subacute and chronic diseases (which last months and years) are distinguished.

At the same time, 3 periods are distinguished during the course of the disease: preclinical (hidden – no clinical signs), clinical (appearance of symptoms of the disease) and the outcome of the disease.

Infectious diseases of dogs

The emergence and development of infectious diseases is associated with the introduction and reproduction of a pathogen (microorganism) that affects the tissues and organs of the dog and causes inflammation.

Major diseases of dogs caused by infection:

Viral

• Rabies
• Parvovirus infection
• Coronavirus infection
• Rotavirus infection
• Plague of carnivores (distemper)
• Infectious hepatitis
• Adenovirus
• Parainfluenza (“enclosure cough”)
• Herpes virus infection
• Aujeszky’s disease

Bacterial

• Staphylococcosis
• Streptococcosis
• Salmonellosis
• Bordetelliosis
• Leptospirosis
• Borreliosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Chlamydia
• Mycoplasmosis
• Brucellosis
• Tuberculosis
• Actinomycosis
• Nocardiosis

Fungal

• Lichen, dermatophytosis (microsporia, trichophytosis)
• Aspergillosis
• Cryptococcosis
• Candidiasis
• Histoplasmosis
• Blastomycosis

Viral diseases and their symptoms

Rabies is one of the most dangerous viral diseases of animals and humans. Transmitted by the bite or through the saliva of infected animals, the infection spreads from the site of the bite to the central nervous system (CNS), causing encephalomyelitis. The first signs of the disease are a violation of behavior: capriciousness, shyness, excessive affection, barking for no reason, then photophobia, aggressiveness, gnawing of foreign objects, impaired coordination, seizures appear, then paralysis of the larynx occurs, food and water intake is disturbed, salivation.

Parvovirus infection can affect dogs of all ages, but puppies are most susceptible. Dogs are infected with parvovirus through contact with sick animals or through objects. Puppy symptoms include refusal of food and water, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, rapid deterioration, dehydration, intoxication, and often poor outcome.

Coronavirus and rotavirus infections are accompanied by the development of gastroenteritis, vomiting and diarrhea, are more easily tolerated by puppies, but can occur in combination with parvovirus infection.

Canine distemper is now much less common due to vaccination. It has several forms of flow – intestinal, respiratory and nervous. In accordance with the form, indigestion, cough, discharge from the nose and eyes, corneal lesions, paresis and paralysis, and sometimes convulsions are noted.

Infectious hepatitis of dogs, a viral infection in which the dog has a fever, lack of appetite, intestinal disorders, jaundice, sometimes cough due to bronchopneumonia, inflammation of the iris with the appearance of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye.

Adenovirus infection, parainfluenza – viral infection of the respiratory tract, with the development of tracheobronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis. The dog starts coughing, sneezing, possibly fever and refusal to feed.

Herpes virus infection affects the respiratory tract, genitals and central nervous system. In puppies, it can be severe with bloody diarrhea, vomiting, depression, coughing, sneezing, eye discharge, and corneal inflammation.

A rare viral disease – Aujeszky’s disease. Infection occurs by eating infected meat or entrails of pigs. The behavior of the dog is disturbed: anxiety, staggering, fever, refusal to feed, vomiting, salivation, severe itching, scratching of the ears and nose appear.

If the symptoms described above appear, take your pet to a veterinarian. Treatment of dogs with viral diseases is aimed at increasing immunity and treating complications caused by a viral infection, antibiotics do not have an effect on viruses, but inhibit the development of pathogenic microflora, which is often observed in viral diseases. If the dog is ill with a severe form of a viral disease, then treatment in an infectious diseases hospital is required.

Other infectious diseases of dogs

Bacterial diseases are caused by microscopic unicellular pathogens. Sources of pathogenic bacteria are sick animals, poor-quality feed, water, excretions from sick animals, care items, contaminated environment. Conditionally pathogenic bacteria are always present in the body of a domestic dog, which, when immunity decreases, multiply and cause various inflammations.

Pathogenic staphylococci cause purulent inflammation of the skin, respiratory tract, genitourinary system, and chronic diarrhea. If a staphylococcal infection is suspected, it is necessary to carry out bakposev and determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics, since staphylococci are very resistant to antibiotics.

Streptococci are very aggressive pathogenic bacteria that cause chronic purulent inflammation of the respiratory system, joints, endocardium, urinary tract and genital infections, wound infections, and so on. Despite their pathogenicity, streptococci are sensitive to antibiotics and relatively easy to treat.

Salmonellosis is an intestinal infection accompanied by a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, sometimes systemic infection and sepsis develop. Pets that eat raw meat products, are coprophagic, or live with poultry can get sick. Salmonellosis is dangerous to humans.

Bordetelliosis is a bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. Domestic dogs become infected from sick animals, dogs and cats. These bacteria cause inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, the pet starts coughing, sneezing, and discharges from the nose and eyes. In some cases, laryngotracheitis can be complicated by bronchopneumonia.

Leptospirosis, a dangerous disease for domestic animals, often occurs in a chronic form with non-specific signs – intestinal disorders, inflammation of the respiratory system, lymph nodes, jaundice, discharge from the eyes, infertility, convulsions or paralysis. A domestic dog becomes infected with leptospirosis from sick dogs, rodents, upon contact with their secretions. Puddles and open water bodies can be sources of bacteria. Leptospirosis requires careful specific diagnosis and long-term treatment.

Borreliosis is an infectious disease with an acute course, fever, damage to the lymphatic system, myositis, arthritis, inflammation of the kidneys, damage to the nervous system. The pathogen enters the body of a dog with a tick bite. It often proceeds insidiously, with episodes of weakness, fever, weakness, and lameness.

Ehrlichiosis is a bacterial disease carried by ixodid ticks. When bitten, the bacterium enters the dog’s bloodstream and penetrates the organs and tissues. Ehrlichiosis is characterized by a chronic course, the animal may have an increase in body temperature, lethargy, weakness of the limbs, shortness of breath, impaired coordination, hemorrhages, sudden bleeding, and fatness decrease. This is due to the fact that the pathogen causes chronic inflammation of the kidneys, muscles, myocardium, a decrease in platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes in the blood, and damage to the immune system.

Chlamydia and mycoplasmosis infections of the respiratory tract, in which the sick dog coughs, sneezes, she has discharge from the eyes, nose. In some dogs, chlamydia and mycoplasma cause chronic inflammation of the reproductive organs with the development of infertility.

Brucellosis is a disease in which bacteria reside inside cells. Often infection occurs without an increase in body temperature. The disease is chronic, often spontaneous recovery occurs after 1-3 years. The pathogen is transmitted during sexual intercourse or from the female to the puppies. In males, swelling of the scrotum is noted due to inflammation of the testes and their appendages, the skin of the scrotum becomes inflamed – such males are infertile. Females have abortions, inflammation of the uterus and infertility. General signs: lameness, swelling of the joints, dermatitis, pain syndrome, weakness of the pelvic limbs.

Tuberculosis in domestic dogs occurs with damage to the respiratory organs and lymph nodes. The dog shows signs of respiratory failure – cough, shortness of breath, decreased activity, weakness, episodes of fever, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Actinomycosis and nocardiosis are caused by bacteria in the form of threads that penetrate into the dog’s body with foreign bodies, other bacteria, with accidental wounds of the mucous membranes and skin. These diseases have a long course. A domestic dog develops purulent inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissue – abscesses, phlegmon, fistulas. When the respiratory tract is affected, the dog has a chronic cough due to pneumonia and pleurisy.

There are a number of bacterial infections in which harm is caused not only by the vital activity of pathogenic bacteria, but also by the toxic substances that they secrete – toxins. The most dangerous of them are clostridia, which secrete neurotoxins with damage to the dog’s nervous system and the development of diseases such as botulism and tetanus. Salmonella, Escherichia and other bacteria also produce toxins.

Fungal diseases (mycoses) are infectious diseases. Infection occurs from sick animals, through a contaminated environment, surfaces and objects, grass. The causative agents of fungal diseases can be constantly present on the integument of the dog and, if immunosuppressed, cause the disease.

Lichen (dermatophytosis, microsporia, trichophytosis) in domestic dogs leads to a deterioration in the condition of the coat, impaired hair growth, hair breakage, baldness, the appearance of reddened lesions on the skin or damage to the claws.

Aspergillosis occurs with lesions of the upper respiratory tract, nasal and frontal sinuses. The domestic dog begins to cough, sneeze, she develops purulent or bloody discharge from the nose, and the muzzle swells. The source of the pathogen is infected grass, hay, dust.

Cryptococci cause swelling of the skin, nose and mucous membranes. In a chronic course, this fungal infection can penetrate the brain, eyes, lungs, and lymph nodes. There is a cough, discharge from the nose, nervous phenomena – convulsions, paralysis.

Candidiasis occurs with lesions of the mucous membranes. With histoplasmosis and blastomycosis in domestic dogs, lesions of the respiratory tract, eyes and nervous system are observed.

If a bacterial infection is suspected, the dog should be taken to the doctor. How to treat a dog in this case? All infectious diseases require specific studies and the use of antibacterial and antifungal drugs, as well as symptomatic therapy. The chronic course of some bacterial diseases can lead to the death of a pet. Other infectious diseases are dangerous to humans.

Parasitic diseases

Parasitic diseases are diseases caused by parasites.

ectoparazitosis

in lake

Bloches, ticks

Diseases

• Bloshina invasion
• Demodicosis
• Sarcoptic mange
• Notoedrosis
• Cheyletiasis
• Otodectosis

Helminthiases

Pathogen

Worms, endoparasites

Diseases

Nematodes caused by roundworms:

• toxocariasis
• toxoascariasis
• hookworm
• strongylosis
• dirofilariasis

Cestodosis caused by tapeworms:

• dipylidiosis
• diphylobothriasis
• taeniasis
• echinococcosis

Protozooses

Pathogen

Protozoa

Diseases

Ectoparasites infect the skin of animals. Fleas often cause flea dermatitis, an allergic reaction caused by flea bites. Demodicosis, sarcoptosis, notoedrosis, cheiletiosis are caused by microscopic mites that parasitize in the skin of domestic dogs. Ticks, living in the skin of a dog, cause inflammation, redness of the skin, the appearance of crusts, itching, and scratching. Wool in the affected areas falls out, sometimes a bacterial infection joins. With such skin changes, the pet dog should be shown to a veterinary dermatologist.

Helminths are internal parasites often found in dogs. Roundworms and tapeworms parasitize in the intestines and other organs, causing intestinal disorders, emaciation, deterioration in the quality of wool, coughing, and decreased activity. Toxocara nematodes are especially dangerous for puppies. The cycle of development of these worms affects the lungs, which is accompanied by the appearance of cough and the development of bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. Anemia, an enlarged belly are often observed, small pets hiccup, whine after eating. If helminthiases are suspected, puppies should be treated immediately. For adult dogs, infection with dirofilaria, which are carried by mosquitoes and, entering the body of an animal, migrate to the vessels of the lungs and the right chambers of the heart, can be fatal.

Among unicellular parasites, the most dangerous is babesia (piroplasmosis), which causes babesiosis (piroplasmosis) in dogs. This is a transmissible disease carried by ticks. When bitten with saliva, a Babesia tick enters the dog’s bloodstream, invades red blood cells, and destroys them. When a dog is ill with babesiosis (pyroplasmosis), it becomes lethargic, refuses to eat, body temperature rises, urine darkens, and jaundice appears with a long course. If you suspect piroplasmosis, you should immediately take the dog to an appointment with a veterinary clinic.

Dogs suffering from leishmaniasis are becoming more and more common. Currently, domestic dogs travel a lot with their owners, so they sometimes become infected with diseases that are typical for the southern regions. They are single-celled parasites that are carried by mosquitoes. Main signs: skin lesions in the form of alopecia, crusts, scales, ulcerations.

Toxoplasmosis in dogs is different from that in cats: the dog has constant discharge from the eyes and nose, the conjunctiva is swollen and reddened, and conventional treatment of conjunctivitis does not help. The dog often coughs and sneezes due to chronic rhinitis, often bronchopneumonia.

With coccidiosis (isosporiasis, cryptosopridiasis), weakness, loss of appetite, mucous diarrhea, weight loss are observed in dogs.

Endocrine diseases of dogs

The endocrine system in dogs is formed by endocrine glands, which are represented by individual organs or clusters of cells.

Pituitary gland

Disorders

• Growth hormone deficiency
• Excess growth hormone
• Antidiuretic hormone deficiency

Signs

• Dwarfism
• Slowdown
• Acromegaly – lengthening of limbs, mandible
• Diabetes insipidus – increased thirst and urination

Adrenal glands

Disorders

• Hypercortisolism
• Hypocorticism

Signs

• Cushing’s syndrome – lethargy, sagging abdomen, alopecia
• Addison’s disease – loss of appetite, emaciation, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness

Thyroid gland

Disorders

• Hyperthyroidism – rare
• Hypothyroidism – often

Signs

• Weight loss, anxiety, muscle tremors, fatigue
• Obesity, decreased activity, dull coat, alopecia, diarrhea, constipation, bouts of weakness

Parathyroid

Disorders

• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hypoparathyroidism

Signs

• Bones lose calcium and become soft.
• Anxiety, restlessness, muscle spasms, convulsions, food refusal

Pancreas

Disorders

• Diabetes mellitus (hyperglycemia) – often
• Hypoglycemia

Signs

• Increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy.
• Weakness, muscle trembling, loss of consciousness

Improper care and its consequences

Wool

Domestic dogs have partially lost their grooming skills and require more thorough care from the owners.

Violation of the rules for hair and skin care (irregular combing and washing) can lead to increased shedding, tangles, and a decrease in the quality of the coat. The coat becomes dry or too oily, the hair breaks off, dry crusts appear on the skin, sometimes the sebaceous glands become inflamed with the formation of atheromas. Under the tangles, the so-called “greenhouse effect” develops: the skin becomes moist, the obligate microflora begins to multiply, leading to irritation, itching, scratching and pyoderma.

Excessive pollution of the coat in the street leads to a loss of shine, in dogs with light and white coats it becomes dull, gray or brown. Therefore, it is better to wear overalls for long-haired dogs in rainy weather. Thorough washing with shampoo after a walk will not only preserve the quality of wool, but also protect the skin from inflammation.

Show dogs are washed frequently every 7-10 days. Dogs with enclosures are washed 1-2 times a year or as they get dirty.

Hygiene

Every day it is necessary to remove accumulated crusts in the corners of the eyes, otherwise the discharge becomes a medium for the development of conditionally pathogenic microflora with the development of chronic inflammation of the eyes.

In brachycephals, sharpeis, spaniels, in the absence of proper care, inflammation of the skin folds on the muzzle, as well as pododermatitis, are often noted.

Untimely removal of secretions from the external auditory canal, food allergies can lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi and the development of otitis media. At the same time, it is recommended to clean the ear canal with the help of special lotions for the ears without the use of cotton swabs.

Overgrown uncut nails may grow into the pads of the fingers, especially in older animals. Often, long sharp claws are injured with a detachment of the claw plate, which is accompanied by pain and inflammation. Regular nail trimming will prevent these problems.

Teeth

Small breeds are prone to plaque and tartar buildup. Puppies should be taught to brush their teeth from an early age. Lack of oral care in dogs leads to gum inflammation, exposed necks of teeth, tartar formation and tooth loss. Chronic inflammation in the oral cavity, periodontal disease may be accompanied by chronic laryngotracheitis and gastritis.

Diseases of domestic dogs dangerous to humans

Zooanthroponoses are diseases that the owner can contract from their pets.

The first most dangerous and deadly is rabies. The virus enters during a bite into the blood or through infected saliva that enters the human skin. The only protection is the annual vaccination of pets.

Other bacterial infections and infestations may be transmitted to humans from sick dogs:

• Airborne with damage to the respiratory system – bordetelliosis, tuberculosis.
• Leptospirosis, brucellosis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, isosporiasis, helminthiases (intestinal parasites) are transmitted through non-compliance with personal hygiene and contact with the secretions of sick dogs through the bedding.
• Lichen (dermatophytosis), cheiletiosis and other parasitic skin diseases can also be transmitted through contact with a sick pet or from objects and surfaces.

Children are most susceptible to infection with intestinal parasites and fungal skin diseases due to imperfect immunity.

Vector-borne diseases such as ehrlichiosis, borreliosis (Lyme disease), leishmaniasis, dirofilariasis are not directly transmitted from sick dogs to humans, but infected animals are a source of pathogens for blood-sucking insect vectors.

Disease prevention

The main secret of dog health is disease prevention. There are several basic principles of prevention:

• proper feeding and maintenance of the dog from an early age;
• regular vaccination and treatment against all types of parasites;
• compliance with the rules of feeding and maintenance of the expectant mother;
• physical activity and training of the domestic dog;
• use in breeding healthy animals;
• timely appeal to the veterinarian.

What should I do if my dog ​​gets sick? When the first signs of malaise appear, such as loss of appetite, lethargy, refusal to exercise, changes in stool, urination, it is necessary to assess the condition of the animal and consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

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Diseases of dog puppies. List of Common Puppy Diseases, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Communicable diseases

This group includes canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus enteritis and infectious tracheobronchitis. Puppies and young dogs are most susceptible to these diseases, with unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated animals at higher risk.

Immediately after birth, with the first portions of mother’s milk, puppies receive protective antibodies that remain in the blood of babies until the age of 8-10 weeks, which is why the first vaccination against viral infections should be done at this age, otherwise the puppy will be defenseless against these diseases. The main symptoms of viral infections are lethargy, fever, refusal to feed, vomiting, diarrhea, discharge from the nose and eyes, and cough. The best help in this situation is a quick visit to the veterinary clinic, because as a result of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies, as in kittens, and in young children, dehydration sets in very quickly, which worsens the prognosis and makes treatment more difficult.

Infectious diseases are usually severe and do not go away on their own, so the best thing a puppy owner can do when their pet’s health changes is to seek professional veterinary help as soon as possible.

Parasitic diseases

Puppies quite often suffer from external parasites, which include fleas, ear (otodectosis) or scabies (sarcoptic mange) mites, and infection with another external parasite, cheyletiella, is not uncommon. All these diseases are manifested by itching of the skin, scratching, secondary skin infections and hair loss can be observed. Otodectosis is manifested by itching of the ears and the presence of discharge in the lumen of the auditory canal. Generalized juvenile demodicosis usually occurs in young dogs under the age of 1.5 years.

All puppies are infected with internal parasites, so the regular and constant use of antihelminthic drugs is a necessary measure. If worms are found in the puppy’s feces, it is worth collecting parasites for analysis, this will help you choose an effective drug and treatment regimen specifically against the identified parasites.

There is no universal antiparasitic agent that would rid a puppy of internal parasites once and for all, it is important to regularly use special agents in accordance with the recommendations of a veterinarian.

The absence of visible parasites in the puppy’s feces does not exclude infection with helminths, in most cases the invasion is asymptomatic.

Pet Reviews

@lil.tom
Maincoon, Moscow
I am a new family member and my new friend Sharik didn’t want to be friends with me. 😿 Fortunately, the hostess quickly noticed the problem and bought us insurance. Now we go to couples consultations with our zoopsychologist. World. Friendship. Gum.

@barney_goodboy
Dobermann, Saratov
I accidentally ate my owner’s sock and my stomach hurt. 💩🤢😭 The day was ruined. It’s good that my insurance covers the consultation and treatment at the clinic. Mood and family budget did not suffer!

@mini_ralf
Labrador, Tula
I’m still just a puppy, and big dogs constantly bully me in the yard. I return home beaten and bitten 🤕. But I do not lose heart, because in any incomprehensible situation my online veterinarian helps me 💫🩺

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Take care of your pet’s health

Dietary stress and disorder

Curious puppies actively explore the world, they often pick up and eat everything that they meet on their way. It can be food waste found on the street, “treasures” from the bin, or food from the table if the puppy accidentally got to it. All these feasts often end in vomiting and diarrhea.

Unfortunately, puppies often eat plastic bags, food wrappers, which can lead to intestinal obstruction. It can also be caused by swallowing socks or parts of toys.

Injuries, domestic hazards

Like all children, puppies often get injured, this is due to increased activity and lack of experience. The most common are bone fractures and sprains.

Unfortunately, puppies are often hit by cars or bitten by others.
dogs.

In the house, too, there are threats to the health of pets, especially babies. For example, household chemicals can be very toxic and even deadly to animals, so keep cleaning products, laundry detergents, and other household items out of the reach of puppies and children.

all types, symptoms and treatment

Puppies, like adult dogs, get sick, and, as a rule, this happens even more often. Moreover, diseases of puppies cause much more harm to a small fragile organism, and it is often not always possible to predict the consequences of each disease. We have prepared for you a list of the most common diseases in puppies with a description of the symptoms and recommendations for treatment, dividing them all into 3 types: infectious, parasitic and non-infectious.

If the mother is vaccinated, then while she feeds the puppies with her milk, they are under the protection of “mother’s” immunity, because the antibodies are in the milk. As soon as the crumbs are torn off the lactating bitch, they become susceptible to a variety of infectious diseases. However, puppies do not always get sick due to infection with a virus or bacteria. Parasitic diseases are often recorded. And a lot of non-contagious sores, but causing a lot of problems for pets and their owners.

Infectious diseases in puppies

The most dangerous are infectious diseases in puppies. Mortality in this case is extremely high, especially when the owner is late to realize the cause.

Parvovirus enteritis

Death from parvovirus enteritis in dogs can occur within the first day, but more often the sick puppy dies without treatment within 3 days. Many owners confuse viral enteritis with poisoning, because with this disease the temperature almost never rises, on the contrary, it can drop to 37.5.

But vomiting and diarrhea with blood should alert any owner. But enteritis has many other symptoms. Specific treatment – serum with a high content of antibodies against the pathogen.

Distemper or distemper of carnivores

Babies from 3 months to a year are most often ill. but later periods of infection are not excluded if the immunity is very weak. There are a lot of forms of this viral disease: skin, nervous, intestinal, pulmonary and mixed. It is necessary to start treating the baby for distemper as soon as possible so that he survives and there are no serious complications. German Shepherd puppies are more susceptible to this disease, but this does not mean that if you have a different breed, then it does not need to be vaccinated. The vaccine alone will reduce the risk of infection to just 1%. And that recovery will come very quickly.

Infectious hepatitis

The virus mainly infects the liver, but other organs also get infected. The main symptoms of the disease in puppies: fever (up to almost 42 degrees), vomiting with bile, appetite almost completely disappears. The mucous membranes first turn pale, then turn yellow. Yes, and the whites of the eyes due to bile become an unhealthy shade. Since the liver releases a large amount of bilirubin into the blood, which does not break down (as it should be in a healthy animal). Because of this, the brain suffers, and the urine becomes dark brown. Another clear symptom of infectious hepatitis is that a sick puppy spreads its front paws wide when standing or lying down.

Parasitic diseases in puppies

Parasitic diseases in puppies can be called in other words – diseases caused by parasites. Parasites are:

• external (fleas, ticks, lice) – skin parasites in dogs;
• internal – varieties of worms;
• subcutaneous – these are also mites, only leading their activity in the layers of the puppy’s skin. The most common here is demodicosis in dogs.

In this article, we will focus briefly on worms.

Cestodosis

A group of helminthiases in which the causative agents of the disease are tapeworms (they are also called tapeworms). This group includes diphyllobothriasis, dipilidiosis, echinococcosis, teniasis and many others. Pets can become infected by eating raw fish or by-products obtained from sick animals. And even ingestion of skin parasites (fleas or withers) can lead to cestodosis.

Trematodes

This group of diseases is caused by flukes. The most common is opisthorchiasis. It affects the pancreas, biliary tract and the liver itself. The mustache can become infected by eating raw fish, which contains fluke larvae.

Nematodosis

Most often reported in small puppies. Often crumbs suffer from toxocariasis or toxoascariasis (ascaris, simply). The baby’s tummy becomes large, inflated, tight. In the case of a strong invasion, a cough is noted (after all, one stage of the development of the parasite occurs in the lungs). The animal coughs up, swallows the larva again, which migrates to the small intestine, where the adult individual grows and multiplies.

Intrauterine infection is often recorded (unborn puppies from a sick mother become infected). Roundworms greatly weakens the immune system. Any “infection” clings to puppies. That is why it is so important to carry out deworming before vaccination. It also needs to be done regularly! Even if it seems to you that the baby is completely healthy. You may or may not be aware of the invasion.

Non-communicable diseases in puppies

It is already clear from the title of the section that these diseases are the least dangerous, but nevertheless this does not mean that they can be ignored. In advanced forms with such a disease, the puppy will suffer greatly.

Rickets

Rickets is a common disease in puppies of any breed. It develops due to the fact that the growing puppy lacks vitamin D. Due to its lack, the young body cannot fully absorb calcium. Roughly speaking, it “in transit” passes through the intestines, without even being absorbed. Therefore, the concentration of calcium in the blood decreases. But the body is such a “thing” that if something is missing somewhere, it will find where to get it from.

Where is a lot of calcium? That’s right, in the bones and teeth. Bones become porous, brittle. And under the weight of the body, they bend. Hence the crooked legs and chest, on the ribs you can feel something like balls – the so-called rachitic rosary. There may be convulsions, but in any case, the animal is in pain. Learn more about rickets in dogs.

Hernia

In some animals, the umbilical ring does not close completely. And intestinal loops or other internal organs located in the abdominal cavity can go into it. This is very dangerous, because the intestines can become pinched, food cannot pass through it further. First, it will begin to rot, the puppy will have severe intoxication. The intestines will then become blocked. The pet will experience wild pain.

If the animal is left untreated, the intestines can be “damaged”, and its contents will end up in the abdominal cavity. And this will lead to peritonitis. A hernia in a puppy should not be reduced by the owner! This is a surgical operation, so only a veterinarian should perform it!

Obesity

Obesity is a disease of puppies of large breeds, but small ones also sometimes suffer. In small breeds, the abdominal area first becomes fat, and then the paws. Large breeds get fat more evenly. But extra weight is just a load on the joints. In addition, do not forget that fat is not only subcutaneous tissue, but also visceral deposits – around the internal organs. And this fat is much more dangerous than the one that is deposited under the skin. The puppy must be active and healthy.

Don’t overfeed, don’t give in to “puppy eyes” that beg for more bites. Do not spoil the mustachioed with sweets. Remember that an unbalanced diet will lead not only to hypo- or hypervitaminosis, but also to obesity and other metabolic disorders. And then there is the domino effect. Due to improper metabolism, serious health problems begin: urolithiasis, diabetes mellitus.

Osteochondrosis (joint disease)

More often recorded in large breeds. The joints increase in size, thicken. Lameness appears, the joints themselves are deformed. If you look closely, then the radius (this is one of the bones that go from the hand to the very elbow), then it is bent. This is not only a defect in the exterior, but also causes discomfort to the growing puppy.

This disease develops (in puppies of Alabai, German Shepherd or other large breeds) due to “overfeeding” with products with a large amount of calcium. As you can see, an overabundance of this element is just as harmful as its lack. If the puppy gains excess weight, then under the weight of the body, the joints are severely deformed, as if flattened. Do not overfeed your baby, even if he begs you for a supplement.

Lack of vitamins (hypovitaminosis)

The baby is growing, the body needs useful substances for the growth of bones, teeth, for the development of internal organs. A puppy should eat a wide variety of foods: meat (not raw and not fatty), vegetables (do not abuse potatoes, otherwise your pet will become obese), dairy products (but do not overfeed, otherwise osteochondrosis will develop), boiled eggs, cereals and cereals.