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Vet Care: A Compassionate Science


3 Dangerous Diseases In Dogs

Dogs are prone to getting a number of different ailments and illnesses. Some of the more common illnesses in dogs include ear infections, kennel cough, diarrhea, and external parasites. In most cases, especially when a veterinarian is involved in the treatment of these kinds of illnesses, dogs can overcome them. There are certain diseases, however, that are more dangerous to dogs as they are highly contagious and have a higher fatality rate.

Here are three dangerous diseases in dogs.

1. Canine Distemper

This dangerous disease is caused by a virus that attacks a dog's respiratory and nervous system. The virus can also attack the dog's gastrointestinal system. If a dog has this virus, they can spread it to other dogs by coughing or sneezing. Dogs also spread this virus by eating and drinking from the same bowl.

Symptoms of canine distemper include thick discharge from the eyes, diarrhea, vomiting, reduced appetite, and fever. Some dogs with canine distemper might also exhibit neurological symptoms, such as seizures and muscle twitches.

2. Canine Parvovirus

One reason parvo, as this disease is commonly referred to, is so dangerous is that a puppy who gets this disease can go from being healthy to very sick in a short amount of time. This virus affects a dog's gastrointestinal system and is spread through direct contact. Dogs can also can get infected by licking or sniffing infected feces.

This disease usually occurs in puppies or young dogs. Certain breeds, such as German shepherds, English springer spaniels, and Rottweilers, are at a higher risk of getting parvo.

Symptoms of parvo include severe bloody diarrhea, lethargy, vomiting, weight loss, dehydration. If a dog has these symptoms, it's imperative that they see a veterinarian right away. The sooner a dog receives treatment for parvo, the better their chances of survival are.

3. Rabies

It's not uncommon for a dog to get bitten by a wild animal, especially for dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors. If the wild animal has rabies, the dog could become infected with the disease. Wild animals that commonly carry the rabies virus include skunks, foxes, bats, and raccoons.

Symptoms of rabies include fever, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, staggering, and seizures. Some dogs that have rabies may appear to be overstimulated. Rabies affects a dog's central nervous system. There is no cure for this disease and it is usually fatal.

For the best chance of preventing these dangerous diseases in dogs, veterinarians recommend core vaccines and keeping up with a vaccination schedule.

About Me

Vet Care: A Compassionate Science

In order to be a good veterinarian, one needs a few characteristics. One must have a love and passion for animals, and also a love for science. You see, veterinarians have to know a lot of science to do their jobs, but they also have to apply that science in a very compassionate way to preserve and improve the health of their patients. This is not always easy when your patient is a 100-pound German shepherd who is mad because his paw hurts. We greatly appreciate vets, the complexity of what they do, and the love they put into their jobs. That's why we created this blog to share more about this awesome profession.

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