Dog Health
Bordetella
Bloat
Distemper
Dog Warts
Fleas
Giardia
Heartworm
Hookworm
Hot Spots
Bordetella (Canine Cough)
Bordetella (ITB-Infectious Tracheo-Bronchitis) is the most common respiratory infectious disease in dogs. Similar to the common cold in humans, the organisms that cause canine cough are airborne. Dogs can catch this debilitating, persistent disease simply by being close to other infected dogs. It is spread by human handling, through cages and food/water bowls. This is why it is common wherever dogs are housed or confined together.
Symptoms
o loud “honking” cough
o nasal discharge
o watery eyes
o loss of appetite
Once contracted
o It generally takes a week or two for it to completely run its course.
o The dog will suffer no permanent damage.
o The vet can prescribe a cough suppressant to minimize the amount of coughing episodes.
Prevention
o There is no cure for Bordetella; the best defense is prevention.
o The vaccine only protects against 64% of Bordetella strains.
o Currently there are two types of vaccines for Bordetella, intranasal and injectable.
o Intranasal:
§ The intranasal vaccine has a fast onset of action, so it is better to use if the dog is being boarded or planning on attending daycare.
§ It is best to have the vaccination done at least one week before the dog comes to camp so that the vaccine can actually work.
§ Doses given immediately before kenneling are not protective.
§ Unfortunately, the intranasal does not last very long.
§ Dose recommendations range from every three weeks to every six months.
o Injectable:
§ The injectable vaccine is better for long immunity duration, but current reports suggest that it produces only a very low level of immunity.
§ Vaccination does not 100% guarantee that the dog will not get an infection, but it may lessen the course of the disease.
BLOAT
Bloat is the second leading killer of dogs: It is a canine medical emergency. Bloat occurs in two forms: Swelling of the stomach from gas (gastric dilation) or Torsion (gastric dilation with volvulus) which occurs when the stomach twists on its axis. Often, both forms of bloat occur in a single episode. When this happens, bloat can be fatal in minutes. The disease progresses in minutes or at most hours. The only treatment is emergency medical attention. In its two advanced forms, the only treatment is surgery.
- Symptoms Include:
- Excessive salivation
- Extreme restlessness/ pacing
- Unproductive attempts to vomit/ defecate
- Evidence of abdominal pain
- Rapid breathing/ panting
- Extreme swelling of the stomach
- Collapse
- Risk factors:
- 170% increase for each unit increase in chest depth/width ratio
- 110% increase associated with using a raised food bowl
- 63% increase associated with having a 1st degree relative with Bloat
- 20% increase for each year increase in age
- 15% increase for speed of eating (for dogs weighing 49-100lbs)
- Important tips for prevention:
- Raised food bowls:
- Pet Suppliers & manufactures have made claims that raised feeder/bowls aids a dog’s digestion and prevents bloat. No scientific research supports these claims.
- Some studies found that a raised feeder actually increases the risk of bloat 110%.
- Approximately 20-50% of bloat cases were attributed to a raised food bowl.
- Gulping food:
- When a dog gulps food, the dog ingests air with the food.
- Air ingestion causes gas that may in turn cause the dog to bloat.
- This is especially the case in dogs that weigh more than 49lbs.
- Exercise after eating:
- Allow at least 1.5 hour of rest after eating.
- The worst activity a dog can do after eating is rolling onto its back.
- Feed multiple meals:
- Studies have shown that feeding in the morning and evening greatly reduces the risks of bloat.
- Changing food:
- It is extremely important to introduce new food slowly; it can take several weeks for a dog to adapt.
- New food not introduced slowly can cause extreme gas in the stomach and in some cases bloat.
- Important
- If you think a dog has bloat don’t hesitate, RUSH to the closest veterinarian.
- In this circumstance every minute counts, if left untreated there is a 100% fatality rate!
| Distemper
The American Veterinary Medical Association considers canine distemper the single greatest disease threat to the world’s dog population. Canine distemper virus is fatal to 80% of the puppies and 50% of the adult dogs that contract it. Symptoms o congested lungs o nasal discharge o gunky eyes o coughing o weight loss o vomiting o diarrhea o As the disease progresses, it attacks the nervous system, often causing partial or complete paralysis & seizures Transmitted o through the air o by direct contact with urine o by direct contact with feces o mucus secretions from infected dogs o contact with kennels, bedding, toys, etc. that may hold the virus Once contracted o Once the dog is infected, there is no cure. o The disease must run its course. o Dogs that recover from distemper may develop hardened foot pads, nose leathers, and/or vision/nervous system problems throughout their lives. Prevention o Distemper is only prevented by vaccination. o According to AVMA, some veterinary medical scientists estimate that practically every dog that lives to be a year old has had contact with the virus at some time. o Distemper is so prevalent and the signs so varied that any sick young dog should be taken to a veterinarian for a definite diagnosis. o Most distemper cases appear in dogs less than 6 months of age and in old dogs that have not been routinely vaccinated. |
|
|
|
| Dog Warts
Dog Warts (Canine Papilloma Virus) are small round skin tumors caused by certain viruses. There are many types of small round skin growths and it is important these are examined as some growths may not be innocuous viral warts. Most growths must be removed and biopsied before they are identified, though in some cases the viral papilloma has an obvious appearance and is identified visually. Dogs can get viral warts, but not from the same viruses that cause human warts. Dogs do not get warts from people, and people cannot get warts from dogs. In dogs, we do not call these “warts;” we use the more formal term “viral papilloma.” These are benign skin tumors caused by the canine oral papillomavirus. Symptoms o Viral papillomas are round but often have a rough, almost jagged surface reminiscent of a sea anemone or a cauliflower. o Occurs usually on the lips and muzzle of young dogs (usually less than 2 years of age). o Less commonly, papillomas can occur on the eyelids and even the surface of the eye or between the toes. o Usually occurs in groups rather than as solitary growths. Transmitted o The infection is transmitted via contact with the papillomas on an infected dog. o The incubation period is 1-2 months. o This virus is only spread among dogs. o It is not contagious to other pets or humans. o To become infected, the dog generally needs an immature immune system, thus this infection is primarily one of young dogs and puppies. Once contracted o These papillomas are not really dangerous and go away on their own as the dog’s immune system matures and generates a response against the papilloma virus. o There have been two cases published where viral papillomas progressed to malignancy but this is extremely rare and by no means the usual course of the infection. o Typically, it takes 1-5 months for papillomas to regress with oral growths tending to regress sooner than ocular growths. o Occasionally, some papillomas will stay permanently. o Sometimes, oral papillomas can become infected with bacteria of the mouth. Antibiotics are needed in such cases to control the pain, swelling, and bad breath. Treatment o In most cases, treatment is unnecessary; the papillomas simply go away on their own. o Some dogs have a huge number of tumors; so many that consuming foods is a problem. o Tumors can be surgically removed or frozen off cryogenically. o Sometimes crushing several growths seems to stimulate the host’s immune system to assist in the tumor regression process. o In humans, anti-viral doses of interferon have been used to treat severe cases of warts and this treatment is also available for severely infected dogs. o Sometimes some of the warts can be removed and made into a “vaccine” which is felt to stimulate the immune system in removing the tumors, though such vaccines do not seem to be as effective as one might want. o A veterinarian should perform all such treatments; do not attempt freezing, cutting or crushing of growths on your own. |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Heartworm
Canine heartworm is a dangerous disease, which has spread to virtually all parts of the United States. It is spread by mosquitoes; thus, areas heavily populated by these insects are at greater risk. What is Heartworm? o Parasite that lives in the blood of a dog’s heart and adjacent blood vessels. o Adult heartworms living in a dog’s heart produce offspring called microfilaria that circulate in the infected dog’s blood. o It can take 3 months for the heartworm to reach a mature length of 9-14 inches. o At this time the female heartworm begins to produce microfilaria. o It takes about 6 months from the time the dog is bitten by an infected mosquito until adult worms produce microfilaria. o In some cases, up to 200 worms can be found in the heart. Symptoms o difficulty breathing o coughing o lack of stamina o weight loss o rough hair coat o In many cases, these are advanced symptoms. Some dogs do not appear to have symptoms in the early stages. o If not detected & controlled with proper treatment, heartworms can lead to congestive heart failure and death. Prevention (Also see next bullet point) o Heartworm disease is easy to prevent if you follow precautionary measures. o Take pup to vet early and talk to them about which medications are right for your dog. o Follow medication’s directions and you won’t be concerned with this dangerous disease. o Some medication available § once a day chewable (Filarabits) § once a month chewable (Heartgard, Advantix) § 6 month injectable (ProHeart6) § mosquito repellant that does not contain DEET Diagnostic Testing and Preventative Medication o Highly effective diagnostic testing and preventative medications have been developed. o It is necessary to have a heartworm test prior to using a preventative medication if the dog is over 4 months. o Severe or fatal reactions may occur if they are given to dogs with heartworm disease, or may create diagnostic confusion at a later date. o Testing is usually done in the spring (March-April) when mosquitoes develop. o A small amount of blood is necessary for a heartworm test, which is very accurate in detecting the disease. o If the dog tests negative, he/she is put on preventative medication from April-December. o The preventative medication kills the immature larvae before they become adults. It does not kill the adult heartworms. New Medication Available o Heartworm treatment should be much safer for dogs now that a new medication, Immiticide, is available to veterinarians. o This medication has fewer side effects and kills a higher percentage of heartworms than Caparsolate. o When the heartworms are killed by medications, a danger of embolism results if the dead worms block the flow of blood to the lungs. o This is a common cause of death during a heartworm treatment. o This risk still exists with Immiticide, but to a much lesser extent, due to differences in the timing of heartworm deaths. o Immiticide does not appear to damage the liver or kidneys. o Following treatment, complete rest is needed. Excitement and exercise should be avoided for at least a month, followed by gradual return to normal activity. |
|||||||
|
