Canine Diseases

Distemper

• A disease that affects multiple organs (respiratory, GI, and nervous);

• Symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures;

• Transmission: Respiratory secretions, contaminated surfaces, and urine;

• The highest risk is for puppies and unvaccinated dogs of any age.

• It can be transmitted from wildlife and ferrets to dogs.

• It may start as minor cold, but it can quickly turn fatal.

Bordetella

• One of several pathogens that cause canine infectious respiratory. disease;

• Symptoms:​ Coughing, gagging, and decreased appetite;

• Transmission: Airborne and casual contact with infected dogs and contaminated surfaces;

• Often seen soon after boarding, grooming, or playing at dog park;

• Infections will often clear on their own, but antibiotics and cough suppressants can help with treatment.​

Rabies

• Zoonotic disease that spreads via the nervous system and can be deadly;

• Transmission: Saliva of infected mammals between species;

• Symptoms: Fever, decreased appetite, weakness, paralysis, seizures, drooling, and abnormal behavior;

• Exposure to rabid dogs is the cause of 99% of human rabies deaths world-wide. Rare deaths occur in the U.S.

• Vaccination is required by law.

Hepatitis

• Due to Adenovirus-1, which causes upper respiratory infections and infectious canine hepatitis;

• Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, neurological signs, and enlarged liver.

• Transmission: Saliva, urine, and feces;

• It begins with tonsils, spreads into the bloodstream, and targets internal organs, especially the liver.

• Unvaccinated dogs are at highest risk.

• Diagnosis can be difficult and may require a liver biopsy.

Parainfluenza

• A viral form of kennel cough that can spread rapidly among multiple dogs kept together;

• Symptoms: Fever, coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, and poor appetite;

• Transmission: Airborne aerosols from coughing and sneezing;

• Higher risk in shelters, dog parks, and boarding facilities;

• Infected dogs can be contagious for 

• Parainfluenza is not the same as cainine influenza.

Lyme

• A common tickborne disease in dogs that may never show symptoms.​

• Symptoms: Recurrent lameness, fever, depression, and difficulty breathing;

• Transmission: Slow-feeding ticks, which must be attached for 24-48 hrs;

• Prevalence is increasing and treatment outcome is variable.

• The most effective prevention of tick-borne diseases is through the use of quality flea and tick prevention.

Parvovirus

• A viral infection that is incredibly contagious and spreads quickly.

• Symptoms: Weakness, vomiting, dehydration, fever, bloody diarrhea;

• Transmission: Direct contact with feces-contaminated objects, such as hands, the ground, and hair;

• Highest risk in puppies and unvaccinated dogs;

• The virus can survive for months in the environment, without proper de-contamination.

Leptospirosis

• An increasingly prevalent bacterial infection that can spread to other animals and humans and requires aggressive therapy.

• Symptoms: Fever, sore muscles, weakness, increased thirst, dehydration, bloody discharge;.

• Transmission: Direct contact of contaminated urine from wildlife (including rats, racoons, and squirrels) in soil, water, or via open sores.

Canine Influenza

• A relatively new dog flu virus, believed to originate from horses (H3N8) and birds (H3N2);

• Symptoms: Coughing, sneezing, and pneumonia;​

• Transmission: Direct contact of surfaces of respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing;

• Viral strains are not known to affect humans, but can be transmitted to cats.​