Doggy Diseases

       When you’re a dog owner you’re responsible for keeping him fit and healthy. Knowing the ins and outs of symptoms and care will be valuable information for you to keep:

1. Canine Parvovirus

       This is an acute and highly contagious disease which tends to attack the gastrointestinal tract. The virus is shed in stools and transmitted by oral contact with the infected faeces. It can be carried on the dog’s feet or hair and then licked into his system. The virus can affect dogs of all ages, but in most cases it occurs in puppies between six to 20 weeks of age. The acute illness begins with sickness and diarrhoea, and severe abdominal pain. Hospitalisation is necessary to treat the illness which can be fatal. It’s therefore vital to have your puppy vaccinated at 8 weeks.

2. Diarrhoea

       In most cases there’s a large volume of loose, unformed stools and an increased number of bowel movements. The two most common causes of diarrhoea are parasites or a bad diet. A normal stool contains no mucus, blood or undigested food. When food rushes through the bowel it arrives in the rectum in a liquid state resulting in an unformed bowel movement. Dogs are natural scavengers and eat a lot of indigestible substances which are irritating to the stomach, causing the problem. Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms can cause chronic diarrhoea. This requires a vet’s attention. Have your puppy and older dog wormed regularly.

3. Ear Mites

       These are tiny insects that live in the dog’s ear canals and feed by piercing the skin. They’re highly contagious and can produce a severe reaction that leads to intense itching and scratching, with violent head shaking. The ear flaps will become red and crusty with scabs. They may also smell and produce a waxy discharge. Once the diagnosis has been made, the ears will be cleaned and medicated which will destroy the mites and prevent re-infestation.

4. Tumours

       This is any sort of lump, growth or swelling. They’re divided into two main categories of benign and malignant. Benign tumours grow slowly, are non-invasive and don’t spread to other parts of the body. They’re normally removed by surgery. Malignant tumours are potentially life-threatening as they invade tissues and grow in an unrestricted way. The majority of cancers are detected by physical examinations. Be aware of any growths on your dog’s body and a swollen limb or lameness which can indicate bone cancer. The majority of cancers occur in middle age and older dogs. If you’ve any doubts consult your vet.

5. Heat stroke and Dehydration

       Heat stroke is an emergency and needs urgent vet attention. Because dogs don’t sweat they cannot tolerate high temperatures, and they depend on panting to exchange warm air for cool. Common factors that cause heat stroke are being left in a car, strenuous exercise and being confined without shade and fresh water in hot weather. If you find you need to leave your dog for any length of time, you should call pet sitting Victoria to care for your pet whilst you’re away.