A Quick Guide to
Common Canine Diseases
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| Rabies |
Of all animal diseases, rabies is
probably the most feared. The rabies virus
attacks the brain and is always fatal. Most pets
are exposed to rabies by bites from wild animals,
particularly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes.
The disease can be transmitted to humans through
the bite of an infected pet. Vaccination of all
dogs and cats is the most effective means of
control and all working dogs should be vaccinated
every three years with a 3-year vaccine. While there is
considerable evidence that a rabies vaccine may be good for the
life of a dog, ignore all advice that says rabies vaccines are not needed
every three years, even for a working terriers. Our dogs do not
have normal rates of exposure to wild animals. In a
working terrier, a rabies vaccines should always be current. |
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| Canine Distemper |
This highly contagious viral
disease is found wherever dogs are found. It
affects the respiratory and nervous system and is
often fatal. It is transmitted via direct or
indirect nose and eye discharge from infected
dogs. Primarily seen in puppies 3-6 months old,
it is the primary killer of puppies, along with parvo. Early signs of distemper resemble a severe
cold and symptoms may include squinting, eye
congestion and discharge, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Distemper is highly contagious, and primary
vaccination should begin at 6-12 weeks of age
since dogs often contract the disease at an early
age. This disease mostly kills young dogs --
adult dogs often survive it, and after the first year's worth of
puppy shots and booster you are done. A previously
immunized adult dog will not catch distemper; the first vaccine
and booster are good for a lifetime of protection. |
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| Canine Parvovirus
(CPV) |
This highly contagious virus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in
dogs of all ages but is especially deadly in
puppies where death often occurs 48-72 hours
after onset of symptoms. This virus can withstand
exposure to most disinfectants and most
temperature changes. If you have had parvo in
your kennel, hit it with pure bleach and really
work it into the crevices. Dose the kennel
multiple times and let the disinfectant stand and
pool on surfaces. Parvo can persist in an area
for months. This disease mostly kills young dogs --
adult dogs often survive it, and after the first year's worth of
puppy shots and booster you are done. A previously
immunized adult dog will not catch parvo; the first vaccine and
booster are good for a lifetime of protection. |
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| Canine Coronavirus (CCV) |
Coronavirus is highly contagious
and can weaken puppies in particular by causing severe diarrhea
and vomiting. The disease is sometimes confused
with parvovirus. The two diseases may occur
simultaneously in which case symptoms are more
severe. Corona is never seen in adult dogs, and after the
first year's worth of puppy shots and booster your dog is
protected for life. |
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| Canine Parainfluenza |
This viral respiratory disease is
often partly responsible for "kennel
cough" in dogs, and while infection can be severe in
young puppies, it is rarely serious in adult dogs. Parainfluenza protection is often
included in distemper-parvo vaccines and the first vaccine and
booster are good for a lifetime of protection. |
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| Canine Adenovirus Type 1
& 2 |
Canine Adenovirus Type 1 infection
causes infectious hepatitis which may lead to
severe kidney damage. Type 2 can be a
complicating factor in kennel cough. Vaccines are
available that protect against both types of
adenovirus. Type 1 infection can cause cloudiness
in the eye. A previously immunized adult dog will not
catch adeno; the first vaccine and booster are good for a
lifetime of protection. |
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| Canine Leptospirosis |
Leptospirosis is a bacterial
disease carried by many wild animals. A dog can
contract the disease from infected animals or
(more likely) by drinking contaminated water
which a rat has urinated into. Yearly vaccination
can reduce your dog's chance of acquiring the
disease, but vaccines are not available for every
type of lepto, and there are more adverse
reactions from lepto vaccines than most other vaccines. I
do not vaccinate my own dogs against Lepto, and generally advise
other working terrier owners to skip this vaccine unless they
are dedicated ratters out more than a few times a year.
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| Canine Bordetella |
Frequently involved in what is sometime called "kennel
cough complex," this bacterial infection may occur
simultaneously with distemper, adenovirus type 2
infection, parainfluenza and other respiratory
infections. Unless required by a boarding kennel, this
vaccine does not need to be administered to an adult dog in a
non-kennel situation. |
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Borreliosis
(Lyme Disease) |
Borreliosis, or Lyme disease, is
an infection caused by a bacteria which is spread
primarily by the painless bite of an infected
tick. Symptoms of Borreliosis in the dog include
lameness, fever, lethargy, muscle stiffness, and
lack of appetite. I do not recommend a Lyme vaccine (not
even in a Lyme-endemic area) and neither do most veterinary
schools. The reason for this is that Lyme vaccines are
more likely to trigger a negative auto-immune disorder in your
dog than they are to actually prevent Lyme disease in your dog.
Dogs do not catch Lyme as easily as humans, and 95% of
serro-positive dogs are asymptomatic and do not require
treatment. Lyme treatment is straightforward: five weeks
of doxycycline administered twice a day at the rate of 5mg per
pound of dog. The cost of five-weeks of doxycycline to
treat a 20-pound terrier is less than $30.00 |
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| Canine Giardiasis |
Giardiasis in dogs, cats and
humans is caused by a waterborne parasite called
Giardia lamblia. The parasite is found in
untreated water, i.e. puddles, ponds and creeks.
The basic symptoms is diarrhea, fever, dehydration and nausea,
but this problem is generally self-limiting (i.e the dogs gets
better on its own) except in very rare cases. There is a
vaccine for giardia, but I do not consider it worth the expense,
and though my dogs drink out of farm puddles all the time, they
have never had a moment's trouble in 40 years.
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