Canine Diseases


A Quick Guide to
Common Canine Diseases

 
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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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