All dog owners consider their pets as family members, and who wants their little, cute, and cuddly friends to leave them earlier because of deadly diseases? If you are a dog owner, it’s your responsibility to learn about the most common and fatal dog diseases and their symptoms.
Here in this article, I will give you an overview of symptoms of illness and some most common dog diseases to which every dog breed is equally susceptible. First, let me tell you how you can come to know that your dog is ill.
Dog Illness Symptoms
One of the most important responsibilities as a pet owner is that we should identify the diseases earlier so that a professional veterinarian can treat them before they become severe and incurable.
If your dog is experiencing the following symptoms, then you should understand that he is in trouble.
- Lack of appetite or off feed
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Coughing, sneezing, and difficult breathing
- Nasal or ocular (eye) discharge
- Increased or decreased urination
- Lameness or difficulty in walking
- Any abnormal behavior that is not in routine
Most Common Dog Diseases
Now let me tell you about some common and most prevalent diseases of dogs. Dogs can suffer from various respiratory, gastrointestinal (GIT), urinary and reproductive system diseases. Some commonly found infectious diseases of dogs are.
- Rabies
- Parvovirus
- Canine Distemper
- Canine Hepatitis
- Canine Influenza
- Canine Parainfluenza
- Kennel Cough
- Leptospirosis
- Heartworm
- Lyme disease
Besides these infectious diseases, dogs also suffer from dental and gum diseases due to poor management. They may also suffer from ear infections if their ears are not cleaned regularly. Diabetes and cancer also occur in dogs.
Your dog may also encounter some rare dog diseases like
- Alopecia
- Malignant Hyperthermia
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Ectopic Ureter
Final Thoughts
No one wants their pets to get diseased. To prevent your dogs from infectious diseases, you should avoid dog kennels and dog shows because most infectious diseases are transmitted from one dog to another.
And finally, I would recommend you do proper and timely vaccinations against deadly diseases. Vaccines are available almost for all dog diseases. You should consult your veterinarian about when to vaccinate your dog against these diseases.