Your dog is like your child. Only you know the agony you feel when it falls ill. Whether it gets a mild diarrhea or throws up a little, a responsible and caring owner frets and rushes to the vet to get his dog checked up. Although vets tend to burn a hole in the owner’s pockets, it is aptly said, “Better safe than sorry.” One of my dogs recently went through an ordeal for over a month but he is finally back on his feet and is once more the healthy, handsome dog that he was. This illness of his left me so shaken that I researched about all the viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal or parasitic infections a dog can contract. Unfortunately, that list is endless but I want to make people aware of the symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of the four of the deadliest viral infections that your dog can catch. Here they are:
- Parvovirus: It is one of the worst (in terms of mortality rate and the effect it has on your dog’s body) viral infections your dog may catch.
- Typically Parvo is passed from one dog to another from contaminated feces. But this dog disease may also be carried on fur or paws, thereby contaminating the living space of the dog and any objects he comes in contact with.
- Its symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea (usually bloody). These lead to dehydration and secondary infections. Electrolyte balance can become critically affected. Dogs have a distinctive odor in the later stages of the infection. WBC level falls. These factors can lead to shock and death.
- Treatment includes hospitalization, administering antibiotics, antiemetics and IV fluids.
- Prevention includes giving Parvo vaccines and regular boosters for it.
- Distemper: It is a virus that is quite similar to the virus that causes measles in humans. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, distemper is the number one disease associated with canine deaths worldwide. 80% pups and 50% adult dogs that contract this virus die.
- It is highly contagious and can be contracted through airborne viruses or contact with saliva or feces.
- Symptoms include the virus affecting the respiratory system as well as the nervous system. It causes fever and fatigue, coughing, nasal discharge, vomiting and diarrhea, and finally seizures. Seizures that look as if the dog is chewing gum are unique to distemper.
- There is no specific treatment for the canine distemper. Like for measles the treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
- Prevention includes giving Distemper vaccines and regular boosters for it.
- Hepatitis: As with humans, Hepatitis dog disease affects the liver.
- The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys.
- Symptoms include fever, depression, loss of appetite, coughing, and a tender abdomen. Corneal edema, jaundice, vomiting, and hepatic encephalopathy, may also occur. Bleeding disorders or hematomas may form in the mouth in severe cases.
- Treatment is symptomatic. Most dogs recover spontaneously without treatment.
- Prevention includes giving Hepatitis vaccines and regular boosters for it.
- Rabies: Rabies is perhaps the most well-known dog disease.Once the most dreaded dog disease, Rabies is a caused by a virus, which attacks the brain.
- Rabies is a deadly disease that will be contracted through a bite from a rabid wild animal, such as skunks or raccoons, as well as bats. Unlike some dog disease, rabies can be passed to humans as well through a bite, or even just a scratch.
- Symptoms include pica (want to eat ice, clay, chalk, dirt, or sand), fever, seizures, paralysis, hydrophobia (dog has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and can’t quench his or her thirst), jaw is dropped, inability to swallow and change in tone of bark. Once symptoms manifest, the disease is fatal.
- There is no treatment once the symptoms manifest but before the rabies virus attacks the brain, some injections can be given to kill the virus. But they are not 100% effective.
- Prevention includes giving Rabies vaccines and regular boosters for it.
From all this research, the conclusion that I drew was that vaccines are the most important preventive measure. Other preventive measures include that your pet should not be allowed to mix with strays or other pets with infections. Do not let it sniff other dog’s feces or get into a brawl with other dogs. But even after all preventive measures are properly followed, your pet might still catch any of the above mentioned infections. Take your pet to the vet immediately if you notice more than 2 or more than 2 symptoms of any of these infections. If you think that your dog will recover on its own, well then sorry to say, you are not fit to be a pet owner. The unconditional love that you receive from your dog is the best thing in life and taking care of that angelic creature is your duty once you have brought it into your house.