Parvovirus (more commonly known as Parvo) is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased white blood cell counts and often leads to death. Although Parvo is most common in puppies, dogs of any age may be susceptible. The most common way to transmit Parvo from one dog to another is via contaminated feces. Parvo can also be carried on the dog’s hair and feet, as well as on contaminated cages, shoes and other objects.

While Coronavirus affects dogs of all ages, it affects puppies most severely. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst, weight loss and loss of appetite. Your dog can have both Coronavirus and Parvo at the same time. In fact, dual infections can lead to severe enteritis and death.

Respiratory Diseases:

Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease. It affects the respiratory and nervous systems, causing fever, lethargy, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and eventually death.

Infectious Tracheobronchitis (more commonly known as Kennel Cough or ITB) is an acute, highly contagious disease. Several organisms can cause ITB: Bordetella bronchispetica, canine parainfluenza (CPI), canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1), canine adenovirus 2 (CAV-2), canine distemper virus (CDV), reovirus and small organisms called mycoplasma. Symptoms include severe coughing spells sometimes followed by vomiting and gagging. The dog may also have watery eyes and/or a nasal discharge.

Hepatitis is a contagious disease of the liver. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Hepatitis can also cause severe kidney damage.

Canine parainfluenza is a relatively unstable virus and does not survive long in the environment. It is easily inactivated by chemical disinfectants. Infection produces coughing of varying frequency and intensity. The virus is highly infectious and is easily transmitted by aerosols. It causes localized infections of the respiratory tract and replicates in both the upper and lower respiratory tract. Consequently, the virus sheds in respiratory infections. The viruses are mild or not apparent; deaths are rare. However, secondary bacterial infection may occur and contribute to more sever disease, with occasional deaths.

Vector-Borne Diseases:

Lyme disease, or Borreliosis, is a tick-borne bacterial disease affecting both humans and animals. Lyme disease is caused by corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi. The carriers of Borrelia burgdorferi are ticks. Ticks are blood-suckers – parasites that draw their life from other creatures. When an infected tick bites, the bacterium is transferred to the blood of the host animal. Key indicators of canine Lyme disease include lameness or stiffness, swelling of limbs, fever, lethargy or reluctance to move, loss of appetite, vomiting and depression. If the disease is left untreated, it can cause arthritis, kidney failure, heart damage and death.

Water-Borne Diseases:

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease carried by many wild animals. A dog can contract the disease from infected animals or by drinking contaminated water. Symptoms include kidney problems, high fever, jaundice, hemorrhaging and bloodstained feces.

Giardia can be found in nearly any water source, including untreated swimming pools. Most commonly, pet infection occurs when cysts are ingested by drinking contaminated water. Giardia infections can cause significant gastrointestinal disease including anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and weight loss.

Zoonotic Diseases:

Rabies is probably the most feared disease. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is always fatal. Dogs are exposed to rabies by bites from wild animals particularly skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. Rabies can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected pet. Not all rabid animals foam at the mouth and appear mad. Infected animals can be very calm and tame.

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