Dogs constitute the majority of pets worldwide. Because of this, there is a lot of experience and information on their most common ailments . Despite this, if your dog expresses any abnormal behavior, you are to seek the help of a veterinarian immediately.

The following are common illne sses among dogs:

Canine Distemper

Canine Distemper is a disease that affects both adult dogs and puppies. It is a viral infection transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions from infected individuals or through viral particles in the air.

Sy mptoms of Canine Distemper include:

Fever

Coughing

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Seizures

Paralysis

The virus only affects unvaccinated dogs, however. Vaccines are available; make sure your dog receives the shots early to prevent mortality.

Canine Parvovirus Disease (‘Parvo’)

Canine Parvovirus Disease is caused by parvovirus. It is fatal, and even with intensive treatment, the mortality rates are still very high. It is transmitted by contact with infected animals and their body fluids, including sal iva, urine, blood, and excrement .

The virus can stay dormant on the ground for years, activating when the conditions suit its development. It affects the gastrointestinal tract, causing severe inflammation and bleeding.

Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus Dis ease include:

Fever

Bloody Diarrhea

Vomiting

Lack of appetite

Parvo is very expensive to treat and manage. The only way to prevent it is by early vaccination.

Diseases caused by ectoparasites

Dogs are constantly haunted by ectoparasites. Their fur provides an excellent abode for most insects that afflict them. The ectoparasites suck blood and cause anemia, characterized by visual blood loss. They also act as vectors for several protozoan parasi tes and other endoparasites that develop in dogs. Some ectoparasites include ticks, mites, and fleas.

Ticks act as vectors for several protozoan parasites, which, in turn, cause diseases in the dog. Examples of such conditions are babesiosis, anaplasmosi s, and trypanosomiasis.

Mites also suck blood from the dogs and cause severe irritation of the affected area from excessive scratching by the dog. The irritation could develop into mange with time.

Fleas are blood-sucking insects that affect dogs and tra nsmit worms during their larval stages. Some of the worms transmitted include hookworms and dwarf worms.

Heartworm

Heartworms are helminths transmitted by mosquitoes that develop in the heart of dogs. They cause coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty b reathing, and heart diseases.

There are medications for preventing and controlling heartworms. Ask a veterinarian for the best choice for your dog, and be sure to they them properly tested before administering any medication.

Rabies

Rabies is one form o f rhabdovirus and affects the nervous system of all mammals. It is transmitted by saliva from an infected animal, either through a bite or saliva drops on a skin wound.

Symptoms of rabies infection include:

Excessive salivation

Irrational aggression

Unbalanced gait

Aversion to water

Rabies is fatal, with a 100% mortality rate once the animal displays the symptoms.

There is vaccination against rabies, and it is administered annually or triannually . An excellent preventive measure is ens uring that your dog doesn’t have contact with other animals in general and its movement outside the house is closely monitored.

The diseases mentioned above are the most common among dogs, and dog owners have to pay attention to the health of their pets to prevent illnesses.