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       INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF DOGS

                        Dog owners should be aware of the fact that puppies are usually with some immunity which soon wanes, that is why vaccinations are necessary.  The common infectious diseases that affect your pet, along with the symptoms. Mode of transmission, causes are given below.

 

                                      VIRAL INFECTIONS                               

RABIES is a potentially fatal and threatening zoonotic disease, caused by Lyssa virus of Rhabdoviridae family. Transmission of the disease is by bite of an infected animal. The virus is shed at high levels in saliva. Symptoms shown by affected animals include nervousness, excitability, solitude, anxiety, in furious form. Some animals will be paralytic showing dumb form of rabies. There is no treatment for the disease. Death is almost certain in the affected animal. Vaccination is essential for preventing the disease.

PARVOVIRAL INFECTION is a serious intestinal infection of dogs, commonly affecting younger age groups. Affected animal shows bloody diarrhea, vomition and severe dehydration. Cardiac form of the disease is less common than intestinal form. It can be even fatal to dogs. Vaccination against parvovirus can give protection against the disease.

CANINE DISTEMPER is a contagious, incurable, fatal viral disease affecting respiratory, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system. Young puppies and non-immunized adult dogs are highly susceptible for the disease. Airborne transmission of virus is the main route. The disease is characterized by symptoms like paralysis, seizures, conjunctivitis, twitching of muscles, respiratory distress, hyperesthesia, etc. Treatment is not useful. The best method of prevention is vaccination.

CANINE CORONAVIRAL INFECTION is a less common infection, but mostly a life threatening when comes in combination with parvo virus. Corona virus affects the intestinal lining. Diarrhea is the only symptom shown. Fluid therapy can be given to maintain hydration. Vaccination and isolation of the animal from the affected animal can prevent the disease.

INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS is a contagious, acute liver infection of dogs caused by adenovirus. Spread of the disease is through all secretions and excretions of the affected animal. Symptoms include fever, anorexia, jaundice, tender abdomen, coughing vomiting, corneal edema. Symptomatic treatment can be done. Animal can usually die if not treated promptly. Prevention is through vaccination.

CANINE PARAINFLUENZA is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Characteristic a clinical sign of CPI Infection is coughing that may be intensified by activity or excitement. Environmental factors such as drafts, colds and high humidity may enhance susceptibility to the disease. Typically, CPI is self-limiting, with a course of 5 to 10 days duration. However, secondary bacterial infection of the respiratory tract is not uncommon, and may complicate the clinical syndrome. Like Lepto, Parainfluenza is given in combination with Distemper/Parvo. Vaccination is the prevention method.

 

                                        BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

LEPTOSPIROSIS is a highly infectious zoonotic disease caused by a spirochete leptospira. The organism is excreted in urine and penetrates mucous membrane or abraded skin. The disease is transmitted between animals through contact with infected urine; venereal and placental transfer; bite wound or the ingestion of infected tissue. Kidneys and liver are the major organs affected. Symptoms include fever, anorexia, vomition, dehydration, icterus, hemoglobinuria, muscle pain. A positive diagnosis is made through blood test. Drug of choice of antibiotic for this spirochete is doxycycline and streptopenicillin. Vaccination and hygienic management can prevent the disease.

BRUCELLOSIS is a venereal disease that is common in the kennels affecting both male and female dogs. The disease is caused by gram negative bacteria, Brucella canis. It is a sexually transmitted disease because of the mating of infected male

 

or female which results in abortion in pregnant bitches and inflamed sexual organs in male. Brucellosis is highly zoonotic and can cause liver damage and arthritis in human beings. No effective treatment for this disease. Only prevention method for this disease is testing of the male or female dog before introducing into breeding program.

EHRLICHIOSIS is a tick borne disease of dogs. It is caused by the rickettsial organism Ehrlichia canis. The disease is transmitted through the bite of a brown dog tick. Symptoms shown by the affected dog are fever, swollen lymph nodes, anemia, hemorrhages in the skin and body, epistaxis and breathing difficulty. The disease is confirmed by examination of the organism in leukocytes. Tetracycline group of drugs are effective against this organism. Prevention is possible by decreasing exposure of the dog to ticks.

LYME DISEASE is a tick borne disease, caused by the spirochete organism Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease affects many species including dogs, cats and people. Spirochete is transmitted by the bite of Symptoms associated with lyme disease include high fever, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, loss of appetite, inflamed swollen joints, lethargy, muscle spasm especially in neck. Doxycycline is effective against borrelia. There is a vaccine for the prevention of disease. Quick removal of a tick also can prevent the disease as the tick needs to stay for one or two days to transmit the bacteria.

KENNEL COUGH is a highly contagious disease of dogs, characterized by inflammation of upper respiratory system. It is so named because the infection can spread quickly among dogs as like in close quarters such as kennels. The disease is caused because of sneezing or coughing of the infected dogs, which contains infectious particles thereby resulting aerosol transmission. Symptoms include retching, coughing, sneezing, snorting, gagging or vomiting. The disease can progress to pneumonia. Intranasal vaccine before taking your pet into kennels can prevent this disease.

 

 

 

                                         FUNGAL INFECTIONS

RINGWORM INFECTION is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. Most commonly isolated organism is Microsporum canis. It can spread among animals, also to man. Typical ringworm lesions are round with embossed edges; they appear as patches on the skin. Lesions can occur in any part of the body, but they occur mainly in the head, ears, tail and front paws. Pale skin scales usually occupy the centre of the lesion, while the edges form an erythematous ring. Wood’s lamp examination is done for the diagnosis. Systemic antifungal agents like ketoconazole, griseofulvin etc can be used for ring worm infection.

ASPERGILLOSIS is a fungal infection of dogs, caused by Aspergillus sp, which generally affects nasal and respiratory system. The disseminated form is dangerous and it can be fatal to dogs. The infection is confined to the nasal cavity and sinus areas. This form of fungus is commonly found in environment. The dogs having low immunity are highly susceptible. Inhalation of spores is the main route of transmission. Symptoms are clear, profuse discharge from nostrils, ulceration in nose, and pain in nose or face. Topical and systemic antifungal drugs can be used.

HISTOPLASMOSIS is a non contagious fungal infection of animals and human. Causative agent is Histoplasma capsulatum, found in the soil. Disease is produced by inhalation of the fungus through dust particles. It enters the body through lungs. Though respiratory system is primarily affected, GI system can also be affected which depends on the immune status of the animal. The most common symptoms found are fever, emaciation, depression, dyspnea, and cough. In intestinal form, bloody diarrhea can be noticed. Itraconazole or ketoconazole administration systemically can cure the disease. No vaccine available for this disease.

BLASTOMYCOSIS is caused by a fungus, Blastomyces dermatitidis which is found in soils. Infection is by inhalation of fungal spores. Symptoms include fever, emaciation, inappetence, weight loss, respiratory distress, cough, joint and muscle pain, lameness, eye problems. Systemic antifungal agents are effective against the infection.

                                             PROTOZOAL INFECTIONS

BABESIOSIS is caused by an intracellular erythrocytic protozoan parasite Babesia canis and Babesia gibsoni. It is a tick borne disease, transmitted by the bite of a tick Rhiphicephalus. The symptoms found in affected animal are fever, weakness, pale mucous membrane, anemia, swollen lymph nodes, and jaundice. Diagnosis is done by preparing a blood smear from the suspected animal. Confirmation of the disease is by finding the presence of trophozoite in erythrocytes. Drug of choice for babesiosis is diminazene diaceturate, imidocarb, trypan blue. Tick control is highly essential for the control of disease.

LEISHMANIASIS is a zoonotic disease caused by leishmania organism. It is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito phlebotomus, Sand fly. Common symptoms are weakness, listlessness, inappetence, weight loss. The cutaneous form of disease shows skin lesions and dermatitis. Articular involvement results in stiff gait and lameness. Visceral form of disease includes ocular lesions, swollen lymphnodes, and renal failure. Allopurinol combination with meglumine antimonite, amphotericin B can be used for the disease, but the treatment is difficult.

COCCIDIOSIS is caused by a one celled protozoan parasite Isospora canis. Coccidian live in the intestinal tract of dogs. When the immune status of dog is compromised the protozoa overtakes the immune system and results in infection. The cyst of coccidian are frequently shed in the feces of dog which is likely then ingested by other animals and produce infection in intestine. The primary sign of coccidiosis in diarrhea, may be bloody in severe cases, vomit, dehydration also follows. Sulphadimethoxine, trimethoprim, sulphadiazine are effective against the treatment of coccidiosis. Strict sanitation and hygiene is important in control and prevention of disease.

HEPATOZOONOSIS is caused by Hepatozoon canis, a parasite which is ingested by the brown dog tick on feeding the infected animal. A new animal gets the infection not by the bite of the infected tick, but by ingestion of the infected tick. All age group of dogs are susceptible. Signs include fever, weight loss, muscle pain, ocular discharge, diarrhea, and anemia. H.canis gamonts can be seen in neutrophils or monocytes of affected animal blood smear, hence the diagnosis can be confirmed out of this. Treatment includes imidocarb dipropionate, sulphamethoxime with trimethoprim, doxycycline etc. Tick control is necessary for control and prevention.

 

 

 

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