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The most common infectious diseases of dogs

Viral diseases of dogs

The most common infectious diseases of dogs:

  • carnivore plague
  • Infectious tracheobronchitis (“skin cough complex”)
  • infectious hepatitis in dogs
  • Parvoviral enteritis
  • Rabies
  • Leptospirosis
Viral diseases of dogs

Carnivorous plague (Carre disease)

is an Infectious disease of dogs caused by a virus, characterized by conjunctivitis, diarrhea, nervous phenomena, suppression of the immune system, with a long course.

Infection:

Infection occurs in several ways: orally (alimentary), aerogenically through the discharge of sick dogs. Sick animals secrete the virus for up to 3 months. Indirect transmission (through clothing, dishes, food) also occurs, but is less significant.

The incubation period is 3-6 days. Possible intrauterine infection, when puppies fall ill after the disappearance of maternal immunity in 4-6 weeks.

Virus isolation:

All secretions of a sick animal are contagious, and can remain so for up to 8 weeks.

Dogs that have been infected with the carnivore plague virus remain immune to it for the rest of their lives.

Symptoms:

fever, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, purulent discharge from the eyes and nose, tonsillitis, pharyngitis. Pregnant females have abortions.

In addition to the above there are also specific forms of manifestation of this viral infection:

  • gastrointestinal form-defeat of the gastrointestinal tract
  • respiratory form-bronchopneumonia develops, sometimes with severe shortness of breath and collapse of blood circulation
  • eye changes – photophobia, uveitis, keratitis with ulceration is often observed. In severe cases
  • , skin blindness occurs – the formation of blisters and pustules with severe hyperemia (redness) in the lower abdomen, on the inner side of the thighs and ears. Otitis externa is also possible. Plague can be good for demodectic mange
  • nervous form of plague-occurs after the respiratory form fades, rarely simultaneously; it is manifested by epileptic seizures, convulsive contractions of the chewing muscles, mental disorders, Manege movement, TIC, ataxia, paresis, paralysis
  • hyperkeratosis of the finger crumb-a rare form of carnivorous plague that occurs during the 2nd week of the disease or after it.

Prognosis:

Cautious in respiratory and intestinal forms, uncertain in the nervous form without temperature, unfavorable in severe pneumonic and febrile, nervous forms.

Prevention:

With the help of consistent vaccination prevention, the incidence of plague can be kept under control. Puppies are usually vaccinated at the age of 8 weeks and after 3-4 weeks with a combined vaccine.

Infectious tracheobronchitis (“captive children”, “kennel cough”).

Heterogeneous complex of primary viral and secondary bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract. Since these diseases are not limited to nurseries, it is more correct to talk about infectious lariongotracheobronchitis.

The types of viruses vary from country to country, with each outbreak, and are related to the type of dog keeping (isolated or group). Quite often, this disease can be complicated by secondary infections (pathogens of which can be Bordetella, streptococci, staphylococci, pasteurels, klebsiels, mycoplasmas, etc.).

Infection:

occurs by airborne droplets and rapidly covers the entire dog population.

The incubation period can last from 2 to 30 days .

Symptoms and course of the disease:

Hidden infections. With clinically manifested uncomplicated infections, a convulsive dry cough with or without disorders of the General condition, serous nasal discharge and tonsillitis come to the fore.

In most cases, the participation of dogs in an exhibition or competition, staying in an overexposure point, or an individual stressful situation (change of owner, transportation)

Complicated infection:

Additionally, fever, General disorders, and signs of pneumonia are detected.

Factors predisposing to a severe course of the disease are:

  • admission from the kennel, with a constantly changing composition of animals
  • multiple infections (suppression of the animal’s immunity)
  • lack of vaccination, incorrect vaccination
  • mass worm infestation and stress in young dogs
  • crowded content

Prognosis:

Is favorable, as in 7-14 days spontaneous recovery occurs, with the exception of weakened young dogs

Prevention:

Timely vaccination with a complex vaccine (which is based on the spectrum of pathogens in the affected areas).

Infectious hepatitis in dogs

Canine adenovirus 1 causes liver inflammation. It is related to adenovirus 2 (causes laryngotracheitis), so this disease has respiratory symptoms.

Isolation of the virus:

Begins from the 5th day through saliva, urine, feces, and with urine up to 6 months. In a low-temperature environment, the virus persists for up to 9 months. At room temperature for 3-11 days. For disinfection, 5% calcium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and iodine preparations are used.

Symptoms:

in most dogs, this disease is hidden.

Clinically, the disease manifests itself quite rarely and usually simultaneously with the plague of dogs (in young dogs).

Subacute or chronic course is characterized by subclinical and non-specific disorders.

Forecast:

In acute cases, the mortality rate in puppies is almost 100%. In adult dogs, it falls by 10-50%

Prevention:

vaccination of dogs.

Parvovirus enteritis, parvovirosis.

Infection occurs through food contaminated with feces, a virus found on the fur of recovering animals, on clothing and care items.

The incubation period is 4-7 days before the onset of clinical symptoms. Isolation of the virus begins in 3-5 days (with feces) and sometimes lasts up to 25 days.

The virus persists in the environment for up to 6 months ( in feces). Isolation of the virus by dogs with a subclinical course is of particular importance for the spread of the disease.

Symptoms:

The main symptoms: 

  • diarrhea
  • vomiting (persistent vomiting is characteristic even in recovering animals)
  • a decrease in temperature or Vice versa fever.
  • anorexia
  • weakness
  • severe dehydration
  • pain in the abdominal cavity.

Most animals die in the first 4 days of illness. After that, the chance of recovery increases. The duration of the disease is 1-2 weeks (on average). This disease can cause heart complications (myocarditis). Puppies with myocardial complications die from non-purulent myocardial necrosis, pulmonary edema, pleural effusion or ascites after shortness of breath, cyanosis, noisy breathing, suffocation, fever.

Prevention:

Timely vaccination at 12-14 weeks of life with revaccination at 16-18 weeks.

Then the annual vaccination.

Rabies

Rabies

A dangerous disease that is zooanthroponosis (transmitted to humans).

It is always fatal, and is transmitted by biting or blinding damaged skin to sick animals.

At the moment (after the introduction of the anti-rabies vaccine), the main source of infection is wild animals.

Infection:

Occurs directly through the saliva of sick animals containing the virus, which through a bitten wound or abrasions on the skin gets into the muscle and then into the nerve tissue.

Not every bite leads to infection.

The incubation period is 14-60 days, in some cases it can be 6-12 months (according to some sources, up to 6 years).

Symptoms:

Paralysis, impaired coordination of movements. Atypical forms of flow have also become quite common (see below).

classic treatment in three stages

  • Prodromal stage. Behavior change (lasts from a few hours to 4 days): dogs are capricious, very friendly or Vice versa, avoid people, are timid, restless, try to hide, bark or bite unmotivated, itching may occur at the site of the bite and “catching flies”.
  • In the initiation phase. It is characterized by aggressiveness and wandering movements (violent form of rabies, lasts 1-4 days). Increased anxiety, mood swings, anorexia, gnawing of foreign objects, drooling, hoarse barking, increased aggressiveness and desire to run away, attacks on other dogs, possible violation of coordination of movement and epileptic seizures.
  • Paralytic or depressive form. 3-4 days before death, characterized by progressive paralysis.

“Silent rabies”

without the previous stage of arousal, paralysis develops. This form has become more common.

Symptoms: expressionless, dull look, the dog listlessly sits down anywhere; drooling, drooping lower jaw, hoarse voice, inability to eat; pupils of different shapes, there is a loss of the 3rd century, strabismus; in the end, paralysis of the trunk and death.

“Atypical rabies»

Chronic, lasting up to 3 months or more, subclinical course. Symptoms: diarrhea or possibly intestinal paralysis at the beginning, then paresis, motor disorders, depression, followed by temporary improvement. The diagnosis is made at the autopsy of the animal.

Prevention consists of annual vaccination of dogs. There are also vaccines for wild animals that have successfully proven themselves and led to the extinction of rabies among dogs in disadvantaged areas.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a common worldwide disease that is also dangerous for humans.

A person is not a distributor of leptospirosis, but can be infected with it through urine or blood. Infection occurs through direct contact with the urine of sick dogs or leptospiron carriers (the virus is isolated up to 4 years.) Without causing a local reaction, Leptospira penetrates the mucous membranes of the digestive or sexual apparatus, conjunctiva or skin damage, multiplies on the spot and enters the blood. The incubation period is 4-12 days. The isolation of Leptospira presumably begins on the 7th day.

Forms of course and symptoms:

Mild, atypical forms occur with fever, General disorders and weakness, but without organic manifestations or jaundice.

Acute, severe course can lead to death in 48-72 hours.

The liver and kidneys are affected (depending on the pathogen), kidney failure and gastrointestinal disorders develop. Some dogs recover, others develop a chronic form.

The chronic form of the course develops from acute forms as a result of irreversible disorders or occur due to the preservation of leptospir in the renal tubules or liver.

  • Symptoms:
    persistent vomiting
  • acute renal failure
  • diarrhea
  • gastroenteritis
  • tonsillitis
  • stomatitis
  • dehydration
  • hemolysis
  • jaundice
  • Central nervous
  • system disorders circulatory
  • disorders shortness
  • of breath visual impairment
  • photophobia

Prognosis:

Depends mainly on the severity and course of kidney and liver damage.

Mortality in severe cases is about 30%.

Prevention:

Regular vaccination, preventing the dog from drinking from puddles and stagnant reservoirs.

Control of rodents that carry leptospirosis

Antibiotics for dogs are very effective vaccines for different types of parasites, some of them: Oxytetracycline, Tylosin, Doxycycline

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