Parvovirus
Canine Parvovirus (CPV), or Parvo, is a viral disease that attacks dogs’ intestines and hearts.
Since Parvo vaccines are a part of the core vaccines administered to dogs, unvaccinated puppies and dogs in shelters or breeding facilities are at the highest risk of infection. In most cases, Parvo is spread through contaminated feces.
Parvo is a highly contagious and resilient virus, and while fatalities occur, its one of the more deadly dog diseases with very haphazard mortality rates.
Retrospective studies have estimated the death rate among dogs with parvovirus between 20% and 70%.
Signs of parvovirus in dogs include weight loss, vomiting, severe diarrhea, and lethargy. Dogs with Parvo will usually have a poor appetite.
Other less common symptoms include dehydration, weakness, and depression.
Immediate veterinary attention is necessary if you suspect that your dog has Parvo. The disease requires intensive care, and the prognosis is significantly better with early treatment.
Your dog will likely get hospitalized and isolated, where your vet will provide supportive care and keep an eye on any signs of secondary infections.
Chronic Diseases In Older Dogs
Whether you have a Dachshund or a Greyhound, your four-legged buddy is susceptible to a variety of health issues. And, the older they are, the more they tend to suffer from common chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, as well as heart health issues. If you are the owner of a dog that is older than 6 or 7, make sure that you go to the veterinary clinic as soon as you notice any symptoms. Read on to find out what the deadliest diseases that dogs can develop are.
Canine Distemper
This is another vaccine-preventable but otherwise very deadly dog disease. It is a contagious viral illness, a relative of the measles virus that affects humans.
Unvaccinated puppies and older dogs are particularly susceptible to this illness. Canine distemper is transferred through direct contact and airborne exposure, which is what makes it so contagious.
Canine distemper virus (CDV) attacks the tonsils and lymph nodes before attacking the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital, and nervous systems.
CDV symptoms come in two stages. In the first stage, dogs usually suffer from fever, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and appetite loss.
Some other symptoms you may notice include coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy.
Your dog may also develop hyperkeratosis of the nose and paw pads, which causes the dog’s feet to become enlarged and hardened.
As the disease progresses to the second stage, some dogs may suffer neurological problems like head tilting, muscle twitching, paralysis, seizures, and convolutions.
Distemper is statistically one of the most deadly dog diseases as studies show a very high mortality rate among canines: 60% to 80% of dogs die from it.
Unfortunately, even the animals that survive this disease will likely suffer from irreparable, permanent damage to their nervous system.
We can’t cure the canine distemper virus, and treatment focuses on managing and relieving a dogs symptoms.
That includes IV fluids for diarrhea or anorexia, antibiotics if a secondary bacterial infection is present, and potassium bromide or phenobarbital to control the dogs seizures and convulsions.
Since there is no cure for this virus, prevention is vital. Keep your dog up to date with core vaccines and avoid contact with infected animals.
Be cautious when socializing with unvaccinated puppies or adult unvaccinated dogs.