Illnesses in Puppies to Look Out For

Young and vulnerable, that's what puppies are. Your pup may be full of energy but did you know he's more at risk of contracting illnesses? As a pet parent, a sick puppy can be very disheartening since his immune system is not yet mature enough to fight off diseases.

Canine distemper

Canine distemper is a viral disease that affects many animals in the wild, including dogs.

The distemper virus affects your pup's lymph nodes, respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems and can be deadly. This can be transmitted through air or direct contact with an already infected animal.

There is no known cure for canine distemper but to reduce the severeness of the symptoms that comes with it (vomiting, fever, diarrhea, seizures, paralysis, etc), you can have your pup vaccinated as early as six weeks old, then on the ninth and twelfth week or as directed by your veterinarian. After this, your dog must have canine distemper booster vaccines yearly.

Parvovirus

Parvovirus in dogs is a highly contagious and deadly viral illness that greatly affects them. The virus can be in two different forms. It can be intestinal that causes vomiting, bloody stool & urine, loss of appetite and lethargy. It can also be cardiac where it attacks the heart muscles, causing death.

It can be caused by direct contact with an infected animal or indirectly through feces and saliva.

Like canine distemper, there is still no known cure for canine parvovirus but infections have been reduced and lessened greatly through early and updated vaccinations in puppies.

Kennel cough

Kennel cough is easily acquired by your pup because this is an airborne virus. You'll know if your pup has this because kennel cough symptoms are easily detectable and include cough, lose of appetite, feeling weak and eventually may lead to a cold. Kennel cough will run for ten to fourteen days and will eventually go away but if not treated immediately after that time frame, it can lead to pneumonia. Kennel cough vaccines help lessen the symptoms and strengthens your dog's immune system to fight off viruses that cause it.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis in dogs is a bacterial disease that your puppy can get from water, food, and things that are contaminated with a rat's urine. Symptoms of leptospirosis include fever, vomiting, weakness, and death. Your pup can be vaccinated against leptospirosis to lessen the symptoms. Depending on the severity of the infection in your dog, an antibiotic treatment plan is advised.