Pet Forum

The most common canine illnesses/ diseases are worms, arthritis, periodontal disease, cough, and Addison's disease. We'll briefly explain what each dog disease is, their symptoms, and treatments that you or your vet may use to heal your puppy.

What are canine worms? There are four different types of worms that effect dogs: heartworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and flatworms. Heartworms are parasites that attack an animal’s heart and cause congenital heart problems if not detected. They are transmitted from animal to animal, after one is bit by an infected mosquito. Heartworms normally live in the right ventricle of the heart and in the nearby blood vessels. Roundworms are big worms that are white, about the diameter of a spaghetti-strand and about 4 inches in length, and often times kittens or puppies vomit one up or we are horrified when we see them in the feces. Tapeworms are a group of segmented flatworms from the taxonomical class Cestoda who find their homes in the intestinal tracts of a wide variety of hosts ranging from humans to arthropods. Flatworms are bilaterally symmetrical with a defined head and tail region and a centralized nervous system containing a brain and nerve cords.

What are the symptoms of my dog having worms? Symptoms of dog worms are a hot, dry nose, weak, watery eyes, pale lips and gums, foul breath, mean hacking cough and a red, scurfy, pimply or irritated condition of the skin and harsh, dry, staring coat that is constantly being shed. Wormy dogs sometimes have a depraved appetite and will eat dirt and rubbish. Some days they are ravenously hungry, the next day they will not eat at all; their sleep is disturbed by dreams and intestinal rumbling, the urine is high colored and frequently passed, bowels irregular, stomach easily unsettled, watery mucus is frequently vomited and the mouth is hot, sticky and full of ropy saliva. Puppies which are full of worms bloat easily and are pot-bellied. After feeding their stomachs distend disproportionately to the amount of food consumed. Their bodies are also subject to scaly eruptions and their bowels to colicky pains; they do not grow as rapidly as healthy puppies should and instead of playing with each other they curl up and sleep hour after hour; they get thinner, weaker and more lifeless from day to day and if they do not waste away or die in fits and convulsions with frothing at the mouth and champing of the jaws, grow up coarse-jointed, rickety and misshapen. Puppies with worms are also liable to paralysis of their rear limbs and on removal of the worms the puppies regain control of the affected parts.

How do you treat a dog with worms? It is very important to properly treat a canine with worms. Roundworms can be treated with an over-the-counter wormer found in pet stores, a veterinarian is the best source of information and medication to deal with intestinal parasites. Dewormers are poisonous to the worms and can make the dog sick, especially if not used in proper dosage. Tapeworms cannot be killed by the typical over-the-counter wormer, so see the veterinarian for appropriate treatment. There are three conventional methods of treating heartworm: a "fast kill" method using Immiticide (melarsomine); a "slow kill" method using Heartgard (ivermectin); and a surgical method, where the worms are surgically removed from the arteries. In addition, there are so-called holistic treatments, such as Paratox homeopathic or herbal preparations for heartworms in dogs.

What is dog arthritis? Arthritis in elderly dogs is extremely common. Arthritis results from inflammation in the joints and is generally divided into two types: degenerative and inflammatory. Degenerative dog arthritis results from destruction of the cartilage that protects the bones that make up the joint. Cartilage destruction can be the result of normal stress on abnormal joints or abnormal stress on normal joints. Hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip sockets, is one example of normal stress on abnormal joints. Constant jumping over obstacles, stretching or tearing ligaments during strenuous exercise, or injuries in a fall or accident are examples of abnormal stress on normal joints.

What are the symptoms of my dog having arthritis? The surest sign of a dog having arthritis is a limp. This usually develops slowly and in one leg. If your dog suddenly develops a limp, it more likely to be due to injury. He's not too interested in walks any more. If your dog used to pester you for walks, but now he's become less than enthusiastic, it's probably because walking causes him discomfort. If he struggles to climb stairs, you'll know for sure. Do his movements appear stiff, especially in the morning or after exercise? Arthritis in dogs causes stiffness which can disappear gradually during the day. He doesn't like being touched any more. If he has sore muscles and joints, he'll probably shy away when you go to stroke him.

How is canine arthritis treated? Weight control is the best non-medical treatment for arthritis. If your dog is overweight, even a little, weight control would benefit her. We recommend trying glucosamine and chondroitin to see if they are helpful. These are available over the counter at most pharmacies and health food stores. If this is not the case in your dog, please take them to a vet where thay may be able to prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammation medicines which can help your dog's arthritis a lot.

What is canine periodontal disease?Periodontal disease is inflammation of some or all of the tooth’s support structures (gingiva, cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone). When compared to gingivitis, periodontitis indicates bone loss.Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. Initially a pellicle forms on the clean tooth. This pellicle attracts aerobic gram positive bacteria (mostly actinomyces and strepococci). Soon more bacteria adhere forming plaque. With in days the plaque thickens, underlying bacteria run out of oxygen and anaerobic motile rods and spirochetes begin to populate the subgingival area. Endotoxins released by the anaerobic bacteria cause tissue destruction and bone loss.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease in my dog? Symptoms of gum disease in a dog can range from difficulty chewing or eating to persistent bad breath. Other signs include loose teeth, visible plaque at the roots of the teeth, bleeding gums, and pawing at the mouth. If left untreated, gum disease can progress to the point where your dog is unable to chew bones or even dry food. This can be quite distressing to a dog who loves to chew as a form of entertainment.

How is dog periodontal disease treated? The specialist will take dental radiographs to determine the degree of bone destruction and disease; radiographs (x-rays) will be beneficial in establishing an appropriate treatment plan to save the animal’s teeth. Often by doing deep root therapy and splinting teeth, the dentist can encourage new supporting bone to form. If nothing is done, the pet will succumb to the final stages of periodontal disease. Due to the advanced destruction of the jawbone, the teeth are lost. In the case of toy breeds, often the lower jaw will fracture because the bone around the teeth is severely damaged. Advanced periodontal disease that affects the upper fang teeth can lead to permanent oro-nasal fistula where the nasal and oral cavity are actually connected. Often the dog has sneezing episodes that lead to nose bleeds. When the tooth finally does fall out, there is a permanent non-healing hole between the mouth and nasal cavity that needs to be surgically repaired. A dental specialist skilled in oral surgery often is summoned to correct an oro-nasal fistula.

What is dog cough? Just as humans cough, dogs cough too. A dog cough can be caused by many things. Some causes need to be treated, just like in humans and, and some don't.

What are the dog cough symptoms? Although it is common for vets to see dogs with coughs, pinpointing the cause and solution is not always simple. First, a vet should listen to the actual sound your dog is making and determine whether it's the cough or the gag that is the main component. Is the cough a dry hack or moist? Does your dog cough anything up, and if so, what does it look like? Does he cough throughout the day or at specific times such as at night, after drinking water, or when first waking up? These are some of the symptoms of a dog cough that needs to be treated.

How is a dog cough treated? The best defense against dog cough (also known as kennel cough) is to make sure your dog has a strong immune. There are several homeopathic ingredients that have a reputation for helping with canine kennel cough treatment. These remedies reduce mucus and in turn the cough. This includes Plantago lanceolata (herbal remedy that expels mucus) and Bryonia C6 (clears mucus and for dry membranes). system.

What is Addison's disease? It is the common name for hypoadrenocorticism, or adrenal insufficiency. It is a disease with symptoms that are common to many other ailments, making diagnosis difficult and sometimes a process of elimination. But once Addison’s is correctly diagnosed, a properly treated dog can live a normal, active life.

What are the symptoms of Addison's disease? Symptoms of Addison's disease are very similar to other diseases and they seem rather vague. Symptoms may include but are not limited too; middle age female dogs, usually over 7 years of age, depression, lethargy, weakness, not eating, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea, drinking more, urinating more, dehydration, and a fast heart rate in some patients. Many times these symptoms may go unnoticed or correctly diagnosed and the patient finally presents in a Addisonian crisis. During an Addisonian crisis the patient may present in acute collapse and in shock. This is very serious, deadly, and scary to watch. Blood work will show low sodium level, high potassium level, and high kidney enzymes.

How is Addison's disease in dogs treated? The standard treatment involves replacing the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids in the body. The drug most commonly used to accomplish this is Florinef (fludrocortisone). Florinef is usually given twice a day. Initially, the blood sodium and potassium levels are monitored to help obtain the correct dose. After the animal is regulated, then the levels are rechecked 2 to 3 times a year and adjustments in dosing are made as needed.

The following pictures of worms that effect dogs may be helpful:

The following pictures of dog arthritis are helpful:

Here are some pictures of dog periodontal disease: