Such a variety of breeds, sizes, shapes, and colors can only be found in domestic dogs. At the same time, the living conditions of domestic animals have changed dramatically. Some breeds have lost their purpose: dachshunds and beagles became rather friend dogs than hunting companions. Some domestic dogs travel with their owners across many countries, others do not leave the apartment all their lives.
A vast selection of all kinds of food, care products, accessories not only helps to improve the quality of life of a pet but also helps to maintain the health of the dog at home. Nonetheless, many disorders and diseases are encountered in dogs, despite new advances in feeding, grooming, etc.
Dog Diseases Overview
The disease is a condition of an animal associated with damage to tissues and organs, accompanied by the appearance of characteristic clinical signs.
Diseases of domestic dogs can be divided into two large groups: congenital and acquired.
Congenital diseases of dogs appear in an animal at the time of birth and are associated with impaired development of systems and organs during the prenatal period. Owners can notice signs of congenital diseases at birth or in puppies at an early age.
Severe health problems accompany hereditary diseases. With minor deviations, they speak of developmental anomalies. Defects or congenital disabilities are associated exclusively with chromosomes – carriers of genetic material. Dogs have 39 pairs of chromosomes. Among them, there are active (dominant) and passive (recessive) genes. Active genes are responsible for the development of specific individual and breed characteristics in an individual.
Simultaneously, environmental factors can cause the activation of dormant genes and lead to a genetic disease. Diseased genes can be passed from parents to offspring or through a generation. The primary prevention of this type of disease is the exclusion from breeding:
- dogs with signs of defects and hereditary conditions;
- parents and other ancestors after genetic analysis determine the kind of inheritance of a congenital disease.
Factors
To protect future puppies from the influence of adverse factors, it is necessary to observe the conditions of feeding, keeping, and the rules for preventing diseases of the dog before mating and during the bearing of offspring.
Acquired diseases appear throughout the life of the domestic dog. The causes of diseases in dogs are different. Simultaneously, the incidence of pets may depend on age, breed, care, feeding, walking, physical activity, gender, etc.
All acquired diseases are divided into two groups: non-contagious and contagious.
Non-contagious acquired diseases can be inflammatory or degenerative (structural disruption) in nature.
Depending on the location of the injury, there are:
Skin diseases
The most common in dogs are dermatitis, pyoderma, otitis media, claw trauma, less often autoimmune skin diseases, and neoplasia. Allergies are often associated with skin lesions in domestic dogs.
The main symptoms in dogs with skin pathologies are itching, scratching, redness, and rashes on the skin, baldness, swelling, dandruff, darkening, and thickening of the skin with prolonged inflammation.
The first aid for skin diseases is to normalize the diet, exclude treats and food from the table, and treat the dog against ectoparasites. Animals prone to allergies and skin diseases are transferred to a therapeutic diet. Choose those with the combination of nutrients that support healthy skin and a beautiful coat.
Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs
In dogs, there are inflammatory diseases of the nervous system – meningitis, neuritis, acquired epilepsy. All this causes impaired coordination, trembling, convulsions, and weakness. The diseases of the nervous system can help relieve symptoms with CBD-based medications. CBD oils calm nervous pets, relieve occasional pain and discomfort without side effects.
Many breeds with hanging ears are prone to chronic otitis media, and these dogs can be itchy and painful. Dogs of brachycephalic breeds are prone to injuries and inflammation of the cornea, prolapse of the eyeball.
Diseases of the Digestive System
This includes diseases of the mouth and pharynx, gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Domestic dogs suffer from gastroenteritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis. Puppies are prone to poisoning and ingestion of foreign bodies. In older dogs, dystrophic liver diseases, cholelithiasis, periodontal disease, tartar, and neoplastic lesions of the digestive system are more common.
In case of diseases of the digestive system, the pet is disturbed in the intake of food, water, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and sometimes pain is noted. In chronic diseases – weight loss, changes in hair and skin, decreased activity.
The treatment of diseases of the digestive system is carried out with medications and special therapeutic diets for dogs with digestive disorders. Dwarf dog breeds are prone to chronic gastroenteritis, cholecystitis. Often such dogs follow a therapeutic diet throughout their lives.
Cardiorespiratory Diseases
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The circulatory and respiratory systems are closely interconnected, and, as a rule, in chronic diseases, the heart, blood vessels, and lungs are involved. Puppies and young dogs are prone to inflammation of the respiratory tract, for example, from a cold. Elderly dogs are diagnosed with heart failure, chronic diseases of the lungs.
A dog with cardiorespiratory diseases begins to cough, gets tired faster while walking, has nasal discharge, shortness of breath, weakness may be noted; in severe forms of the disease – convulsions, and loss of consciousness, blue discoloration of the mucous membranes and skin.
Diseases of the Genitourinary System
Domestic dogs suffer from glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, cystitis. They may develop sand and stones in the bladder and kidneys. Non-inflammatory diseases include renal amyloidosis, cysts, and tumors of the kidneys and bladder.
The first signs of diseases of the urinary system are impaired urination, discoloration of urine. Chronic kidney disease and uremia are accompanied by the development of nephrotic syndrome, decreased appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and emaciation.
Non-neutered males are prone to inflammation of the testes and appendages due to infection or trauma. With age, prostatic hyperplasia, cysts, prostate, and testicular tumors may develop. An enlarged prostate leads to impaired urination and defecation, the appearance of blood from the genitals.
Non-sterilized females are prone to endometritis, polycystic ovary disease, accompanied by a violation of the reproductive cycle, discharge from the genital loop. If not treated in time, tumors of the mammary glands can lead to harmful consequences for the domestic dog.
Currently, non-bred domestic dogs are recommended to be neutered and neutered. Sterilization of females at an early age (before the first estrus) significantly reduces the risk of developing breast tumors. Male castration can prevent unwanted behavior and prevent diseases of the testes and prostate gland.
Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Injuries
Puppies and young dogs are active and prone to injury – sprains, dislocations. Particularly dangerous for puppies of large breeds are microfractures along the growth zone, which lead to a violation of the formation of the bones of the peripheral skeleton. Elderly dogs suffer from myositis, arthrosis, spondyloarthritis, tumors of the skeletal system and muscles. The animal has lameness, a violation of the symmetry of body parts, weakness of the pelvic limbs, swelling of the joints.
Endocrine Diseases
The main endocrine glands in dogs are the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands, the sex glands, and areas of the pancreas. This group of diseases is associated with a dysfunction of these organs, a decrease or increase in the production of hormones: growth hormone deficiency, diabetes insipidus, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus.
Diseases of the Blood and the Immune System
There are iron deficiency and hemolytic anemias, acquired coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia, and hematopoietic cell tumors in dogs. Immune diseases are associated with inflammation in the lymph nodes and spleen. With age, dogs can develop malignant tumors of the lymphatic system – lymphomas, hemangiosarcoma of the spleen. In diseases of the blood and the immune system, uncharacteristic signs are usually noted: decreased appetite, weakness, weight loss.
Besides, depending on the clinical symptoms and the condition of the sick animal, the disease can be severe, moderate, and mild.
According to the duration of the disease, acute (in the first week after the onset of the disease), subacute and chronic diseases (which last for months and years) are distinguished.
At the same time, during the disease, three periods are distinguished: preclinical (hidden – there are no clinical signs), clinical (the appearance of symptoms of the disease), and the disease’s outcome.
The main secret of canine health is disease prevention. There are several basic principles of prevention:
- proper feeding and maintenance of the dog from an early age;
- regular vaccination and treatment against all types of parasites;
- compliance with the rules of feeding and care of the expectant mother;
- physical activity and training of the domestic dog;
- use in breeding healthy animals;
- timely access to a veterinarian.
What if the dog gets sick? When the first signs of malaise appear, such as decreased appetite, lethargy, refusal to exercise, changes in urination, it is necessary to assess the animal’s condition and consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
