Pet Care Tips, Advice and Information

Another type of mange that dogs suffer from is demodectic mange.
Causes and Symptoms:
Demodectic mange is caused by small, elongated cigar-shaped mites which can be easily recognized under the microscope. These mites are considered part of the normal skin fauna when present in small numbers. This condition is commonly referred to as Red mange and it occurs when the causal mites may not be detected because these invade deeper tissues.
This variety of mange is not readily transmissible between adult dogs. Transmission is considered to take place from mother to pups. The pups may show signs of infection immediately, but sometimes the mites may remain dormant in the deeper tissues without any obvious symptoms being visible. This can explain the sudden appearance of lesions in a dog which has not been in contact with an affected animal.
The disease usually starts on the head, around the eyes, muzzle, tip of the ears and forepaws. The skin reddens and the hair falls out. The mites invade the lymphatic system. Short-coated varieties of dogs, especially boxers and dachshunds, appear to be greater victims of this disease, but there is no breed or sex predilection. The affected dogs have a characteristics musty or mousy odour. As a result of scratching, bacterial infection often takes place. The dog’s skin becomes thick and wrinkled.
Treatment and Prevention:
If the condition is not checked early, it may lead to serious illness and even death. In fact it is a much difficult condition to treat effectively, especially in the case of generalized infection. Localized demodectic mange is usually a self-limiting condition, especially in dogs under eighteen months of age.
The veterinarian is, of course, the best person to advice treatment.

Sacroptic mange is common disease caused by sarcoptes scabiei mites. These are minute, globular white mites with two widely separated groups of legs.
Causes and Symptoms:
These mites burrow into the superficial layer of the skin, where they lay their eggs, causing intense irritation to the affected dog. Though dogs of all ages can be affected, the disease is more common among pups and young dogs. The disease can be confirmed by examination of skin scrapings under a microscope by a veterinarian.
Contact with infected animal or contaminated clothing is the method by which the disease spreads to dogs and human beings. Children are more commonly affected, probably on account of their delicate skin and also due to their more frequent and intimate contact with dogs.
Initially there is persistent scratching. As a result of this, there are reddish patches of inflamed tissues, particularly in the visible portion of the back, arm pits and inner side of the thighs. There is a scaly thickening of the ear flaps and bare places around the eyes. The disease may spread all over the body if not treated at an early stage. Sores and scabs develop all over the body in the case of neglected animals.
Treatment and Prevention:
In case of suspected infection in human beings, it is always desirable to consult the doctor as early as possible.
At the same time dog owners need not be hysterical in the face of these facts but should always practice hygienic pet care and wash their hands after fondling or even touching their dog.
When the affected dog is under treatment, care should be taken not to discontinue the treatment even if the dog appears to be normal. As the mange mites also live in the layers of the skin, some of these may be still alive, and this may result in recurrence of the problem. Hence the treatment should be continued till the veterinarian stops the same.

Ear mites thrive in the ear canal of dogs, where they cause great irritation.
Causes and Symptoms:
Ear infection is caused by the eggs of the mites being carried from the infected to the non-infected dog.
On account of ear mites, the dog frequently shakes his head and scratches the affected ear with his feet. This causes inflammation, and, sometimes, even haemorrhage and pus. After a while, there is a very bad smell from the affected ear, indicating a bacterial infection inside. If ear mites are neglected on account of accumulation of dirt, wax and discharges, this condition may turn into canker of the ear which is often a very serious condition.
An ear problem should be attended to at the earliest signs of scratching of the ears and shaking of the head. Dog breeds with droopy or hairy ears need special attention, as they suffer from insufficient air circulation in the ears and are susceptible to infections of the ears.
Treatment and Prevention:
Immediate veterinary help is desirable at the earliest stage of ear infection to prevent the problem from turning into serious one.

This is an acute contagious inflammation of the intestines of dogs.
Causes and Symptoms:
Corona virus infection is caused by a virus. The virus destroys the villi of the intestines, thus leading to malabsorption and diarrhea.
The main symptoms of this infection are lethargy and loss of appetite followed by vomiting and diarrhea. Vomiting may precede diarrhea or start simultaneously with it. The loose motions may be yellowish-orange and may contain variable amounts of mucus or blood. The diarrhea generally emits an offensive fetid odour. In some cases of corona virus infection, there is no fever but in other cases, mild fever is noticed. Though the disease in general is mild, stress and secondary bacterial infections may increase the severity to an acute condition. The virus is shed in the faeces.
Treatment and Prevention:
The main line of treatment is fluid therapy and symptomatic treatment.
For prevention, a vaccine is available in addition to strict isolation of the affected animal. Greater attention should be paid towards general sanitation.

Canine parvo virus is a disease afflicting dogs which was first reported in the world in 1978. Dogs of any age, breed or sex can be affected by this disease. Man, however, is not known to be affected by it. It is especially severe in young puppies less than five or six months of age. Mortality amongst unvaccinated old dogs may also be higher.
The Canine parvo virus is very hardy in nature. It survives under very high and low temperatures. It is resistant to common detergents and disinfectants.
Causes and Symptoms:
Caused by a virus, several factors like stress, parasites and the general health status of an infected dog are responsible in so far as the severity of the illness and mortality are concerned.
The disease is spread when a dog with a parvo virus infection comes in contact with a healthy dog. The virus can be carried through the hair and feet of affected dogs. Even the owners who handle the diseased dog can carry the virus on their clothes, shoes and hands (if not washed). Though all excretions of a dog with parvo virus infection may carry the virus, the faeces being very rich in virus, are primarily responsible for the spread of the disease through contact and through flies. The disease process starts with the oral ingestion of the virus from the faeces of an infected dog.
The main symptoms in small pups of less than two months of age are sudden death or depression, accompanied by difficult breathing and weakness. The temperature is generally below normal, though in some cases, there is a slight fever. Amongst adult dogs there may be fever of 39.4 deg C or 103 deg F or above, dullness, and vomiting and diarrhea with or without blood. Sometimes there is also dehydration.
When there is blood in the stool, the problem becomes more serious. A large number of cases recover and the success in treatment depends on an early and accurate diagnosis by the veterinarian.
Treatment and Prevention:
The main line of treatment is symptomatic along with replacement of water and salts lost through vomiting and bloody diarrhea. There is no specific drug for the virus. However, antibiotics are often given to suppress any secondary bacterial infection.
Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure of saving dogs from this disease. The decision relating to the timing and frequency of how often the vaccination should be given, should be left to the veterinarian, as it depends upon various factors.
As mentioned earlier, the parvo virus is one of the most resistant and can remain alive at room temperature for a long time. However, we can at least reduce contamination by thoroughly cleaning the floor where the affected dog is kept and by using disinfectants containing chlorine compounds.

Para influenza affects mainly the upper respiratory tract.
Causes and Symptoms:
Para influenza is a disease caused by a virus and spreads through the air. The dog may suffer from a mild fever and nasal discharge. Irritation of the lungs may cause persistence, though dry cough. While coughing, the dog may give the appearance as if something is caught in his throat and he is trying to take it out. Sometimes the dog may even vomit.
The disease is often complicated by secondary bacterial and other viral infections which may cause pneumonia. In its complex from the disease is called kennel cough. The symptoms usually last from seven to twenty-one days.
Treatment and Prevention:
A vaccine is available for prevention of Para influenza. For secondary bacterial infections, antibiotics and cough suppressants are administered by the veterinarian, depending upon symptoms and other factors.

Leptospirosis is a disease that afflicts both animals and man.
Causes and Symptoms:
This infectious disease is caused by organisms of the genus Leptospira. It is not a disease spread by a virus. Transmission of the disease occurs as a result of contact with the excretions of infected animals. Urine is the most important carrier of infection. In dogs the disease is spread through contact of the mouth or nasal mucous membrane with the urine of either an infected dog or rat. It is interesting to know that canine urine can also be a source of the disease in human beings.
Within one to two weeks after the exposure, the disease starts with high fever, listlessness, refusal to eat, vomiting and dark-colored urine. The affected dog is reluctant to walk and when he does, he exhibits pain involving the posterior part of his body. This gives the dog a tucked-up appearance. Palpitation of the abdomen, especially the lumber region, causes the animal to show evidence of pain, as the kidneys get affected. Sometimes jaundice is also noticed. Many times the disease has a sudden onset with severe symptoms; in other cases it may be of a mild, chronic nature with less severe symptoms. Inflammation of the intestines (enteritis) is manifested in diarrhea of varying degrees. Recovery is in direct proportion to the amount of digestive, hepatic and renal damage. Convalescence usually requires about ten days. Examination of blood and urine is very helpful as an aid to clinical diagnosis.
Treatment and Prevention:
Treatment involves the use of antibiotics and fluid therapy by the veterinarian. Vaccination is recommended for prevention of this disease which is becoming increasingly more common.

As is self-evident from the name, infectious canine hepatitis is different from the one that causes infectious hepatitis in human beings. Though dogs of all ages are susceptible to this disease, it is more common early in life.
Causes and Symptoms:
The infection is caused by a virus. It is not airborne, but is spread by contact with excretions like saliva, urine and faecal material of affected animals.
The initial symptoms are a sudden rise in temperature, followed by drowsiness, vomiting, great thirst, loss of appetite, a watery discharge from the eyes and nose which thickens gradually, vomiting and, often, bloody diarrhea. There is some pain when pressure is put over the abdomen, especially in the region of the liver. Fiery redness of the mucous membranes inside the oral cavity is seen and is considered by some veterinarians to be a feature which differentiates this disease from distemper. These symptoms are sometimes accompanied by swelling of the head, neck and abdomen. Nervous symptoms are rare. The majority of sick dogs recover with treatment. Mortality is more frequent amongst young dogs. Sometimes the disease hits so fast that a puppy may die before the seriousness of the disease can be realized.
Treatment and Prevention:
This disease may occur sometimes along with distemper. It can be prevented by vaccination. The vaccine is generally given along with the distemper vaccine.

In simple words, immunity is the resistance of the body to deleterious agents such as disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
Passive Immunity:
Immunity that the foetus gets from the mother is known so as it provides protection against various infections when the pup enters a hostile external environment on coming out of the uterus. Immunity is provided by antibodies (protein in nature) produced in response to stimulation by an antigen. Bacteria, viruses or their vaccines act as antigens and lead to the production of antibodies which protect the body against disease.
Without maternal immunity, many foetuses may not survive. Maternal immunity, however, interferes with the response to the vaccination with which we try to give active immunity to dogs. The maternal immunity level gradually goes down with the maturity of the pup.
The first milk colostrums of the mother contain antibodies. Depending upon the quantity of colostrums taken by the pup, plus other factors, the amount of the antibodies even amongst pups of the same litter varies greatly.
Active Immunity:
The most successful and ideal approach to immunization or vaccination of dogs with unknown amounts of maternal antibodies is based on multiple vaccinations. The last immunization should be given at about 22 weeks of age when almost all pups no longer have sufficient levels of maternal antibodies that could interfere with external vaccination.
It is important to note this fairly new and useful information about the number of days up to which the maternal antibody level for canine parvo virus may remain in the body, and which could negatively affect proper immunization. If the last multiple vaccination in the necessary series is given when the pups are 20 or 22 weeks of age, most pups can be effectively immunized. Many of the previous puppy immunization schedules recommended the last immunization of the series to be given at 12 to 14 weeks of age.
Various immunization schedules have been recommended, suggesting appropriate ages for the first vaccination and repeats thereafter. In general, the more repeat vaccinations against each disease that a puppy receives up to about 4 months of age, with an interval of about 2 to 3 weeks, the more likely it is that he will attain immunity at the earliest possible age with less likelihood of being susceptible to infections.

Canine distemper is an infectious disease of dogs, which is prevalent worldwide.
Causes and Symptoms:
Canine Distemper is caused by a virus and is certainly one of the most dangerous diseases pertaining to dogs. The distemper virus is discharged in various secretions and excretions by an affected dog, especially during the acute stage of his illness. The virus contaminates the atmosphere, thus making distemper an airborne disease, which can be transferred among dogs even without actual body contact, which of course, facilitates transmission from acutely ill dogs. Even if some affected dogs survive, they are often left with a permanent twitching of a certain group of muscles or gradual paralysis. The nervous symptoms usually start after the initial symptoms set in. sometimes the paralysis may cause the dog to lose control over the bladder and bowels. Even at this stage, when the dog may not be able to stand properly, he often has a normal appetite. At this stage, however, recovery is very rare.
Symptoms start within two weeks of getting the infection either by contact with an infected animal or otherwise. Initially the dog is dull and listless and there is lack of appetite. Such symptoms of depression and lack of appetite could be due to some other diseases too, but if the dog also has a high fever of around 40 deg C or 104 deg F, the owner should suspect the possibility of distemper, and take the dog immediately to a veterinarian. These symptoms may detract on their own, with the fever returning to normal, only to recur after a few days. This fluctuating elevation of temperature followed by loss of appetite, watery eyes and nasal discharge later develops into a discharge thick with pups. A cough, loose, black, foul-smelling motions are other characteristics symptoms of this disease.
In the later stages the virus often attacks the nervous system.
Treatment and Prevention:
There is no specific treatment for the distemper virus infection. Symptomatic treatment with antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections and other drugs, along with fluid therapy as considered suitable by the veterinarian, from the best course of action along with good nursing, simple food and cleaning of the eyes and nose frequently.
For the prevention of this awful disease, vaccination is almost foolproof, provided a reliable vaccine is used and the course of injections is given as per recommendations of experts. The pup should be kept inside the house or in a totally enclosed yard before he is vaccinated. Booster injections should preferably be given every year after the initial course of vaccination.