Vaccinate your pet
There are many diseases affecting our canine friends. So, far we’ve dealt with a handful of them. But there are still quite a few that deserve mention. Not all of them are preventable, but there are a good number of viral and bacterial infections which can be prevented with vaccine. So, being a responsible owner you should do all that is required to safeguard your pet against the onslaught of diseases.
Here’s a list of some of the most common ailments that can pose threat to your pet’s life but can be easily averted by exercising little caution:
Rabies:
Do you know how many people die of rabies each year? An alarming 55,000. However, this shocking estimate can be reduced considerably if you vaccinate your dogs. Rabies is a highly contagious disease that can spread from animals to humans. It can prove fatal once symptoms occur. Other ways to prevent the disease is by not allowing children and pets to come into direct contact with stray animals.
Canine distemper:
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. More often than not it also affects the central nervous system. Puppies between 3-6 months are highly predisposed. Canine distemper spreads through coughing. However, the virus can be shed through urine also.
Hepatitis:
Hepatitis affects the liver. Also known as canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1), it spreads by coming into contact with an infected dog. Hepatitis can also be transmitted by parasites like fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. The clinical signs may include vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, swollen lymph nodes, pale gums, and yellowish eyes. Although it is mostly administered to young pups, unvaccinated adult dogs can also be safeguarded with vaccine.
Leptospirosis:
The bacteria can be transmitted through the urine of infected animals. The bacteria usually enters the body through skin, eyes, nose, or mouth. The clinical signs may include fever, vomiting abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, general debilitation, depression, stiffness and pain in the muscle.