Most Common Types of Dog Diseases
Below are types of diseases that a dog can get. It is important that this is a general first aid topic cover and will not cover every situation. It is always very important to seek veterinary advice. Diabetes There are two forms of diabetes. 1. The so-called water diabetes where the dog drinks huge amounts of water up to nine litres overnight and as a result floods the kennel with urine. This is due to a total collapse of the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Following extreme stress. 2. The most common form is sugar diabetes. The cause is insufficient insulin being produced by the dog's pancreas gland to keep the dog’s blood sugar under control. The level of sugar rises in the blood as the dog burns off its food energy reserves. Symptoms: Copious amounts of water being drunk, passing similar amounts of urine heavily intermixed with sugar (black ants may mingle in the urine as a result). The dog’s breath may have a smell similar to nail varnish remover. Treatment: Veterinarian assistance is required. Obtain a urine sample in the correct container. The dog may require daily injections of insulin to stabilise the condition. This will only be done by the vet until the handier is proficient in giving the same treatment. Distemper This is a virus that usually attacks younger dogs; it is spread through contact with infected dishes, bedding, saliva, eye and nasal discharge. The virus is passed in the urine. Symptoms: The initial high temperature and a state of drowsiness, similar effect to that of having the human flue. The disease can now develop into any one of three forms, with two or more sometimes combining in the one dog. (1) The most common form is pneumonia. The dog develops pus like discharge from
the nose and eyes, the tonsils become swollen, the temperature is high and the dog develops pneumonia. (2) Severe gastroenteritis: The dog suffers unbelievable diarrhoea, accompanied by high temperature, rapid loss of weight ' and severe depression. (3) The third and nastiest affects the brain. This virus kills off certain cells, resulting in the development of muscle tremors, and finally full-blown epileptic convulsions. This form often follows the other two. Despite any treatment the dog has practically no chance of survival once it reaches this stage - when the disease reaches the brain it tends to progress. Even if the spread of the virus can be halted the dog may still be left with permanent damage and continue to fit and be severely incapacitated. Treatment: There is very little you can do, very few survive and those that do generally are brain damaged. It is very important that yearly injections for distemper are maintained. For more details visit http://www.dogobedience.com.au/