dog health concerns!

summaries of common health conditions in dogs!

      here you can find short reviews of six common health conditions/diseases dogs can develop.

heartworm: heartworm is a potentially fatal disease, transmitted through mosquitoes, in which parasites inhibit a dogs’ heart, and it can cause heart failure and damage to numerous organs in a dog’s body. when an infected mosquito bites a dog, it takes the heartworms about six months to mature, and once mature, they are able to live within a dog’s body for up to seven years. early prevention through monthly heartworm medication, supplied by your veterinarian, is the most effective way to keep your dog heartworm free. if your dog does become infected, some signs of heartworm in dogs are decreased appetite, fatiguing quickly, loss of weight, a cough, and reluctance to exercise. the earlier heartworm is caught, the better, as it is a progressive disease, and your vet will help you go through with the treatment.

progressive retinal atrophy: progressive retinal atrophy is a group of diseases that slowly cause a dog’s eyes to deteriorate and eventually make the dog become blind. there are two main forms of this disease, one that affects puppies and younger dogs (retinal dysplasia) and one for adult/older dogs. this condition usually begins by impairing a dog’s vision during the night time, then worsening to affect its daytime sight, and is surprisingly not painful. retinal dysplasia causes a puppy’s retina’s photoreceptor cells to develop irregularly, and is also not painful. there is no cure for progressive retinal atrophy, however small adjustments can be made to you and your dog’s lives to help accommodate them as they adjust to their loss of sight. they can still live a happy and pain free life!

lymphoma: lymphoma is one of the most common cancer types in dogs, and is more common in older dogs, basset hounds, golden retrievers, beagles, german shepherds, poodles, rottweilers, chow chows, and english bulldogs. this cancer begins in the lymph nodes, but is malignant (spreads through the entire body) and can affect any organ in a dog’s body. it mainly affects a dog’s immune system, including its spleen, bone marrow, tonsils, and lymph nodes. common signs of lymphoma are enlarged/swollen lymph nodes, weight loss, and lethargy, however signs can differ depending on the affected organ(s). lymphoma can be treated with chemotherapy, which is more effective and less harmful for dogs than humans, but chemotherapy only causes a remission in the cancer, and does not provide a full cure.

mitral valve heart disease: mitral valve disease is one of the most common heart diseases, and occurs most often in the cavalier king charles spaniel, pomeranian, miniature poodle, chihuahua, cocker spaniel, dachshund, yorkie, and fox terrier breeds. this disease is also more common for smaller breeds, and affects male dogs more than females. the cause of mitral valve disease is due to the valve in the heart going through a change because of degeneration, such as the misshapening, weakening, or thickening of the valve. this change causes the valve to be unable to seal properly and allows blood to leak backwards into the heart. the most common and earliest sign of mitral valve disease is a heart murmur, however it begins as asymptomatic. as the disease worsens, symptoms do as well, and common symptoms are fatigue, cough, loss of appetite, and quicker breathing. there are multiple stages, A, B1, B2, C, and D, and dogs can begin stages A and B1 as early as 4-6 years old. dogs in stages A and B1 do not require any treatment, and usually experience no symptoms with only a soft murmur. dogs diagnosed with mitral valve disease in stage B2 and on require medication and veterinary care for the rest of their lives.

gastric dilation volvulus: commonly referred to as “bloat”, gastric dilation volvulus is most common in larger, deep chested dogs, and is a deadly condition in which a dog’s stomach fills and becomes swollen with food, air, or fluid, and causes the stomach to twist in on itself. the twisting of the stomach prevents food from passing in and out of the stomach (through the intestines) or vomited. some signs/symptoms that a dog has developed GDV are lethargy, dry heaving, less appetite, a distended abdomen, and excessive salivation. without surgery and medical attention, GDV is fatal, however once a surgery has been performed, dogs have a survival rate of above 80%.

Parvovirus: parvovirus in dogs is an infectious DNA virus in which the cells that divide the most rapidly in a dog are attacked, therefore the intestinal tract, gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, and white blood cells are usually the most heavily impacted. if a puppy contracts this disease, its heart muscles can also be damaged. parvovirus is highly contagious and is most common in younger puppies 6-20 weeks old and unvaccinated dogs. early symptoms of parvovirus aren’t very prominent, however as the virus progresses dogs begin to have a smaller appetite, vomit, fever or hypothermia, lethargy, abdominal pain, and difficulty breathing. this disease is preventable with vaccinations veterinarians can administer, and spreads through contamination of spaces with infected feces. if you suspect a dog has parvovirus, they can get a fecal test at the vet’s. there’s no specific cure for this disease, so whenever a dog contracts it, the veterinarians focus on supporting the dog as they fight it off, however without medical assistance, there is a significant chance of death for dogs with parvovirus.

(all images are not mine, the rights go their original creators!)