The Problems that May Affect the Dog’s Health
A lot of people consider dogs as man’s best friend. These creatures are smart and can be trained to do almost anything but taking care of a pet isn’t just about feeding it or taking it out on walks.
Dogs are prone to sicknesses from parasites, fungus, viruses and protozoa. The owner should keep a watchful eye since these animals are very sensitive and if left untreated, could affect the health long term or become fatal.
The best defense against any disease is vaccination. This may not eliminate the threat but veterinarians strongly believe strongly this is better than not doing anything at all for the animal.
There are many diseases and the dog is not the only one that will be affected if proper care is not given. A person can die if bitten by a dog that has rabies. This is the reason that state laws require all dogs to be vaccinated to prevent incidents like this from happening.
Distemper is another major disease that affects dogs of all ages. The animal can get this from the urine and feces of other dogs. The pet can also get this from toys, bedding and kennels.
The person will notice something is wrong if the dog has gunky eyes, experiences vomiting or nausea, coughing and weight loss. Unfortunately there is no cure once this begins and should the animal miraculously survive will experience some form of handicap for the long term.
The parvovirus is another disease which is prevalent in dogs. The symptoms are similar to that of distemper. An infected pet will die within 2 to 3 days and the best thing for the owner to do will be to give fluids to ease the pain.
There are other diseases that a dog can get even as a puppy. These are parainfluenza, coronavirus, hepatitis, Lyme disease and leptospirosis.
This makes it very important for the owner to also bring the dog for vaccinations during the first few months after birth. Some of the drugs will be effective for three years which will save time and money bringing the animal annually.
A vaccination drug is designed to create antibodies to fight against a specific disease. These are usually adminstered using a syringe and may contain a small sample of the disease that is either active or inactive.
There are pros and cons of using the two types. The active version may last longer so the next visit to the vet could be in three years. The downside is that if the immune system of the dog is weak, then the animal could fall to the disease. The inactive version of the vaccination has proven not to show any side effects but the dog should be brought in to the vet for another injection.
When a female dog is gives birth, the milk that comes out serves as the best defense against viruses and bacteria. The owner should have done this to increase the chances of survival for the puppies during the first 3 months. This should be followed up by bringing the puppies for shots after three to six months.
Taking care of the dog is not easy. The person should make sure the animal is clean and the sleeping area has been sanitized. The owner should also avoid letting the pet come in contact with others that could be carriers of life threatening diseases.
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