Common diseases of dogs
Please take your puppy to the vet if your puppy presents any of the following symptoms.
Also see our suggestions below.

1. Parasites
   ● Hookworms are a common parasite of dogs. Most common is Ancylostoma caninum, followed by Uncinaria stenocephala and A. braziliense. Signs include diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss.
   ● Tapeworms are also common and in the dog are usually Dipylidium caninum, which is spread by ingesting fleas and lice. Also common is Taenia pisiformis, spread by ingesting rabbits and rodents. Rare tapeworm infections are caused by species of the genera Echinococcus, Mesocestoides, and Spirometra. There are usually no symptoms.
   ● Roundworms (see also toxocariasis) infecting the dog include Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Signs are usually mild, but may include diarrhea, pot-bellied appearance, poor growth, and vomiting
    we use panacure "Fenbendazole" which gets rid of all those 4 if given in a period of 3 days.
   ● Fleas in dogs cause itching and hair loss. The most common flea in dogs is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, followed by the dog flea, C. canis.
   ● Ticks are an external parasite of the dog and can spread diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. They can also cause a neurological disorder known as tick paralysis.
   ● Heartworm disease in dogs is spread by mosquitoes and is spread by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Signs include cough, difficulty breathing, and death.
    

2. Mites
   ● Ear mites in dogs are microscopic members of the species Otodectes cynotis. Symptoms include itching, inflammation, and black debris in the ear.
   ● Cheyletiellosis is a mild pruritic skin disease in dogs caused by Cheyletiella yasguri. Humans can be transiently infected.
   ● Chiggers, also known as harvest mites, can cause itching, redness and crusting in dogs.
   ● Mange in dogs include demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is caused by Demodex canis. Signs include hair loss, redness, and scaling, and is not contagious to humans. Sarcoptic mange is caused by Sarcoptes scabiei canis. Signs include intense itching and scaling, and is contagious to humans.
    

3. Protozoal diseases
   ● Giardiasis is an intestinal infection in dogs caused by the protozoa Giardia lamblia. The most common symptom is diarrhea. The zoonotic potential of giardiasis is controversial. Treatments are given with Metronidazole or Febendazole. Vets rely on a snap test to diagnose it.
   ● Coccidiosis can be caused by a variety of coccidian organisms in dogs, most commonly Isospora. There are usually no symptoms, but diarrhea and weight loss may occur.
   Symptoms in young dogs are universal: at some point around 2-3 months of age, an infected dog develops persistently loose stools. This diarrhea proceeds to stool containing liquid, thick mucus, and light colored fecal matter. As the infection progresses, spots of blood may become apparent in the stool, and sudden bowel movements may surprise both dog and owner alike. Coccidia infection is so common that any pup under 4 months old with these symptoms can almost surely be assumed to have coccidiosis.
   Fortunately, the treatment is inexpensive, extremely effective, and routine. A veterinarian can easily diagnose the disease through low-powered microscopic examination of an affected dog's feces, which usually will be replete with oocysts. One of many easily administered and inexpensive drugs will be prescribed, and, in the course of just a few days, an infection will be eliminated or perhaps reduced to such a level that the dog's immune system can make its own progress against the infection. Even when an infection has progressed sufficiently that blood is present in feces, permanent damage to the gastrointestinal system is rare, and the dog will most likely make a complete recovery without long-lasting negative effects. We provide preventative treatment with Albon.
    

4. Fungal infections
   ● Ringworm is a fungal skin disease that in dogs is caused by Microsporum canis (70%), Microsporum gypseum (20%), and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (10%). Typical signs in dogs include hair loss and scaly skin.
   Doctors can diagnose ringworm on sight, or they may take a skin scraping, or in the case of animal ringworm or tinea capitis, examine plucked hairs for fungal elements. This is examined under a microscope, or put on an agar plate in a microbiology laboratory and allowed to grow.
   Specialized agar plate, called Dermatophyte Test Medium is used to culture and identify ringworm organisms. Some of the fungi fluoresce under a black light examination.
   In domestic animals, ringworm can cause a variety of symptoms, but most cases show scaling and patches of hair loss. Some cats can be carriers, but show no symptoms.

5. Viral infections
   ● Rabies (hydrophobia) is a fatal viral disease that can affect any mammal, although the close relationship of dogs with humans makes canine rabies a zoonotic concern. Vaccination of dogs for rabies is commonly required by law.
   ● Canine parvovirus is a sometimes fatal gastrointestinal infection that mainly affects puppies. It occurs worldwide. Dogs become infected through contact with CPV in feces or infected soil. Most dogs (more than 80 percent) that are infected will show no symptoms. Dogs that develop the disease show symptoms of the illness within 3 to 10 days. The symptoms are lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (usually bloody). After a dog is infected, there is no cure, but dogs usually recover from the viral infection and associated symptoms within five days with aggressive treatment. However, diarrhea and vomiting result in dehydration and secondary infections can set in, causing death even in treated dogs. Smaller breeds have less chances to survive to the virus than bigger breeds.
   Direct contact with infected feces is not necessary for the disease to spread: viral particles on shoes, clothing, hair, and so on are all that is needed for the transmission. The disease is extremely hardy and has been found to be present in feces or other organic material (eg. soil) even after a year including extremely cold and hot temperatures. The only household disinfectant that kills the virus is a mixture of bleach and water, 1 part bleach and 30 parts of water (4 oz of bleach to a gallon of water).
   ● Canine Coronavirus is a gastrointestinal disease that is usually asymptomatic or with mild clinical signs. The signs are worse in puppies.
   ● Canine distemper is an often fatal infectious disease that mainly has respiratory and neurological signs.
   Dogs from four months to four years old are particularly more susceptible. Canine distemper virus (CDV) spreads through the air and through contact with infected bodily fluids, including food and water contaminated with these fluids. The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although there can be a fever from three to six days post infection.
   Symptoms are: Dullness and redness of the eye, Discharge from nose, Vomiting and diarrhea, Cough, Shivering, Fever, Loss of appetite and energy, weight loss, Seizures, Thickened footpads, Tooth enamel hypoplasia.
   ● Kennel cough is an infectious respiratory disease which can be caused by one of several viruses or by Bordetella bronchiseptica. It most commonly occurs in dogs confined in closed environments. Kennel cough is most commonly known to be caused by the bordetella vaccine on young puppies. This is a non- life threatening issue and can be easily treated with antibiotics (Clavamox is the most commonly used antibiotics).
   ● Canine influenza is a newly emerging infectious respiratory disease. Up to 80 percent of dogs infected will have symptoms, but the mortality rate is only 5 to 8 percent.
   ● Infectious canine hepatitis is a sometimes fatal infectious disease of the liver.