Information on Loughborough

An Introduction to Canine Leptospirosis

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An Introduction to Canine LeptospirosisBy D Swain

Canine leptospirosis is a very serious bacterial disease. It can affect a wide range of organs and tissue. The disease damage your dog's liver, kidney, or blood vessels. The eyes can also experience inflammation which can result in blindness.

Transmission

The bacteria that causes this disease invades the human body through mucous membranes. This includes the mouth, eyes, and lesions in the skin. Most dogs become infected when they come into contact with infected urine or water (H20) that contains infected urine. The bacteria can also invade through bite wounds, during breeding, or if your dog consumes an infected animal.

Symptoms

Symptoms of canine leptospirosis start to appear within two weeks of infection. Your dog may experience loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and depression. It is also common for him to develop conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye.

As the disease progresses, your dog will experience increased thirst and urination. This may lead to dehydration. In its advanced stages, the disease causes bloody feces and vomit, deep depression, and muscle tremors. The bacteria also eventually ends up in the kidneys which leads to kidney failure.

Treatment

Sincecanine leptospirosis is caused by a bacteria, it can be treated with antibiotics. Penicillin will stop the bacteria from reproducing. As mentioned earlier, the kidneys are commonly damaged. Therefore, your dog may have to receive intravenous fluids. You will also need to decontaminate your home to make sure there is no infected urine still present.

Prevention

This disease is easily preventable. Dogs usually receive the vaccination at the same time they receive the vaccine for distemper. You should be aware that this shot can cause hives or facial swelling. In some cases, your dog may suffer a potentially life-threatening reaction to the shot.

Besides leptospirosis, there are many other serious diseases and conditions that may affect your dog in the future. Click over to dog-illnesses.com to learn about some of these conditions such as canine anemia and canine Cushing's disease.

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Infectious Canine Hepatitis - A Look at Hepatitis in Dogs

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Infectious Canine Hepatitis - A Look at Hepatitis in DogsBy D Swain

Infectious canine hepatitis is a highly contagious disease. The virus that causes this disease can cause damage to your dog's liver as well as other organs. If treatment isn't sought quickly, the disease is usually fatal. Puppies are especially and particulary susceptible to life-threatening complications.

Cause

As mentioned earlier, hepatitis in dogs is caused by a virus. The specific virus is canine adenovirus type 1, also referred to as CAV-1. It is transmitted through contact with infected animals and objects. Common objects that can harbor the virus include feces, food bowls, and water (H20) dishes. The virus can also be transmitted by parasites such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. In some cases, it can also be inhaled.

Symptoms

Dogs with infectious canine hepatitis develop a wide range of symptoms. They include vomiting, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Your dog may also get a high fever. You may also notice that your dog's stomach will appear enlarged. This is caused by the swelling of the liver.

Hepatitis in dogs also causes sensitivity to light. Your dog's eyes will tear when exposed to light. In severe cases of the disease, symptoms include bloody gums, nose, vomit, and diarrhea. It is also common for dogs to experience seizures, which is usually a sight of impending death within days. Some dogs die within hours of showing symptoms.

Diagnosis

This disease is diagnosed based on a physical exam and clinical signs. Blood and urine samples will also be sent to the lab to be analyzed. There is also a test that can detect the presence of the virus in your dog's stool.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for infectious canine hepatitis. Dogs can usually fight the disease on their own as long as they have a healthy immune system. Treatment involves giving the dog intravenous fluids, enemas, and blood transfusions. Since the eyes usually become inflamed, your dog may also be given eye drops to get rid of the inflammation. Even after the disease has been treated, dogs can shed the virus for months after infection. Therefore, your dog will pose a threat of infecting other dogs.

Hepatitis in dogs is a solemn and sober disease. It's important as a dog or canine owner to know about symptoms of various dog illnesses that can affect your beloved pet. So, stop by dog-illnesses.com today to learn about some of these diseases such as canine bloat. Your dog will appreciate it.

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An Introduction to Canine Lymphosarcoma

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An Introduction to Canine LymphosarcomaBy D Swain

Canine lymphosarcoma is a deadly cancer in dogs. The disease can occur in various parts of the body, however commonly affects the lymph nodes. It can also invade the liver, spleen, and other organs.

Symptoms Dogs display different symptoms based on where the tumor is located. If the disease only affects the lymph nodes, then they will simply swell up. The dog will likely show no other symptoms. If the lymphosarcoma occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, your dog will experience vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. He will probably lose weight also. Canine lymphosarcoma can also affect the skin. This will cause lumps to form that may be red and itchy. If the disease affects your dog's chest cavity, he may start having trouble breathing.

Diagnosis Your dog will have to undergo a battery of tests if the veterinarian suspects this disease. The bone marrow may have to be analyzed to ensure that cancerous cells haven't invaded. The veterinarian may also perform blood tests, an ultrasound, and an x-ray.

Treatment Canine lymphosarcoma can affect many parts of the human body at thesame time. Therefore, radiation therapy and surgery are not effective treatment methods. The greatest method of treatment for this disease is chemotherapy. The chemotherapy medication is given orally and via injection once a week.

Prognosis With successful treatment, your dog may survive for months or even years. If the condition is left untreated, then your dog probably won't survive for two months. Since the disease is almost always fatal, you will have to make the decision on whether or not to treat your dog.

Lymphosarcoma is a very serious disease. However, there are many other diseases and conditions that may affect your dog in the future. Click over to dog-illnesses.com to learn about some of these conditions such as canine lupus and canine kidney failure.