When caring for man’s best friend, there are many different medical
complications that can threaten the health and prosperity of your canine.
Dog diseases occur in the family pet just as frequent as their owners have
to deal with specific health concerns. Just as humans receive shots and
vaccinations to prevent the development of common diseases and conditions,
dogs should also be given a regular set of immunizations to help prevent the
heartache that comes with sickness, especially when preventable. Below you
will find a brief description on some of the worst dog diseases:
Types of vaccines
Vaccinations work by priming the pump, that is, they stimulate the dog’s immune system to produce specific antibodies to fight a subsequent attack by the disease. Vaccines come in two forms: modified live formulas that include a weakened form of the disease and killed or inactivated formulas that have an additional substance called an adjuvant added to boost the immune response. Each has its advantages. Modified live vaccines can cause swift development of long-lasting immunity but may produce mild cases of illness. Killed vaccines are more stable, have a longer shelf life, and do not produce mild infections, but the protection may not last as long.
Distemper
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, distemper is
considered one of the worst viruses to strike a dog. In 80% of cases
involving a puppy, death is inevitable. 50% of adult dogs suffering from the
virus will also lose their life. All canines are highly susceptible to
contracting the disease and should be vaccinated with future boosters to
continue their immunity.
Rabies
A commonly talked about and feared fatal dog disease is rabies because it
not only threatens the life of dogs, but also their owners. The rabies
vaccination is required by state and local law, which helps to lessen the
numbers of infected domestic pets.
Lyme Disease
Lyme Disease is a bacterial infestation that is spread by ticks, causing
dogs to display and suffer from lethargy, fever, joint pain, lack of
appetite, as well as lymph node enlargement. Antibiotics, such as
tetracycline will help treat this disease.
