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Common Puppy Diseases All Pet Parents Should Know

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Becoming a pet parent with your new puppy is exciting as you look forward to several hours of playtime and bonding sessions. However, it's worth noting that this furry best friend, like any creature, is susceptible to puppy ailments, and preparedness is key to ensuring they survive the disease.

Furthermore, while the many common puppy illnesses are preventable and not fatal, this article will provide an overview of these diseases, allowing you to detect and respond to red flags whenever they occur.

Let's begin!

  1. Parvovirus

    Parvovirus is a very common puppy disease that's highly contagious and features symptoms like vomiting, fever, fatigue, bloody diarrhea, and appetite loss. It's a common issue in puppies approximately 6, 8, and 12 weeks of age and requires a quick visit to the veterinarian for treatment.

    The treatment often involves IV fluid to prevent dehydration and medications from controlling excessive vomiting. Fortunately, the survival rate of the parvovirus is roughly 90% as long as early treatment begins.

    However, it's worth mentioning that treating this common puppy disease is expensive as it ranges from $500 to $2000, which may rise if hospitalization is necessary. Luckily, this unfortunate fate is avoidable with early vaccination.

    We recommend visiting the veterinarian and getting your puppy three sets of vaccinations to build their immunity. We also recommend avoiding parks, peaches, and other public areas until your dog is fully immune from parvovirus.

  2. Kennel Cough

    Kennel cough is another term for infectious bronchitis in dogs, and it's one of the most common puppy infections today. The signs and symptoms of canine kennel cough involve a forceful, hacking cough that sounds like your canine has an obstacle in its throat.

    While common kennel illnesses occur in dogs of all ages, they're most common in puppies because of their weak and inexperienced immune system. The persistent, dry hacking cough will lead to pneumonia if left untreated.

    Fortunately, the survivability of kennel cough is very high, as even the most severe kennel cough treatment cases have a 5-10% mortality rate. As for treatment, the severity will depend on the gravity of the symptoms; however, simple antibiotics are sufficient to kill the bacteria responsible for kennel cough in canines and bronchitis.

    For maximum safety, we recommend getting your beloved puppy a vaccine for kennel cough, especially whenever they get frequent contact with other dogs. It's necessary for their health.

  3. Diarrhoea

    When potty training your dog to use a puppy pad and you notice they still are soiling at random places in the house, it might indicate diarrhea. This common puppy sickness features symptoms like watery stool, fever, vomiting, and fatigue.

    The cause of puppy diarrhea varies as it could come from parasitic infections like tapeworm, roundworms, and hookworms. In this case, the puppy will be given medications to defecate the parasite.

    On the other hand, some simpler reason would be your dog injected something unfriendly into its stomach, and in this case, common stomach upset medications are recommended alongside constant hydration.

    Fortunately, the cost of diagnosing and rectifying diarrhea involving intestinal parasites averages between $200 and $400, depending on the severity of the situation. Nevertheless, it's a common puppy ailment that's easily treated.

  4. Urinary Tract Infections

    Urinary Tract Infections, also known as UTIs, commonly cause frequent and uncontrollable urination in puppies, often misinterpreted as bad potty behavior by pet parents.

    Female and Male puppy urinary tract infection is commonly the result of bacterial infection, which develops in the bladder when the puppy doesn't urinate for prolonged periods. Eventually, the bladder and urethra become inflamed and infected, resulting in urinary tract infection.

    Symptoms of such common puppy infections include increased thirst, frequent urination, a puppy constantly licking its genital area, and more. Fortunately, treating this issue involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria in its body, causing you little financial requirements.

    If you find your dog urinating frequently and need to protect your floor from constant urine, consider using the most absorbent and comfortable puppy pad.

  5. Pruritus (Itchy skin)

    Scratching is a normal habit for dogs, but excessive scratching is a cause for concern as it may indicate common puppy skin problems. One common reason for such itching is an allergic reaction triggered by food, bugs (mites), soaps & products, and seasonal allergies.

    Veterinarians recommend taking your beloved puppy to a professional to perform several tests to determine the treatment necessary for skin rash alleviation. The test can include skin scraping to search for mites and bacterial or yeast infections.

    The diagnosis may take weeks or months, depending on the condition's severity; nevertheless, relief is possible as allergy medications or a change of routine can help in such common puppy skin conditions.

  6. Distemper

    One of the most common puppy illnesses today is canine distemper, a highly contagious disease affecting puppies and other animals like ferrets and raccoons. These common puppy illness symptoms include nasal discharge, vomiting, fever, eye secretion, coughing, and decreased appetite.

    Some severe cases of distemper involved neurological issues like twitching and seizures. Sadly, this issue has no cure alongside a high mortality rate. Still, treatment features supportive care for the puppy and efforts to control diarrhea, dehydration, and vomiting and prevent further infections.

Conclusion

Being a pet parent involves providing love, shelter, and care for your beloved puppy. Understanding some common puppy diseases and symptoms is an effective way to prepare for potential issues.

Fortunately, this article features the top puppy illness you might encounter; however, if you notice anything strange in your dog, ensure to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible.

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