Common Illnesses in Puppies and Dogs
I've listed 6 of the most common illnesses and parasites in puppies on this page. By no means are these the only illnesses/parasites puppies and dogs may have and none of this information is meant to diagnoses what problems your puppy may be having. If your puppy is having any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours we highly recommend taking them to your veterinarian. We treat all puppies coming from our kennel for all of the internal parasites listed here. Also, we make sure each puppy coming from us has two of their three distemper/parvo vaccinations. This way we are positive we are giving our puppies the best start in their new lives as possible.
Coccidiosis in Dogs
Coccidiosis is a parasitic type of infection, caused by the coccidium, that most commonly causes watery, mucus-based diarrhea in dogs. If it is not treated, over time it can cause damage to the lining of the dog's intestinal tract. With treatment, the prognosis is good.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms and Types
You may notice that the dog has watery, mucous-like diarrhea. As the condition progresses, bloody diarrhea and an inability to withhold it will begin to show. The dog may also be in a weakened state.
Causes
Stress, as from moving, travel and weather changes, and being in an environment with other infected animals are the most common causes of this parasitic infection to develop. It is spread through fecal matter, and is most commonly found in pups that have contracted the parasite from an adult dogs' feces. The coccidiosis infection is of particular danger for young dogs, since their immune systems are still underdeveloped.
Diagnosis: A fecal examination is the most common method of diagnosis for this infection. The coccidium parasite will be readily visible under a microscope.
Treatment: Albon/Baycox
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms and Types
You may notice that the dog has watery, mucous-like diarrhea. As the condition progresses, bloody diarrhea and an inability to withhold it will begin to show. The dog may also be in a weakened state.
Causes
Stress, as from moving, travel and weather changes, and being in an environment with other infected animals are the most common causes of this parasitic infection to develop. It is spread through fecal matter, and is most commonly found in pups that have contracted the parasite from an adult dogs' feces. The coccidiosis infection is of particular danger for young dogs, since their immune systems are still underdeveloped.
Diagnosis: A fecal examination is the most common method of diagnosis for this infection. The coccidium parasite will be readily visible under a microscope.
Treatment: Albon/Baycox
Ancylostomiasis in Dogs (Hookworms)
Hookworms can be fatal, especially in puppies. As such, pet owners need to be vigilant for signs of hookworms in their dogs. These blood-sucking parasites can invade, inhabit, and live in the dog's small intestines. In their fourth-stage larvae, the hookworms can cause anemia and inflammation in the dog's small intestine. Active worms leave bite sites and those sites continue to seep blood.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
A dog with the parasite looks unhealthy and has a poor appetite; the linings of its nostrils, lips, and ears will be pale. If hookworm larvae get into the lungs, the dog will cough, as well as present several other symptoms, including dark and tarry stool, diarrhea, and constipation. Death can come suddenly if the dog is not immediately treated.
Causes
Puppies usually acquire this condition through milk from their mothers. These infestations are always caused by ingestion or by larval penetration of the skin, generally found in contaminated water or in a contaminated environment.
Diagnosis: Hookworms cannot be seen with the naked eye and must be therefore be microscopically examined by your veterinarian through a stool specimen. This examination will also help the veterinarian determine what course of treatment to prescribe. If some of the puppies in a litter have died, hookworms should be suspected.
Treatment: Pancur
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
A dog with the parasite looks unhealthy and has a poor appetite; the linings of its nostrils, lips, and ears will be pale. If hookworm larvae get into the lungs, the dog will cough, as well as present several other symptoms, including dark and tarry stool, diarrhea, and constipation. Death can come suddenly if the dog is not immediately treated.
Causes
Puppies usually acquire this condition through milk from their mothers. These infestations are always caused by ingestion or by larval penetration of the skin, generally found in contaminated water or in a contaminated environment.
Diagnosis: Hookworms cannot be seen with the naked eye and must be therefore be microscopically examined by your veterinarian through a stool specimen. This examination will also help the veterinarian determine what course of treatment to prescribe. If some of the puppies in a litter have died, hookworms should be suspected.
Treatment: Pancur
Ascariasis in Dogs (Roundworms)
Ascariasis is a disease affecting dogs caused by the intestinal parasitic roundworm (or Ascaris lumbricoides). Roundworms are often quite large -- up to 10 to 12 centimeters in length -- and can be present in extremely high numbers within an infected animal. When they are found in a dog's body, it can lead to abdominal swelling (distension), colic, gastrointestinal issues and even intestinal rupture.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
The following signs or symptoms are common in dogs that have roundworms:
Colic
Lethargy
Vomiting
Abdominal swelling
Abnormal feces
Poor nursing (in females)
Anorexia
Coughing (caused when the roundworm larvae have migrated into the dog's lungs)
Causes
Adult dogs can become infected through the ingestion of roundworm eggs, which are found in infected food, water, vomit, or feces. Pups can then contract the parasite during the pregnancy or by drinking the milk from an infected pregnant animal. And if one of the newborns in a litter is exposed to roundworms, the entire litter can contract the parasite.
Diagnosis: Upon examination of the dog, a swollen abdominal region is commonly detected. There may also be signs of weakness and loss of appetite. A fecal swab will then be taken to detect the presence of roundworm eggs. Dead roundworms being passed out of the animal's body is another good indicator of the disease.
Treatment: Pancur
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
The following signs or symptoms are common in dogs that have roundworms:
Colic
Lethargy
Vomiting
Abdominal swelling
Abnormal feces
Poor nursing (in females)
Anorexia
Coughing (caused when the roundworm larvae have migrated into the dog's lungs)
Causes
Adult dogs can become infected through the ingestion of roundworm eggs, which are found in infected food, water, vomit, or feces. Pups can then contract the parasite during the pregnancy or by drinking the milk from an infected pregnant animal. And if one of the newborns in a litter is exposed to roundworms, the entire litter can contract the parasite.
Diagnosis: Upon examination of the dog, a swollen abdominal region is commonly detected. There may also be signs of weakness and loss of appetite. A fecal swab will then be taken to detect the presence of roundworm eggs. Dead roundworms being passed out of the animal's body is another good indicator of the disease.
Treatment: Pancur
Cestodiasis in Dogs (Tapeworms)
Cestodiasis is the medical term for tapeworm infestation. Tapeworms typically settle in the small intestine. The tapeworm species can include Taenia, Dipylidium Caninum, Echinococcus, and Mesocestoides. Treatment to destroy tapeworms is critical to avoid transmission to humans (typically children) and to avert damage to the dog's body. With prompt treatment, prognosis is positive.
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
As the tapeworm grows, pieces of it break off into segments and pass into the dog's intestines. You may see dried, white to cream colored segments, or pieces, of tapeworm in the dog's feces or in the fur under the tail. Some tapeworm species break off into segments that are too small to see, while the segments of other tapeworm species will resemble sesame or cucumber seeds in size and appearance. Still other species of worm will pass into the feces and can be readily seen. Dogs may bite or lick the anus, or drag their hind quarters across the floor in response to the itching.
Causes
Tapeworms are acquired by ingesting the immediate host containing larvae. Tapeworm eggs are frequently ingested through adult fleas. Other sources that are potential transmitters, and that a dog is likely to ingest, include rabbits, birds, and rodents. Scavenging may also lead to an infestation of tapeworms.
Diagnosis: Tapeworms will be found in the anal sac or in the feces of the animal. A fecal, or stool, sample can be used to review for the presence of tapeworms. False negatives do occur, but most test results are conclusive.
Treatment: praziquantel
The condition or disease described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects cats, please visit the PetMD health library.
Symptoms
As the tapeworm grows, pieces of it break off into segments and pass into the dog's intestines. You may see dried, white to cream colored segments, or pieces, of tapeworm in the dog's feces or in the fur under the tail. Some tapeworm species break off into segments that are too small to see, while the segments of other tapeworm species will resemble sesame or cucumber seeds in size and appearance. Still other species of worm will pass into the feces and can be readily seen. Dogs may bite or lick the anus, or drag their hind quarters across the floor in response to the itching.
Causes
Tapeworms are acquired by ingesting the immediate host containing larvae. Tapeworm eggs are frequently ingested through adult fleas. Other sources that are potential transmitters, and that a dog is likely to ingest, include rabbits, birds, and rodents. Scavenging may also lead to an infestation of tapeworms.
Diagnosis: Tapeworms will be found in the anal sac or in the feces of the animal. A fecal, or stool, sample can be used to review for the presence of tapeworms. False negatives do occur, but most test results are conclusive.
Treatment: praziquantel
Canine Parvovirus (CPV)
The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in two different forms. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of appetite (anorexia). The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of very young puppies, often leading to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvovirus infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.
Symptoms and Types
The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form of a canine parvo virus infection include severe, bloody diarrhea lethargy, anorexia, fever, vomiting and severe weight loss. The intestinal form of CPV affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients, and an affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack of protein and fluid absorption. The wet tissue of the mouth and eyes may become noticeably red and the heart may beat too rapidly. When your veterinarian palpates (examine by touch) your dog’s abdominal area, your dog may respond with pain or discomfort. Dogs that have contracted CPV may also have a low body temperature (hypothermia), rather than a fever.
Causes
Most cases of CPV infections are caused by a genetic alteration of the original canine parvovirus: the canine parvovirus type 2b. There are a variety of risk factors that can increase a dog’s susceptibility to the disease, but mainly, the virus is transmitted either by direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route. Heavy concentrations of the virus are found in an infected dog’s stool, so when a healthy dog sniffs an infected dog’s stool, it will contract the disease. The virus can also be brought into a dog's environment by way of shoes that have come into contact with infected feces. There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for up to a year. It is resistant to most cleaning products, or even to weather changes. If you suspect that you have come into contact with feces at all, you will need to wash the affected area with household bleach, the only disinfectant known to kill the virus.
Improper vaccination protocol and vaccination failure can also lead to a CPV infection. Breeding kennels and dog shelters that hold a large number of inadequately vaccinated puppies are particularly hazardous places. For unknown reasons, certain dog breeds such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, Laberador Retrievers, German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels, and Alaskan sled dogs, are particularly vulnerable to the disease. Diseases or drug therapies that suppress the normal response of the immune system may also increase the likelihood of infection.
Diagnosis: CPV is diagnosed with a physical examination, biochemical tests, urine analysis, abdominal radiographs, and abdominal ultrasounds. A chemical blood profile and a complete blood cell count will also be performed. Low white blood cell levels are indicative of CPV infection, especially in association with bloody stools. Biochemical and urine analysis may reveal elevated liver enzymes, lymphopenia, and electrolyte imbalances. Abdominal radiograph imaging may show intestinal obstruction, while an abdominal ultrasound may reveal enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, or throughout the body, and fluid-filled intestinal segments.
You will need to give a thorough history of your pet's health, recent activities, and onset of symptoms. If you can gather a sample of your dog's stool, or vomit your veterinarian will be able to use these samples for microscopic detection of the virus.
Treatment: Veterinary treatment may vary
Symptoms and Types
The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form of a canine parvo virus infection include severe, bloody diarrhea lethargy, anorexia, fever, vomiting and severe weight loss. The intestinal form of CPV affects the body's ability to absorb nutrients, and an affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack of protein and fluid absorption. The wet tissue of the mouth and eyes may become noticeably red and the heart may beat too rapidly. When your veterinarian palpates (examine by touch) your dog’s abdominal area, your dog may respond with pain or discomfort. Dogs that have contracted CPV may also have a low body temperature (hypothermia), rather than a fever.
Causes
Most cases of CPV infections are caused by a genetic alteration of the original canine parvovirus: the canine parvovirus type 2b. There are a variety of risk factors that can increase a dog’s susceptibility to the disease, but mainly, the virus is transmitted either by direct contact with an infected dog, or indirectly, by the fecal-oral route. Heavy concentrations of the virus are found in an infected dog’s stool, so when a healthy dog sniffs an infected dog’s stool, it will contract the disease. The virus can also be brought into a dog's environment by way of shoes that have come into contact with infected feces. There is evidence that the virus can live in ground soil for up to a year. It is resistant to most cleaning products, or even to weather changes. If you suspect that you have come into contact with feces at all, you will need to wash the affected area with household bleach, the only disinfectant known to kill the virus.
Improper vaccination protocol and vaccination failure can also lead to a CPV infection. Breeding kennels and dog shelters that hold a large number of inadequately vaccinated puppies are particularly hazardous places. For unknown reasons, certain dog breeds such as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, Laberador Retrievers, German Shepherds, English Springer Spaniels, and Alaskan sled dogs, are particularly vulnerable to the disease. Diseases or drug therapies that suppress the normal response of the immune system may also increase the likelihood of infection.
Diagnosis: CPV is diagnosed with a physical examination, biochemical tests, urine analysis, abdominal radiographs, and abdominal ultrasounds. A chemical blood profile and a complete blood cell count will also be performed. Low white blood cell levels are indicative of CPV infection, especially in association with bloody stools. Biochemical and urine analysis may reveal elevated liver enzymes, lymphopenia, and electrolyte imbalances. Abdominal radiograph imaging may show intestinal obstruction, while an abdominal ultrasound may reveal enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, or throughout the body, and fluid-filled intestinal segments.
You will need to give a thorough history of your pet's health, recent activities, and onset of symptoms. If you can gather a sample of your dog's stool, or vomit your veterinarian will be able to use these samples for microscopic detection of the virus.
Treatment: Veterinary treatment may vary
Canine Distemper
Canine distemper is a contagious and serious viral illness with no known cure. The disease affects dogs, and certain species of wildlife, such as raccoons, wolves, foxes, and skunks. The common house pet, the ferret, is also a carrier of this virus. Canine distemper belongs to the Morbillivirus class of viruses, and is a relative of the measles virus, which affects humans, the Rinderpest virus that affects cattle, and the Phocine virus that causes seal distemper. All are members of the Paramyxoviridae family. Young, unvaccinated puppies and non-immunized older dogs tend to be more susceptible to the disease.
Symptoms and Types
The virus, which is spread through the air and by direct or indirect (i.e. utensils, bedding) contact with an infected animal, initially attacks a dog’s tonsils and lymph nodes and replicates itself there for about one week. It then attacks the respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.
In the initial stages of Canine Distemper, the major symptoms include high fever (≥103.5 ° F, or 39.7° C), reddened eyes, and a watery discharge from the nose and eyes. An infected dog will become lethargic and tired, and will usually become anorexic. Persistent coughing, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. In the later stages of the disease, the virus starts attacking the other systems of the dog’s body, particularly the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are affected and the dog may start having fits, seizures, paralysis, and attacks of hysteria.
Canine distemper is sometimes also called “hard pad disease” because certain strains of the virus can cause an abnormal enlargement or thickening of the pads of an animal’s feet. In dogs or animals with weak immune systems, death may result two to five weeks after the initial infection.
Causes
The disease can be acquired from improperly attenuated vaccines, though this occurs rather rarely. Bacterial infections of the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems may also increase an animal’s vulnerability to the disease. Non-immunized dogs that come into any kind of contact with an infected animal carry a particularly high risk of contracting the disease.
Diagnosis: Canine distemper is diagnosed with biochemical tests and urine analysis, which may also reveal a reduced number of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that function in the immune system in the initial stages of the disease (lymphopenia). A serology test may identify positive antibodies, but this test cannot distinguish between vaccination antibodies and an exposure to a virulent virus. Viral antigens may be detected in urine sediment or vaginal imprints. Haired skin, nasal mucous, and the footpad epithelium may be tested for antibodies as well. Radiographs can only be used to determine whether an infected animal has contracted pneumonia. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can be used to examine the brain for any lesions that may have developed.
Treatment: Veterinary treatment may vary
Symptoms and Types
The virus, which is spread through the air and by direct or indirect (i.e. utensils, bedding) contact with an infected animal, initially attacks a dog’s tonsils and lymph nodes and replicates itself there for about one week. It then attacks the respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.
In the initial stages of Canine Distemper, the major symptoms include high fever (≥103.5 ° F, or 39.7° C), reddened eyes, and a watery discharge from the nose and eyes. An infected dog will become lethargic and tired, and will usually become anorexic. Persistent coughing, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. In the later stages of the disease, the virus starts attacking the other systems of the dog’s body, particularly the nervous system. The brain and spinal cord are affected and the dog may start having fits, seizures, paralysis, and attacks of hysteria.
Canine distemper is sometimes also called “hard pad disease” because certain strains of the virus can cause an abnormal enlargement or thickening of the pads of an animal’s feet. In dogs or animals with weak immune systems, death may result two to five weeks after the initial infection.
Causes
The disease can be acquired from improperly attenuated vaccines, though this occurs rather rarely. Bacterial infections of the respiratory or gastrointestinal systems may also increase an animal’s vulnerability to the disease. Non-immunized dogs that come into any kind of contact with an infected animal carry a particularly high risk of contracting the disease.
Diagnosis: Canine distemper is diagnosed with biochemical tests and urine analysis, which may also reveal a reduced number of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that function in the immune system in the initial stages of the disease (lymphopenia). A serology test may identify positive antibodies, but this test cannot distinguish between vaccination antibodies and an exposure to a virulent virus. Viral antigens may be detected in urine sediment or vaginal imprints. Haired skin, nasal mucous, and the footpad epithelium may be tested for antibodies as well. Radiographs can only be used to determine whether an infected animal has contracted pneumonia. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can be used to examine the brain for any lesions that may have developed.
Treatment: Veterinary treatment may vary