Unusual Dog Illness Symptoms to Watch Out For

Posted by Laureetta Williams on August 31st, 2019

Unusual Dog Illness Symptoms to Watch Out For

Everyone knows that having a dog in the house is a great joy. Even the most avid cat-lovers who know for sure that dogs are dedicated to owners what is often lacking in human life.

Probably at least once every person felt the desire to make a four-legged friend. Especially after some noisy history associated with a dog, or after showing a masterpiece of cinematography with a dramatic plot, the main character of which is a dog. As, for example, it happened with the breed Hachiko - a charming Akita Inu. It has become very popular after the release of the movie of the same name on the big screen.

However, do not forget that the dog in the house is not only pleasant emotions but also a great responsibility. A dog of any breed needs love, protection, and constant thorough care. It is necessary to feed the pet fully and in a balanced way. Moreover, you need to take out your dog to walk daily. After all, your four-legged pets are very similar to us in many ways. They are equally sick, and the list of canine diseases is quite extensive.

Why should a dog owner read this article?

Signs and symptoms of many diseases of dogs are often noticeable already in the early stages. The task of the owner is to pay attention to them and start treating the pet in time or contact the veterinary clinic with him. In some cases, postponing a visit to the doctor is an unforgivable mistake of the host, which can lead to irreparable consequences.

Moreover, sometimes it happens that a dog has gone out due to illness and didn’t return to the house anymore. In that case, you may report to lost dog rescue.

In this article, you will find a number of unusual dog diseases and their treatments. Let your pet be healthy!

Lupus erythematosus

Lupus erythematosus disease is not as common as the others, but nevertheless very serious.

Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in dogs caused by disruptions in the hormonal system. The disease is chronic and affects many body systems and internal organs, leading to tragic consequences.

Today, this disease is quite rare. However, it is usually associated with complex diagnostics. Most often, lupus erythematosus in dogs is diagnosed in five-year-old German Shepherd Dogs, and the main cause of the disease is a genetic predisposition to the disease. Often the course of the disease is exacerbated by various inflammatory processes and infections.

Here are the symptoms of lupus erythematosus disease:

•    Pain, inflammation of the joints;

•    The appearance of muscle weakness;

•    Appeared lameness;

•    Skin lesions occurring for no apparent reason;

•    Ulcers, redness, alopecia, or wool fading;

•    Ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes (for example, nose, lips, anus);

•    A significant increase in the liver and kidneys;

•    Inflammation of the lymph nodes.

As already noted, lupus erythematosus in dogs is quite difficult to diagnose. In order to make a diagnosis, you must go to the veterinarian urgently when any of the above symptoms are detected. Iy may need to conduct special blood tests. But the treatment of the disease is very difficult, and success largely depends on the speed of making the correct diagnosis.

Piroplasmosis in dogs

Piroplasmosis in dogs (babesiosis) is a seasonal parasitic disease tolerated by ixodid ticks. The causative agent is a unicellular protozoan Piroplasmacanis. Piroplasmosis is not transmitted from sick to healthy dogs, infection occurs only during the bite of a tick-carrier.

Dogs of all ages and breeds suffer from piroplasmosis. Even pets that are never taken out of the city can become infected by the ticks live in the grass and are blown by the wind through the air. The peak of the disease occurs in the autumn-spring period. It is the time of maximum activity of ticks. However, treatments against them should be carried out year-round, since cases of piroplasmosis have been reported even in winter.

How does a dog get infected with piroplasmosis

Infection of dogs with piroplasmosis occurs when a tick bites, which is infected with a pathogen. Together with the parasite's saliva, the virus enters the blood of the animal where they begin to multiply. They do not have a negative effect on the tick organism, and moreover, they can be transmitted to the next generations of parasites. There are no signs to determine whether a tick is a carrier of piroplasmosis. Therefore, if a tick has been removed from a dog, it should be immediately treated with an acaricidal agent and taken away to be examined by a veterinarian.

Symptoms of piroplasmosis in dogs

From the moment a dog is bitten by a tick, it can take from 3-4 days to several weeks until the first symptoms of the disease appear. This period is individual and depends on the pathogenicity of the pathogen and the body's defenses. The first signs of piroplasmosis in dogs are fever and lethargy. At a rate of 37.5-39 ° C, the temperature rises to 40 ° C and higher. Remember that a wet and cold nose is not a sign of a lack of fever. The only acceptable way to measure your pet's temperature is to use a thermometer.

Later, lethargy progresses, the dog refuses to eat, lies a lot, reluctantly gets up. Urine first becomes red and then becomes dark brown (the color of dark beer). Due to the massive destruction of red blood cells, the visible mucous membranes turn pale, and the animal has shortness of breath. The yellowness of the mucous membranes and vomiting in dogs with piroplasmosis indicates the development of hemolytic jaundice and liver damage.

In advanced cases, the oppression progresses to coma, the animal begins to seizures. According to statistics, up to 98% of pets die from babesiosis if they are not provided with medical care.

How to prevent the disease in dogs

Remember, piroplasmosis is a dangerous disease that is difficult to treat. It is not always possible to save the dog. Therefore, timely prevention is necessary.

Here are some tips:

Treat your dog with acaricides. Use them regularly during the period of tick activity.

Inspect the pet immediately after walking for ticks. Pay special attention to areas with thin skin: behind the ears, on the neck, in the armpits, groin, between the fingertips.