Oct 5, Dog Diseases And Symptoms - Is Your Dog Sick?

There are many different dog diseases and symptoms that you may come across while taking care of your canine companion.

Some dog illnesses are extremely contagious, severe and potentially fatal, others usually produce few symptoms and only mild concern.

Having an owner who knows how to tell when things are potentially serious, and when to seek veterinary help, could mean the difference between life and death for your dog.

This is especially true for puppy owners, because puppies can get very sick, very fast, and they are especially vulnerable to a whole host of canine diseases due to their immature immune systems.

For many of us, our dogs are our 'babies' and we tend to do the 'mommy or daddy thing' of panicking and fearing the worst at the first symptoms of dog illness.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, and it's most definitely better to be safe than sorry, but you can reduce the stress on your heart by learning more about the most common dog health problems, and how to recognize them.

Your dog is relying on you to take care of him, so take a few minutes to scroll through the information on dog diseases and symptoms below so that you can do just that!

The list covers many of the most common dog diseases and symptoms that you may come across. Bear in mind though, that one particular symptom (such as diarrhea) can be an indicator of several different conditions, and that you need to take into account other signs of illness and changes in behavior or situation, in order to figure out what is going on......

Viral. Highly contagious. Transmitted by air, or through discharge.
Discharge from nose or eyes. Coughing. Fever. Vomiting. Diarrhea. Lethargy. Weight loss. Muscle Tremors or twitching. Paralysis or seizures. Thickened pads on feet and/or nose. Viral. Highly contagious. Very aggressive. Transmitted through bodily fluids and stools.
Bloody and/or watery diarrhea. Vomiting. Lethargy. Fever. Dehydration. See Parvo Symptoms for detailed information. Viral. Highly contagious. Transmitted through direct contact or feces of infected animal.
Diarrhea. Lethargy. Loss of appetite. Dehydration. Bacterial or Viral. Contagious. Transmitted by air.
Coughing. Sneezing. Wheezing, hacking or retching. Discharge from eyes/nose. Fever. Loss of appetite. Lethargy. Viral. Contagious. Transmitted through saliva.
Behavioral changes - extreme aggression and/or fear are common. Loss of appetite. Fever. Breathing problems. Lameness progressing to paralysis. Seizures. Excessive drooling. Difficulty swallowing. Bacterial. Transmitted by infected ticks.
Swollen joints. Enlarged lymph nodes. Lameness and/or limping. Lethargy. Loss of appetite. Fever. Protozoa-based infection (parasitic). Contagious. Transmitted through feces of infected dog.
Diarrhea (often pale grey/white). Vomiting. Lethargy. Loss of appetite. Dehydration. Protozoa-based infection (parasitic). Contagious. Transmitted by contact with infected water supply (usually streams, lakes etc.)
Watery diarrhea. Loss of appetite. Weight loss. Lethargy. Vomiting. Bacterial. Contagious. Transmitted through urine of infected animal, bite wounds or ingesting infected tissue.
Fever. Loss of appetite. Vomiting. Lethargy. Jaundice. Increased thirst and urination. Abdominal pain. Dehydration Viral. Highly contagious. Transmitted by air.
Runny nose. Cough. Fever. Sneezing. Viral. Contagious. Transmitted through urine, feces or saliva.
Coughing. Discharge from nose/eyes. Fever. Diarrhea. Vomiting. Parasitic. Transmitted by mosquitoes.
Few symptoms in early stages. Later - Coughing. Breathing difficulties. Weight loss. Lethargy. Parasitic - skin mites. 2 types, Demodectic and Sarcoptic (contagious).
Intense itching, scratching or biting. Hair loss. Rash. Red/irritated areas. Failure of kidneys. Can be chronic or acute.
Increased or excessive thirst and urination. Fever. Weight loss. Lethargy. Diarrhea and/or vomiting. Caused by disease or injury or be genetic in nature. Chronic or acute.
Swollen joints. Inflammation. Pain. Lameness or stiffness. Affects vertebrae in the neck. Progressive and degenerative. More common in large breeds, especially Great Danes and Dobermans.
Neck pain and/or stiffness. Weakness in legs (most often rear legs). Paralysis. Disease affecting the Adrenal Glands. Can be caused by tumors, infection or be genetic. Most common in Portuguese Water Dogs, Labradors and Standard Poodles.
Vomiting. Diarrhea. Muscle weakness. Shaking. Exhaustion. Loss of appetite. The above list of dog diseases and symptoms isn't exhaustive by any means, but it does cover some of the most common canine illnesses and conditions

You'll notice how often symptoms of dog illness such as vomiting, canine diarrhea and lethargy appear. These three are the syptoms most often seen in a sick dog, whether a minor tummy upset or a major illness is involved.

Although there are no firm 'rules' to help you figure out whether your pup is sick... or REALLY sick.... the severity and frequency of canine illness symptoms, plus the general behavior of your dog, gives you some big clues.

For example, if your puppy or dog has had two loose stools during a 12 hour period, but is eating, drinking and eliminating normally and is otherwise full of energy and seems happy... chances are that he's not in any immediate danger.

The diarrhea could be due to him eating something he shouldn't, ingesting too many treats, or a reaction to vaccinations or medication. In this case you can probably wait and see for another 12 hours or so before contacting your veterinarian.

For mild symptoms, or niggling worries, consulting an online veterinarian is a very cost-effective option to a traditional vet visit.

You can get a quick answer from a qualified professional without having to take your dog all the way to the vets office. The average cost of this service is between $9 and $12 - not too much to pay for peace of mind! Just visit my Ask A Vet A Question Page to find out more.

BUT it's important to remember that if your puppy or dog seems to be feeling unwell, is showing any symptoms of serious illness, is injured, or it's an emergency situation, DON'T use an online service. These sorts of circumstances need urgent veterinary attention, and your own vet or a 24 hour emergency pet hospital is required.

However, if your pup/dog is having repeated episodes of diarrhea, which may be getting worse, doesn't want to eat or drink much, and is just lying around looking depressed..... then in this situation the odds are that he is either getting sick, or is already sick.

When it comes to dog diseases and symptoms such as those seen with canine parvovirus, there is no time to waste in seeking help for an infected pup (or even older/adult dog). If your regular vet is closed, go to the nearest 24 hour emergency pet hospital. It really is THAT important.

None of us want to think about our precious pet getting hurt or sick, but no matter how careful you are it CAN happen.

Rottweilers are a breed that tends to be expensive when it comes to veterinary care, so ensuring that you can afford to get your dog the help he/she needs (no matter what happens) is vitally important.

Unless you have a healthy savings account, I'd strongly recommend getting health insurance for your dog. It's a lifesaver, in more ways than one.

Canine Health Issues

Health Insurance For Your Dog

Dog Diarrhea Parvo

Puppy Vaccinations

Ask A Vet A Question

Your Rottweiler Puppy

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