Dogs Diseases

The Green Dog could have chosen a title for this post that would have been more attractive, that would have had more punch. But in truth, there is no punch to diseases that are threatening our best friends. It's not because they can't tell us what is wrong with them that it means they can't be sick.
Dogs can get sick the same way we can. Their diseases and/or sickness are as real, and sometimes as fatal, as ours. Most of their diseases can be avoided by prevention, by giving our dogs their yearly shots.

The diseases that are preventable are (this list is only a quick resume) :

RABIES
 Rabies are a FATAL viral infection that can be transmitted to other animals (not necessary other dogs) and to humans. A simple yearly shot can prevent the disease. Most towns/cities are requesting the rabies shot for all dogs. In 2009, the World Organization for Animal Health released a statement, emphasizing the importance of rabies vaccination in dogs."Rabies is a neglected and severely under-reported zoonotic disease in developing countries, killing each year worldwide an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people, mostly children with terrible suffering and a much higher number of animals...  Eliminating rabies in dogs is the optimal control method for preventing spread of the disease." They also say:
"Dog vaccination and stray dog population control are more efficient and cost effective that post bite treatment in humans."(source)

LYME disease

The Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks. A dog can't transmit the disease to his humans, but a tick can change its mean of transportation from a dog to a human. Can be avoid with a collar, a pill or an ointment.





PARVOVIRUS

The canine parvovirus is a highly dangerous and contagious disease. It is transmitted with a contact, direct or indirect, with infected feces. Can be prevented by vaccination. 91% mortality in untreated cases. With aggressive therapy, survival rates may approach 80-95%. (source)




KENNEL COUGH
Highly contagious. Upper respiratory system infection. Transmitted by air. See article Did you say kennel cough ? .

HEART WORMS

Which result in various pulmanory infections. Transmitted by mosquitoes bites. Symptoms includes : severe weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood and death. Preventable with pills.

But there is other diseases your dog can suffer from, aside from the bacterial and viral ones.

Our homes are filled with plants and/or food that are a hazard waiting to happens if we are not careful enough.

Amongst the food that are dangerous :
- Chocolate                     - Grapes
- Fat trimmings                - Milk and/or dairy product
- Garlic/Onion                 - Yeast dough
- Mushroom                    - etc.

If you are uncertain about certain food, do some researches. I have found that the website  www.peteducation.com  is a good source of information.

Amongst the plants/flowers that we keep because they smell good or because they look good :
As per the ASPCA.org website, here is a non exhaustive list of poisonous plants for dogs :
- Aloe Vera                    - Poinsettia
- Daisies                         - Amarylis
- English Ivy                   - Begonia
- English holly                 - etc.

If you are uncertain about which plant/flowers that are/can be dangerous, visit the ASPCA.org website. They have a very extensive section about which plants/flowers and the symptoms of poisoning.

Next time you buy plants/flowers, ask the store if they have a list of plants that are/can be dangerous for your dog. When I choose my front yard plants last year, a nursery store in Burlington, Vermont, had such a list on hand. It made my choice so much easier and I am now a very loyal customer to  their store.

When adopting a dog, it quickly become clear that a dog is not a part time job. When loving our dog, it is OUR responsibilities to make sure they are safe.

A HEALTHY DOG IS A HAPPY DOG