Most dog owners do whatever is necessary to maintain the health of their pets, including taking them for annual vet check-ups and ensuring they are vaccinated. Not only is this critical to a dog’s health, but it is also important for their safety, as vaccines help prevent diseases transmitted by dogs, such as bordetella, distemper, and rabies.
Common Diseases Transmitted by Dogs
If your dog has spent time in a group setting with other dogs, such as in a kennel or animal shelter, it may contract a respiratory infection known as kennel cough. Bordetella is a bacteria that causes inflammation in the lungs. Once contracted, it is treated with antibiotics, and a full recovery can generally be expected. This disease can also be prevented with a vaccination. If you plan on boarding your dog for any length of time, it’s a good idea to make sure your pet is protected against this bacteria.
Another disease dogs can contract is distemper, one of the most common infectious diseases found among dogs. It’s also one of the deadliest, especially among puppies. The virus is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact, as well as through the feces and urine of infected dogs. It attacks the brain and can cause seizures and paralysis. A strong immune system can certainly help a dog fight off diseases such as this, but that can only go so far. It’s also essential to ensure your pet is vaccinated against distemper.
The Rabies Virus
Rabies is a virus that is typically spread through saliva in an open wound. It travels through the wound and attaches to nerve cells, eventually traveling to the brain, where it attacks the cells. This can lead to certain death for dogs. In humans, rabies can also be fatal if not treated. Rabies is one of the diseases transmitted by dogs that can also be transmitted to humans.
It has long been said that you can identify a rabid dog by its foaming at the mouth. While this can be a symptom, it’s not a definitive sign that your dog has rabies. However, if this is just one symptom among many, it’s worth having your dog checked out. If your dog is acting strangely—perhaps more aggressive when it’s usually good-natured, or outgoing when it’s usually shy—this could be a sign that the virus has already attacked the nervous system. At this stage, there is nothing that can be done to save the dog. Since rabies is such a dangerous disease, it is illegal in most areas not to vaccinate pets against it.
Another dangerous disease transmitted by dogs is parvovirus. Although it is almost always fatal in puppies, it can be treated in older dogs. This virus is highly contagious and spreads through contact with nearly everything associated with an infected dog: paws, fur, saliva, bedding, feces, and urine. Once a dog has been around another dog with parvovirus, it’s difficult to avoid becoming infected.
A major symptom of parvovirus is severe diarrhea, as the virus attacks the digestive system. It can also affect the heart muscle, which may eventually lead to congestive heart failure. This is another disease that requires protection through vaccination. The good news is that there is a vaccine available that provides full protection against parvovirus.
While your dog can potentially contract a wide variety of diseases from other dogs, it’s impossible to predict which ones, if any, your dog will contract. As a proactive measure, it’s always a good idea to be familiar with your dog’s routine. Know its daily schedule, how much it eats, and when it naps. This way, you’ll be able to quickly identify any changes in behavior and address potential issues before they become serious. Regular vet visits help ensure your dog’s overall well-being, but if something seems off between visits, it’s always a good idea to get your dog checked out.
Although you may keep your dog current on its vaccines, it doesn’t necessarily mean that other pet owners do (though we’d like to think they do). Pay special attention to your dog’s behavior after it interacts with other dogs, even those you know. Many communicable diseases take time to manifest, so even if your dog seems fine immediately after playing with another dog, it’s important to keep an eye on it for a week or two after the interaction.
In general, it’s easy to keep your dog healthy. Make sure your pet is vaccinated during regular vet visits, as necessary. Studies have shown that vaccines last longer than previously thought, so three-year rabies shots and a three-year distemper shot are available. Vaccinating your dog against rabies is not only the law, but it will also protect your dog from diseases transmitted by other dogs.
