Puppy Health

Good puppy health can be in part reflective on how healthy the mother is. If she has a strong immune system and has been vaccinated she will pass that immunity contained in her milk onto her puppies. Always be sure to protect your pup with puppy vaccinations, worming and any flea & tick treatments they may need. Puppies are much more susceptible to viruses and parasites than older dogs that have built up immunity. Some of the more common illnesses are very contagious and deadly and can be prevented with puppy vaccinations. Be sure to check with your vet for what is recommended for your part of the country.

Here is a brief overview of some of the most common diseases that a puppy may be expose to.

Distemper Viral infection Distemper is spread through saliva, urine, feces and droplets in the air. Highly contagious.
Symptoms
Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, listless, shivering and nasal discharge.
Treatment
Canine Distemper is often fatal with up-to 80% of puppies not surviving. Intervenes fluids and an anti-seizure medication can be administered.
Vaccine available
Yes

Parvovirus
Viral Infection Parvovirus is spread through infected feces. Highly contagious
Symptoms
Vomiting, loss of appetite and energy, diarrhea and blood in the stool.
Treatment
Antibiotic and intervenious fluids Poor survival rate 90% fatal if not treated immediately. 75-80% survival if treated immediately and aggressively.
Vaccine available
Yes

Giardia
Microscopic parasite spread through ingesting microscopic cysts. Highly contagious
Symptoms
Giardia can be found in the intestinal tract and will cause diarrhea, soft yellow stools, weight loss and lethargy.
Treatment
The medications Albon, panacur and flagyl are effective treatments.
Vaccine available
Yes but not recommended

Canine Coronavirus
Virus Spread through contact with feces. Very contagious
Symptoms
Flue like symptoms. Diarrhea vomiting, loss of appetite, dehydration, fever.
Treatment
No cure. Intravenous fluids
Vaccine available
Yes

Canine Parainfluenza
Spread through repertory secretions. Highly contagious.
Symptoms
Cough, fever, runny nose and eyes, shortness of breath, sneezing, listless.
Treatment
Mild cases prednisone will help alleviate the coughing and for more severe cases an antibiotic and intravenous fluids can be effective.
Vaccine available
Yes

Coccidia
Protozoan’s spread through cysts. Highly contagious
Symptoms
Diarrhea which may contain blood or mucus with a foul oder, loss of appetite, vomiting,
Treatment
Albon and tribrissen are used to treat Coccidia.
Vaccine available
no

Bordetella
(Kennel Cough) Virus and bacteria. Spread through contact with the virus and bacteria. Highly contagious
Symptoms
Hacking cough, nasal discharge, sneezing. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia.
Treatment
Cough suppressant for milder cases and antibiotics for more severe cases.
Vaccine available
yes

Infectious Canine Hepatitis Adenovirus Type 1
Virus spread through contact with body fluids. Highly contagious
Symptoms
Initially the tonsils and larynx are affected causing a sore throat and coughing accompanied by fever and lethargy. The virus will attack the liver, kidneys and eyes. Seizures vomiting and diarrhea follow.
Treatment
No cure Intravenous fluids
Vaccine available
yes

Rabies Virus
Spread by bite from an infected animal.
Symptoms
Anxious, aggressive behavior progressing to disorientation, seizures and death
Treatment
None
Vaccine
yes

Lyme Disease
Bacteria spread by bite from deer ticks.
Symptoms
Joint pain and swelling, lameness, lethargy, loss of appetite
Treatment
Tetracycline or penicillin-based antibiotic.
Vaccine available
Yes

Most of the diseases that I have mentioned are preventable by administering routine puppy vaccinations. Preventing these diseases through vaccinations is critical for good puppy health and will spare your pet from the agony and possible death from these diseases. It’s also far less costly than treating a sick puppy. Your vet bill can easily be in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars if your pet has to be hospitalized. If a vaccine is not available for the disease you can take preventative action by adhering to sanitary practices and being careful where you take your pet, thus preventing exposure to infected animals and environments.