One of the most common dog diseases I've read about is distemper, which is a viral infection. If your dog suffers from diarrhea, fever, heavy nasal discharge and coughing, then your dog may have possibly been infected by another animal. Distemper is a really fatal disease, and unfortunately, all we can do is prevent it and protect our pets from it through proper vaccination.



The Parvovirus attacks a dog's intestinal tract, making it more prone to an infection. Symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection are vomiting, diarrhea where the discharge has a foul smell and is often with blood. The virus can also attack the cardiac system, in which case the dog will have difficulty breathing (caused by an inflammation of heart muscles). If you suspect that your pet has been infected by the Parvovirus, contact your vet immediately so he can initiate the treatment right away. This virus can manifest symptoms within just a few hours, which also means though that if left undetected even for just a couple of days, the results could be fatal.

One common respiratory disease among canines is the Kennel cough. It is a type of bronchitis that is caused by a complex of infections that dogs can be exposed to when kept in areas with poor air circulation and warm air. Again, vaccination is the best way to keep your dog from being infected. But once you suspect that your dog may already have the Kennel cough, you should take your pet to the vet where it will be given proper antibiotics. Your dog may also be given cough suppressants to give your dog relief from constant coughing while recovering from the infection.

Lastly, the following are some symptoms that when manifested, it means you've got no time to lose in asking your vet for help:

Vomiting or Diarrhea ? especially when discharge is bloody

Difficulty urinating ? bloody urine, loss of appetite

Unusual eye conditions ? blinking more than normal, scratching or rubbing the eyes

Foul discharge ? inflamed skin, excessive licking of wounds (especially old wounds)

Physical trauma ? difficulty with movement, difficulty urinating, coughing

The one thing that all complications in dog health have is that they can all be prevented with proper pet care, meaning getting your dog the vaccinations he needs at the right age and at the proper intervals. Another thing is that pet care is especially important when your pet is still at a young age, because this is when even minor infections can bring your pet's life in danger.

I personally find that knowing what to look for and what to do when you find something takes a lot of worries from my head since I'm not able to take my puppies to the vet on a regular basis.