Diseases can have lasting effects on your pet´s health if they are not immediately treated. As a pet owner, it is important to be knowledgeable on common dog diseases and cat diseases, and to be able to recognize their symptoms.
The Most Common Dog Diseases
The most common diseases in dogs are:
- Giardia: Giardiasis is a parasitic disease that is rarely serious in healthy adult animals. Young animals and pets in shelters are at an increased risk of developing this pet disease. Giardia can be prevented with a monthly heartworm/Giardia preventative.
- Distemper: Distemper is an extremely contagious and almost always fatal viral disease that mainly affects dogs. The disease typically develops in the respiratory system but can quickly spread to the gastrointestinal and nervous systems if left untreated.
- Parvovirus: Parvoviruses are small, hardy viruses that infect a variety of animal species. Canine Parvovirus type 2(CPV2) causes a disease called parvo. Parvo is highly contagious and is associated with severe symptoms that include diarrhea and vomiting.
- Intestinal Parasites: Parasitic worms are a common health problem in dogs and often cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. They can cause serious disease, especially in young puppies and debilitated animals.
- Lyme Disease: Lyme disease is a common tick-borne disease that can affect the heart, brain, and kidneys. Lyme disease is usually identified by symptoms like limping, lethargy, fatigue, depression, and loss of appetite.
Find here more common diseases in dogs !
The Most Common Cat Diseases
The most common diseases in cats are:
- Conjunctivitis: Conjunctivitis is a fairly common pet health concern that occurs when the membranes lining the eyelids, called conjunctiva, become inflamed. There are many causes of Conjunctivitis including blocked tear ducts, allergies, irritants, corneal problems, and infectious organisms. Common symptoms of Conjunctivitis include pink, crusty, or swollen eyes.
- Diabetes: Cats develop Diabetes Mellitus when their pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin to control blood sugar or when the cells of their body become insensitive to insulin. Factors such as genetic predisposition, obesity, other diseases and certain medications can make animals more prone to Diabetes.
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), sometimes called feline AIDS, is a retrovirus that infects cats. FIV is a feline-only virus, and there are no reports of people, dogs, or other pets contracting it. Like human HIV, FIV lowers the immune response of cats, but can remain dormant for years.
- Distemper: Though Distemper mainly affects dogs, cats also suffer from the highly contagious and usually fatal disease. Distemper in cats is called Panleukopenia. The disease typically develops in the respiratory system but can quickly spread to the gastrointestinal and nervous systems if left untreated.
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is a retrovirus that attacks the immune systems of infected cats and can lead to a variety of cat health problems, not just Leukemia. FeLV infection is one of the most common causes of illness and death in-house in pets. Symptoms vary greatly, as some cats display no symptoms at all, while other cats experience seizures, respiratory problems, and weight loss.
Remember that the best offense is often a good defense – the majority of these diseases can be prevented with simple vaccinations provided by your veterinarian. Talk to your vet to make sure all of your pet’s vaccinations are up-to-date so you can avoid preventable diseases and allergies.
Search Diseases and Allergies
It’s essential to learn to recognize these diseases and allergies before your dog or cat becomes ill, so use the Search Box below or browse through the list of pet diseases, including flea, food, and skin allergies.
