Canine Infectious Diseases

Canine infectious diseases can be hard to avoid during summer as they spread where there are large concentrations of dogs. This could be at the park, on dog-friendly holidays, in boarding kennels, day care, and at dog shows.

Vaccinating your dog annually reduces the risk of contracting most harmful diseases not only for your dog, but for other dogs as well.

If you’re not sure when your dog was last vaccinated, and you’re registered with give us a call and we can check and book them in.

The facts about three dog diseases that are common in summer:

Kennel cough (canine tracheobronchitis)

  • Airborne, highly contagious and infectious.
  • Can be picked up anywhere infected dogs have been, not just in kennels.
  • Symptoms of kennel cough: a dry hacking/honking cough, retching, nasal discharge, and lack of appetite in some dogs.
  • Can progress to secondary pneumonia with a high temperature and lethargy - can be fatal.

Parvovirus:

  • Unvaccinated dogs (especially puppies) can catch parvovirus from an infected dog, their faeces, and anything they've touched e.g., lead, bowl, bedding, human hands, clothes, other objects. The virus can live outside of the body for up to a year.
  • Symptoms of parvovirus: attacks the intestines causing vomiting, reduced appetite, diarrhoea (foul smelling, bloody & watery), extreme lethargy, fever (hot or cold to touch).
  • Can be fatal if left untreated, and sometimes fatal even if prompt treatment is sought.

Lyme disease isn’t contagious, but it is the most common tick-borne disease in the UK. Lyme disease can be contracted by dogs, humans and other pets when bitten by an infected tick. Ticks are always around, mostly in grassy and heathland areas, but are most active in warmer months. It’s important to check for ticks after walks and keep an eye out for common symptoms: fever, lethargy, appetite loss, lameness, and joint swelling. Lyme disease can progress and become debilitating.

Thankfully, you can protect your dog from the above diseases by keeping them up to date with vaccinations, and parasite treatments for ticks.  To help you, both are included in our pet health plan. Call for further information.