Five diseases that are totally preventable in dogs

We never want to see our pets suffer, and fortunately some canine illnesses are easily preventable. Here are a few avoidable doggy diseases.

Five diseases that are totally preventable in dogs

In the wild, animals improve their chances of survival by not showing signs of weakness, but at home, this can lead our pets to suffer from undetected disease. Fortunately, some of the deadliest diseases dogs can catch are easily preventable. Here is a list of a few problems you can prevent from affecting your pet:
 

1. Parvo: Also known as Canine Parovirus, parvo can cause severe diarrhea and weight loss, vomiting, and lethargy. Symptoms can be so severe that they lead to septic shock. This virus is fatal in around 50 percent of dogs, but it can be prevented by giving puppies a vaccine. Most dogs contract parvo through contact with an infected dog, making parvo much more common in shelters and breeding facilities.
    

2. Heartworm Disease: This deadly disease is caused when a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito, but is entirely preventable with heartworm medication. Mosquitos can be found even in dry climates, so it is a good idea to give your dog preventative heartworm treatment year-round, even if you live in a low-risk area. The treatment for heartworm is costly and painful for your pet, but preventatives are available in convenient chewable, topical and injectable forms.
    

3. Lyme Disease: This tick-borne illness is caused by bacteria transmitted by deer ticks, which live in tall grass and woods. Ticks must be attached to dogs for at least 18 hours to transmit the disease, so preventative treatments can curb most cases of Lyme disease. Protect your pet with topical treatments; chewable tablets; or medicated collars that repel ticks. You can also try to keep your dog away from tick-prone areas and check him for ticks after he has been outdoors. If not treated, Lyme disease can lead to stiffness, loss of appetite, and even kidney disease and failure. Treatment requires antibiotics and symptoms do not always disappear completely.
    

4. Kennel Cough: Dogs who share a space with other canines are at risk for contracting kennel cough. This highly contagious respiratory disease spreads both through the air and by contact. Puppies are especially susceptible to the disease, but it can be prevented with a vaccine. Though kennel cough isn’t fatal, dogs experience symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy in addition to sneezing and a runny nose.
    

5. Renal Failure: Also known as kidney disease, renal failure typically develops slowly over a dog’s lifetime. Though old-age kidney failure cannot be prevented, there is one cause is avoidable in pets: dental disease. By keeping Fido’s teeth clean from bacteria, you help stop it from entering his bloodstream, where it can damage his organs, including the kidneys. Brush your dog’s teeth regularly—at least once per week— and use dental chews to help remove plaque and keep Fido’s chompers clean. You should also have your vet clean and examine your pet’s teeth during his annual exam to ensure your dog’s mouth stays healthy.