Are You a Responsible Dog Owner?

Health of Dogs: A Summary

• Dog health encompasses many aspects, including disease processes, genetics, and nutritional health.
• Infectious diseases that affect dogs are important not only from a veterinary standpoint, but also because of the risk to public health.
• Dogs are susceptible to various diseases, including diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, or arthritis.
• Timely vaccination can reduce the risk and severity of an infection.
• An infectious disease is caused by the presence of organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites.
• There are some bacteria that are contagious from dog to dog, including Bordetella bronchiseptica, Leptospira sp, and Brucella canis.
• Tick-borne diseases are common in dogs, including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
• One of the most common fungal diseases in dogs is ringworm, or dermatophytosis.
• Genetic conditions are a problem in some dogs, particularly purebreds.
• Skin diseases are very common in dogs, including atopy, hot spots, pyoderma, and mange.
• Orthopedic diseases in dogs can be developmental, hereditary, traumatic, or degenerative.
• Both benign and malignant tumors are seen in dogs, including lymphoma, melanoma, mast cell tumors, and osteosarcoma.Diseases and Toxic Substances that Affect Dogs

Vestibular disease is common in older dogs, and it can cause a dog to be unable to eat, drink, or go outside to urinate or defecate. It requires supportive therapy and sometimes a sedative.

Degenerative valve disease is the most common form of heart disease in dogs, and it is common in small breeds. Pimobendan is a new drug that is being used to treat congestive heart failure.

Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease that is seen in large breeds. Boxer dogs are predisposed to a unique cardiomyopathy that can cause sudden cardiac death.

Diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with grain-free and/or legume-rich diets, as well as "boutique" dog foods containing exotic ingredients. Taurine supplementation and food change is typically indicated in the treatment of dietary DCM.

Other diseases affecting dogs include endocrine diseases, immune-mediated diseases, and reproductive diseases. Diabetes mellitus, Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, and hypothyroidism are the most common endocrine diseases.

Some common sources of toxins that pets encounter include some plants, human medications and cosmetics, cleaning products, and even some foods.

Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, nutmeg, macadamia nuts, and hops are all toxic to dogs, and ingestion can cause a range of symptoms from mild to fatal. Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in chewing gum, chewable vitamins, candy, toothpaste, and other products, and ingestion may cause hypoglycemia.

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans are termed zoonoses, and the most important zoonoses are parasitic. Preventive measures include vaccinations, dental care, and heartworm, flea or tick preventives.Nutrition, obesity, dog treats, coprophagia, vitamins and supplements, and reproductive health are all important aspects of dog care. Feeding table scraps to dogs is not recommended as it can lead to overeating and obesity. Obesity is an increasingly common problem in dogs with 22 to 40% of dogs affected. Dog treats can be beneficial for dogs' teeth but can also contribute to obesity, especially when given excessively or combined with table scraps. Dogs consuming feces, whether their own, other dogs', or cats', can be harmful if the feces contain pathogens, parasites, or drugs. Opinions among veterinarians vary widely on whether vitamins and supplements are necessary for dogs. Spaying and neutering can reduce the risk of hormone-driven diseases such as mammary cancer and lower the risk of overpopulation. Certain medical problems are more likely after surgery, such as urinary incontinence in females and prostate cancer in males. Female cats and dogs are seven times more likely to develop mammary tumors if they are not spayed before their first heat cycle. Dog food containing soybeans or soybean fractions have been found to contain phytoestrogens that could contribute to the development of mammary cancer.