It’s always sad when it comes to pets that are sick, right? Having a pet is one of the most amazing things a human can do. Think of your dog as your friend, because it is that for sure! Make sure you are also aware of what can happen to any type of animal you adopt.

Frequent visits to the vet are recommended, of course, because everybody wants a healthy pet. How long have you had a dog? How many times per year do you do regular checkups? Unfortunately, there are some deadly dog diseases, and only by knowing their symptoms will you be able to detect if something is not right with your pet! Make sure you’re following us for more useful information.

1. Rabies

Rabies is a very common and deadly disease when it comes to dogs, and everybody knows about it. Rabies is actually a virus that can be fatal if you are bitten or scratched by a dog that has it. Symptoms may appear too late, in between 2 and 8 weeks, and that’s actually why it’s being classified as deadly. If you don’t have the symptoms, you won’t know what’s wrong with your doggo; and when you DO find out, it might be too late.

If your dog seems a bit disorientated or weak and has developed a sensitivity to light, you should take it right away to the vet! 

2. Canine Distemper

This is yet another illness that might be preventable if you vaccinate your dog. It’s amazing what vaccines can do! This particular disease can have symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and coughing. If you notice one of them, you should definitely go to the vet. If the disease has a more advanced form, your dog might experience neurological problems.

Because there is no cure available for this virus, prevention is a must!

3. Leptospirosis

For those who are not aware of what the term means, leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection that can be passed from animal to human very easily. This disease can be contracted from other infected animals or contaminated meat. This disease is no joke, and you should take into consideration that some symptoms might help you identify it. The most common symptoms are loss of appetite, sore muscles, jaundice, and vomiting.

Keep your dog up to date with its vaccinations! This is a very important decision that you should take right away! 

4. Heartworm Disease

Another serious dog issue that can lead to death if it’s not treated properly is heartworm disease. As bad as it sounds, this affects the dog’s heart and, in the end, might infest the lungs as well. This disease is typically asymptomatic, which means your dog will show no signs of illness, but if symptoms do show up, they are usually: coughing, weight loss, and difficulty breathing.

Fortunately, there is a medication that can kill the worms. Good news, right?

To remember: If your dog is suffering from caval syndrome, unfortunately, surgery is the last option available. 

5. Lyme disease 

This disease is another one that can be fatal if it’s not treated correctly! It takes less than 48 hours for this illness to spread from one dog to another through tick attachment. Symptoms that might appear in a case of lyme disease are usually loss of appetite, fever, lethargy, and kidney failure.

Is your dog suffering from one of these diseases? Please don’t neglect the health condition of your dog! Take care of it as much as possible.

6. Kidney failure 

Speaking of which, to continue from the previous paragraph, this disease is usually a result of complications from other diseases, but it can develop on its own as well. One of the most common reasons dogs get kidney disease is because of dental issues.

If your dog has kidney failure, some symptoms that can appear are increased thirst, loss of bladder control, and also loss of appetite.

Don’t forget that a visit to your vet is mandatory and a change in diet might be as well! Sadly over the course of their lives, more than 2% of dogs will develop kidney disease.

7. Cancer 

Unfortunately, this particular disease affects your cutie as well! It’s actually estimated that one in three dogs will develop cancer, and mostly pure breeds are at a higher risk. Breast cancer and malignant lymphoma are two of the most common types of cancer.

Usually, senior dogs are the most affected. Unfortunately, symptoms of the early stages of this disease are pretty hard to detect. Weight loss and sores that don’t heal as easily as they did before are two of the most common.

Remember: If you go to the vet in the early stages of the disease, it might save your pet!

8. Chocolate poisoning 

Since it’s always been known that chocolate is toxic to dogs, you should not give your pet this particular food. Be aware that this isn’t a fatal disease! However, studies show that less than 100g of dark chocolate can kill a 20-pound dog. Symptoms that include chocolate poisoning are increased urination, shaking, and vomiting. Make sure you call your vet if, by mistake, your dog ingests some chocolate you left on the table!

9. Fungal Infections

Most fungal infections are minor issues, but others can be quite serious and even deadly in some cases. A fungal infection usually affects only the skin and is easily treatable, but in cases where the entire body is affected, a thorough investigation may be required. Valley fever and cryptococcosis are the most dangerous fungal illnesses.

10. Bloat 

Canine bloat, scientifically known as gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a serious health condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach is filled with gas. We don’t know for sure what causes this disease, but usually larger dog breeds are prone to it. How much food do you give your dog? Weird enough, if your dog is pretty greedy when it comes to food or if it’s eating too fast, this might contribute to bloating as well.  It’s better to keep an eye on your dog if symptoms like retching, salivating a lot, and a swollen stomach occur. You’d better pay a visit to your vet as soon as possible!

11. Kennel Cough

If you tend to go to parks often, then you might want to keep in mind that it’s a high risk for your dog to get kennel cough, especially if you have a tiny sweetheart because they have a low immune system. Kennel cough symptoms are sneezing, lethargy, loss of appetite, and low fever. In this case, talk to your vet to find out how it’s best to approach the situation, but in most cases, vaccination is strongly recommended.

Takeaway: Please keep in mind that these diseases can kill your dog if they’re not treated properly!

You should keep in mind that feeding your dog high-quality food and walking with it for at least 1 hour per day might be very healthy! Also, a regular check-up from the vet is mandatory.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of dangers for your dog, but if you take care of it properly and, above everything, vaccinate it, it might make its life easy!

…If you love dogs as much as we do and you want to know more about them, here is a great article for you 10 Things Dogs Can Sniff Out That Humans Can’t.