Question 1

Distemper in dogs: stages and symptoms

Accepted Answer

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect the whole body. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, a short fever often appears 3–6 days after infection; after a brief improvement, a second fever comes with eye and nose discharge, tiredness and poor appetite, followed by digestive and breathing problems and sometimes thickened footpads ("hardpad"). Neurological signs — twitching, seizures, paralysis — can appear at the same time, later or alone. Treatment is supportive and vaccination is the best prevention.

Question 2

Flea and tick prevention for dogs: what vets recommend

Accepted Answer

Veterinarians recommend year-round flea and tick prevention with a product chosen for your dog's weight, age, health and local tick species — usually a prescription oral chewable, a topical spot-on or a long-acting collar. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends treating all dogs year-round, throughout their lives, and treating every pet in the home during an infestation. Fleas can transmit tapeworms and cause allergies or anemia; ticks transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Question 3

Heartworm in dogs: symptoms, treatment and prevention

Accepted Answer

Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal, preventable infection spread by mosquitoes. Foot-long worms live in a dog's heart, lungs and blood vessels, causing lung disease and heart failure. Early on most dogs show few or no signs; later signs include a mild persistent cough, tiring easily, reduced appetite and weight loss. The American Heartworm Society says heartworm has been diagnosed in all 50 states and recommends "think 12": test every 12 months and give prevention 12 months a year.

Question 4

Kennel cough in dogs: symptoms, treatment and Bordetella vaccine

Accepted Answer

Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a contagious inflammation of a dog's upper airways caused by one or more viruses and bacteria, including Bordetella bronchiseptica. The typical sign is spasms of harsh, dry coughing, sometimes followed by retching. The Merck Veterinary Manual says the cough usually eases during the first 5 days but the illness lasts 10 to 20 days, and most cases improve on their own. Puppies and weak or older dogs can develop pneumonia. Vaccines protect against several of the main causes.

Question 5

Parvo in dogs: symptoms, survival rate and prevention

Accepted Answer

Parvo (canine parvovirus) is a potentially fatal viral disease that mostly affects puppies and unvaccinated dogs. Signs usually appear 5 to 7 days after infection: lethargy, loss of appetite and fever, then vomiting and often bloody diarrhea within 1 to 2 days. There is no drug that kills the virus, but with supportive care the Merck Veterinary Manual reports that 68% to 92% of dogs survive, and most that survive the first 3 to 4 days recover. Vaccination is the key to prevention.

Threat	Prevention	Key source
Parvovirus	Puppy vaccine series and boosters	Merck Veterinary Manual
Distemper	Core vaccines	Merck Veterinary Manual
Kennel cough	Lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella, parainfluenza, adenovirus-2)	Merck Veterinary Manual
Heartworm	Prevention 12 months a year; test every 12 months	American Heartworm Society
Fleas and ticks	Year-round control for every pet in the home	CAPC

Dog health: parasites, infections and prevention

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