Canine leptospirosis is a very serious bacterial disease. It can affect a wide range of organs and tissue. The disease damage your dog’s liver, kidney, or blood vessels. The eyes can also experience inflammation which can result in blindness.

Transmission

The bacteria that causes this disease invades the body through mucous membranes. This includes the mouth, eyes, and lesions in the skin. Most dogs become infected when they come into contact with infected urine or water that contains infected urine. The bacteria can also invade through bite wounds, during breeding, or if your dog consumes an infected animal.

Symptoms

Symptoms of canine leptospirosis start to appear within two weeks of infection. Your dog may experience loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and depression. It is also common for him to develop conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye.

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Wobbler syndrome in dogs is a condition that prevents normal standing and moving around. It occurs when the vertebrae are malformed. Big dogs are commonly affected. Doberman Pinscher, Great Danes, Boxers, and St. Bernards have the highest risk of developing this condition.

Cause

There is no known cause for wobbler syndrome. However, it is thought that a rapid growth rate is one of the leading factors. Two other possible causes include genetics and poor nutrition.

Symptoms

Wobbler syndrome in dogs usually affects the hind limbs the most. You may notice that your dog’s rear swings to the side when he walks. The front limbs may appear normal, but some dogs suffer obvious stiffness. These symptoms usually get worse over the course of several weeks. You can really notice these symptoms when your dog changes direction quickly. Symptoms are less noticeable when your dog walks or runs in a straight line.

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Dog constipation can be very painful and uncomfortable for your canine. However, it’s usually not a very serious problem. Dogs of any age and breed can experience constipation, although older dogs have a higher risk of developing this condition.

Causes

There are various things that can cause your dog to develop constipation. One of the most common is giving him food intended for humans. Common foods include bread, sugar, rice, and dairy. Foods that have a large amount of protein can also cause the condition.

Dehydration, a condition that occurs when your dog doesn’t get enough water, can also cause dog constipation. Canines that ingest foreign objects can also develop it. Common objects include buttons and coins.

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Canine lymphosarcoma is a deadly cancer in dogs. The disease can occur in various parts of the body, but commonly affects the lymph nodes. It can also invade the liver, spleen, and other organs.

Symptoms

Dogs display different symptoms based on where the tumor is located. If the disease only affects the lymph nodes, then they will simply swell up. The dog will likely show no other symptoms. If the lymphosarcoma occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, your dog will experience vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. He will probably lose weight also. Canine lymphosarcoma can also affect the skin. This will cause lumps to form that may be red and itchy. If the disease affects your dog’s chest cavity, he may start having trouble breathing.

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Canine roundworms are parasites that take up residence in your dog’s small intestine and feed on bodily fluids and tissue. These worms, which can measure up to six inches, look like big pieces of spaghetti. They can be life-threatening to puppies and may also be transmitted to people.

Transmission

Most dogs get infected with these worms from their mother. An infected mother can pass them along to their puppies even before birth. Also, the larvae can travel to the mammary glands. This allows them to infect young puppies via the mother’s milk. Dogs also become infected if they ingest eggs that have larvae.

Symptoms

Roundworms can be fatal to puppies in large numbers. Mature dogs normally don’t suffer many problems from canine roundworms unless they get to be too numerous. In these cases, your dog may experience lethargy, weight loss, and a pot belly. Some dogs also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

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Most people associate rabies with dogs. However, rabies in cats is much more common nowadays. This disease is caused by a virus that is almost always deadly.

Transmission

The virus that causes feline rabies is carried in the saliva of animals. These infected animals can transmit the disease to other mammals by biting them. This is the most common method of transmission. However, cats may also become infected if they have an open cut that allows the virus to enter their body. Some cats get the disease when they eat an animal that has the disease.

Symptoms

If your cat has this disease, he will be very irritable and excitable. Rabies in cats can also cause symptoms such as lack of appetite and seizures. As the disease progresses, it leads to paralysis of muscles. This paralysis causes respiratory distress and eventually death.

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Feline seizures are usually a symptom of an underlying disease. If a disease can’t be definitively diagnosed, then your cat is said to have epilepsy. These seizures can be life-threatening if they last too long, usually over five minutes.

Causes

Most cats suffer from seizures due to a condition other than epilepsy. Two of the main causes include cancerous tumors and ingestion of toxic chemicals. There are also certain diseases that can make your cat start having seizures. Three of the most common include feline infectious peritonitis, leukemia virus, and immunodeficiency virus.

Diagnosis

In order to determine the cause of feline seizures, your veterinarian will first have to do a complete neurological and physical examination. A blood test can also determine if your cat has one of the diseases mentioned above that can cause seizures. If a cause can’t be determined from these tests, then advanced tests such as an MRI or spinal tap may be done. You should be aware that diagnosing the cause of your cat’s seizures may prove to be very expensive.

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Feline rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus. This virus is highly contagious, but usually only causes mild symptoms in mature cats. However, this disease can be fatal to kittens if they develop pneumonia.

Transmission

As mentioned earlier, the virus that causes rhinotracheitis in cats is very contagious. It can be transmitted to your cat if he comes into contact with contaminated cages, food dishes, or litter boxes. Also, cats can become infected if they come into contact with discharge from an infected cat’s eyes, nose, or mouth. As the owner, you also have to be careful as you can harbor the virus on your hands or clothing.

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Much like people, cats can suffer from allergies too. There are four types of feline allergies. They include flea, inhalant, food, and contact. Let’s take a look at these four different types.

Flea

Most cats don’t have much of a reaction to a flea bite. However, some cats can have a severe allergic reaction to just one bite. The intense itching will prompt your cat to chew or severely scratch himself. This can cause the hair in the area too fall out. Your cat can also develop open sores which may open him up to a bacterial infection. It is important to practice very good flea control if your cat is allergic to flea bites.

Contact

Some cats also suffer from contact feline allergies. Various materials around your home can cause an allergic reaction. Common items bedding and flea collars. This type of allergy is easy to treat, as you simply have to keep your cat away from the offending material.

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Occasional incidents of feline vomiting is usually nothing to worry about if your cat otherwise appears healthy. Mild conditions can cause your cat to vomit, but it can also be a symptom of a more serious disease. Some of the common causes include parasites, hairballs, and infections. Let’s take a look at some of these causes of feline vomiting.

Parasites

The first main cause of vomiting is an infestation of parasites. There are various species of worms that can live in your cat’s stomach or small intestine. You may be able to see them in your cat’s feces or vomit. It’s best to get your cat on deworming medication as soon as possible as an infestation can open your cat to other complications.

Hairballs

Hairballs are also a common cause of feline vomiting. They form as a result of ingested hair that your cat swallows while grooming. Although hairballs can be a problem with all cats, those with long hair develop them most often. To prevent them from forming, you could give your cat more fiber in his diet and groom him yourself on a daily basis.

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