What is a normal dog’s temperature?
A normal dog’s temperature fluctuates from 100.5 (38.1°C) to 102.5 (39.2°C) degrees Fahrenheit.

Why Vaccinate?
Your puppy/dog should be vaccinated to help protect them from diseases that could make them very sick. Some diseases could be fatal! Here are a few that we recommend your puppy/dog be vaccinated against.

Gastrointestinal diseases:

Parvovirus: Also known as Parvo, is possibly the most common of viruses that is fatal to puppies. The incubation period that averages four to five days. It is a very hardy virus that can survive outside the host’s body in the environment for extended periods. Parvo can be transported on dogs hair, feet, or contaminated crates, shoes and other objects. In severe cases it can lead to shock and death. Vaccination against parvovirus is very important for all dogs.

Giardia:   is a very common waterborne parasite in North America. Giardia can infect dogs, cats, humans, virtually all mammals. Surface water contaminated by fecal material of infected wildlife, birds and livestock are though to be the main source of the organism. Giardia can infect your pet when it drinks water from a puddle, pond, ditches, streams and the toilet bowl. Coccidiosis: is an opportunist, always look for another precipitating cause. Coccidia is commonly found in feces, because infection is mild, symptoms usually do not occur unless the pup’s resistance has been lowered, example shipping stress (going to a new home) may cause proliferation of the various protozoans to clinical levels.

Coronavirus:   Canine Coronavirus is a contagious intestinal infection that usually produces a mild disease. However it can be severe, if it strikes with parvovirus, this can lead to death. Puppies are particularly vunerable to severe symptoms. Infected dogs shed the virus into the environment thru there feces.

Nervous System Diseases: 

Distemper: is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus similar to the germ that causes measles in people. Almost all dogs will be exposed to distemper virus in its lifetime and if infected. It is usually fatal. Distemper attacks many body organs as well as the nervous system.

Rabies: is a fatal viral disease of nearly all warm blooded animals, although rarely in rodents. The Rabies virus which is found in infected saliva, enters at the site of the bite. The average incubation period in dogs is two-eight weeks, but can be as short as one week or as long as one year. Infected wildlife and unvaccinated animals are the source of this virus. Rabies attacks the central nervous system and brain of the animal. This disease can be passed to other animals including people. So, it is important to have your pet vaccinated against it.

Contagious Respiratory Disease:

Tracheobronchitis: commonly referred to as Kennel Cough Symptoms usually are, harsh, dry hacking cough. The cough is unproductive and is often accompanied by gagging, expect for the cough, the dog is bright and alert, has a good appetite and a normal temperature. In most cases Kennel Cough is a mild disease. With rest and a stress-free environment, most dogs/puppies recover completely in seven to fourteen days. There are many types of bacteria and viruses that can cause inflammation or infections to the lungs and respiratory passages of dogs. The two main types are:

Adenovirus: Causes canine hepatitis and leads to respiratory infection, which can result in death.

Parainfluenza Virus and Bordetella Bronchiseptica:   The Stress associated with boarding and increased exposure to these organisms commonly result in “Kennel Cough” in susceptible dogs.

 

Tick Borne Disease:

Lyme Disease: Certain species of Ticks commonly found in parts of Canada can carry a bacteria which causes Lyme Disease in dogs, cats and humans. Lyme Disease can be hard to identifie because of its similar symptoms to other diseases and it’s long incubation period. Lyme Disease damages many different organs as the disease progresses. Infective ticks, as small as the head of a pin may live in urban/rural lawns, gardens, fields, and forests. Cool, wet weather in the spring and fall increases your pets risk of contracting Lyme Disease.

Infectious Diseases of the Liver and Kidneys:

Hepatitis: is a virus that is passed from infected dogs or animals, thru there urine, feces and secreations. The liver is the main organ affected and death is possible in severe cases.

Leptospirosis: is caused by a bacteria called spirochetes. There are four species that can infect canines. Leptospirosis can be found in both wild and domestic animals. This bacteria is spread in the urine, which often makes its way into water sources and can remain infective in the soil for up to six months. Leptospirosis primarily affects the kidneys and liver. Spirochetes enter a dogs system through a break in the skin or when the dog drinks contaminated water by infected urine. Increased rainfall may elevate your pets risk of coming into contact with Leptospirosis or contracting it. Leptospirosis is the worlds most common infectious disease shared by both animal and man.

What Are Parasites?

Parasites live off the host. The host is the animal. There are two categories, External (also known as ectoparasites) they live in or on the skin or in the ear canals, of the host. There are internal parasites which live in internal organs, usually the intestines. Some parasites are microscopic (cannot be seen with the naked eye) and need a microscope to identify them.

Parasite Control for Puppies

Parasites can be very annoying for your pet and maybe dangerous if left unchecked. There are products available through your veterinarian to prevent and control these parasites. The following are common ectoparasites you should be aware of:

Ringworm: Not a worm but a fungus infection that invades the hair follicles. Typical areas which are infected are the face, ears, paws and tail. The classic symptoms appear as a enlarging circle of hair loss with scaly skin at the center, with a red ring at the periphery, typical ringworm is common with irregular areas of hair loss associated with scaling and crusting. Ringworm is spread by spores in the soil, by direct contact with infected hair of dogs, cats, typically found on carpets, brushes, combs, toys and furniture. Humans can catch ringworm from there pets and vice versa.

Ticks: are found in nearly all parts of the country and are prevalent in spring and fall. The adult ticks drop onto the host as it walks through tall grass and brush. Ticks fasten to the dog’s skin and are commonly found around the ears and toes. Prompt removal of ticks is an effective method of preventing tick bourne diseases, Example Lyme disease. Always examine your dog after hiking in tick infested areas.

Fleas: emerge from the cocoons when they since heat, vibrations or exhaled carbon dioxide from a nearby host. You may see this small parasite crawling or jumping on your pet’s skin. Once the fleas jump onto a host, the adults mate, the fleas lay eggs which aren’t sticky, and fall quickly off your pet and usually hatch 2 to 5 days later. The whole life cycle can take as little as 3 to 4 weeks.

Cheyletiella mange (walking dandruff): is highly contagious and caused by a large reddish mite. This mite lives on the surface of the skin and die within 10 days when off the host. Cheyletiella mange can infect humans producing an itchy popular rash found mainly on the arms, trunk and buttocks. Cheyletiella mange is becoming less prevalent because of the widespread use of flea control preparations that also kill chwyletiella mites.

Lice: domesticated animals can be infested with lice of the order “Anoplura” (sucking lice) and the order “ Mallaphaga” ( chewing lice or biting lice). Lice live on the host all the time and infect other animals by direct contact. Lice deposit eggs referred to as nit, which is cemented to the hair of the host. These eggs hatch, which are called larvae, which resemble the adults, later they develop into nymphs and then adults. The whole life cycle takes 3 to 5 weeks. Diagnosis is based on the morphological appearance of the stages. Mallophaga have broad heads and feed off the skin scales, while Anoplura have pointed heads and feed off the blood of the host.

Ear Mites (Otodectic Mange): are tiny insects that live in the ear canals and feed by piercing the skin. They are highly contagious to cats and dogs, but NOT to humans. Ear mites are the most common cause of ear symptoms in dogs. If both ears are involved, your dog may have ear mites. Sarcoptic mange (scabies) and ear mites have similar signs but are not the same kind of mite. Only a few ear mites can make a severe hypersensitive reaction that leads to intense itching, starching, and violent head shaking. The ear flaps become red excorated crusted and scabbed. The canals contain a dry, crumbly dark brown, waxy discharge that resemble coffee grounds and may have a bad odor due to secondary infection. Ear mites can be identified by removing a sample with a cotton-tipped applicator and looking at it under a microscope. Ear mites look like white specks, about the size of the head of a pin, that move.

Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies): are tiny spider, like mites, which are highly contagious. It is usually transferred by direct contact and through contaminated grooming equipment. Scabies will cause your dog to starch and bite at the skin severly. The severe itching is caused by the female mite, tunneling a few millimeters under the skin to lay eggs. These eggs hatch in 3 to 10 days. The immature mites develop into adults and begin to lay eggs of their own. The entire life cycle, takes 17 to 21 days and takes place on the hosts skin. Humans can be infected as well. Diagnosis is made by examining a skin scraping under a microscope. In some cases the mites may not be identified, should your dogs symptoms strongly suggest scabies, your veterinarian may decide to start treatment as a diagnostic test. A positive response to the treatment will confirm the diagnosis of scabies.

Demodectic mange: also known as red mange, follicular mange and puppy mange are very common mites of the dogs. In dogs this mite is called demodex canis. Demodex mites tend to infest only one species of host animal and have a poor survivability off the host. This type of mite does not infect humans and is not contagious to other dogs. This mite is cigar shaped and is only visable with a microscope . These mites are considered normal skin fauna when in small amounts. There are questions to how the mite is transmitted. Laboratory attempts to induce transmission via direct contact have failed. While it is believed that the mites are transferred from the nursing mother to the newborn pups during their first 3 days of life. This being the possibility, it leaves some serious questions of genetic’s (of the mite) unanswered. Many people are surprised to learn that several species of demodectic mites virtually live on the bodies of all dogs and most human beings, without causing any harm or irritation. Demodex generally live in hair follicles but can be found in many other tissues of the body. Demodex mites complete their entire life cycle in the hair follicles or the surface of the skin. The cycle, eggs are laid, they hatch to larva, larva molt to become nymphs, and nymphs molt to become adults, this is believed to take 20-35 days. There are two degree’s of Demodex, Localized and Generalized. Localized demodectic mange usually heals spontaneously in 6 to 8 weeks, fortunately 90 percent of the cases are localized. The dog may have a slight loss of hair on the face and forelimbs, mild lesions, that can heal without treatment. In some cases the skin becomes red, scaly and infected if more then 5 patches are present, the disease could be progressing to the generalized form. This occurs in approx 10 percent of cases. Generalized demodectic mange occurs in dogs, whose immune system is failing to work properly. It is a possibility that the dogs immune system is being compromised by another disease, a genetic defect or drugs given to the dog for another condition. Studies have shown that between 30 percent and 50 percent of dogs that develop the generalized form will recover on their own without treatment, but treatment is still recommended. Demodectic mange is not an inherited condition, but the suppressed immune system that allows the puppies to be susceptible to the mites can be. Only a small percentage of the puppies have ineffective immune systems and develop mange. Immune suppressed dogs with this more serious form of mange have a loss of hair and a thickening of the skin in the area of the lesions. If lesions become infected with bacteria, then pimple like growths containing pus or pustules may form. To diagnose demodectic mange, the veterinarian scrapes the skin in the area of the lesions in search of larval and nymphal mites. These mites are present in normal dogs, but if the presence of many different stages indicates that the mite population is increasing rapidly and therefore causing the lesions. Demodex can be diagnosed by fecal flotation in dog feces as well. Most dogs can be cured with intense therapy. Most remaining cases can be controlled if the owner is willing to commit the necessary time and expense.

Intestinal Parasites, maybe living in the dog without currently affecting them. Many dog owners believe that if a dog has eggs or parasites in his stool, he must be suffering from an intestinal infection, this is not always the case. Dogs older than six months develop an acquired resistence to roundworms, few if any lavae complete the life cycle. Most come to rest in various body tissues. Where they encyst (lay dormant). While encysted they are protected against the dogs antibodies and also the effects of most de-wormers. Although many dogs are infested with parasites at one time or another, most develop an immunity that keep the worms in check. However, this immunity can break down if the animal is stressed or from ill health. When this happens the worms get a jump start in numbers and eventually produce signs of intestinal infection. Dogs develop the highest level of immunity to worms that have a larval phase that migrate in tissues. These are roundworms, hookworms, and thread worms. Whipworms and tapeworms, do not have a migratory phas and thus produce little immunity. Immunsuppressive drugs such as cortisone have been shown to stimulate large numbers of encysted hookworm larvae. Stressful events such as pregnancy, surgery, severe illness, trauma, and emotional upsets (such as shipping or going to a new home) can trigger the dormant larvae to hatch. The following are common internal parasites you should be aware of:

Roundworms (Ascarids): The most frequent worm parasite in dogs and cats. They look like white earthworms or strands of spaghetti that may be moving. The 2 species, that commonly infect dogs, toxocara canis and toxasaris Leonia. The life cycle of toxocara canis in young puppies is a follows, - eggs enter through the mouth and hatch in the stomach - larva is carried to the lungs by the circulatory system - here they break through the capillaries into the air-sacs, sometimes giving rise to bouts of coughing and gagging - once in the lungs, the larvae crawl up the windpipe and are swallowed - back in the intestine the larvae develop into adult worms - the adults pass eggs that become infective in the soil in 3-4weeks.

Hookworms: There are 3 species that afflict dogs. Hookworms are small thin worms approximately one quarter to one-half inches long. They fasten their mouth parts onto the mucosa (side walls) of the small intestine and suck blood and tissue fluids from the host.

Tapeworms: Live in the small intestines and vary from less than an inch to several feet long. The head (scolex) of the worm fastens to the wall of the gut by hooks and suckers. The body is composed of segments that contain the egg packets.

Whipworms: As adults are approximately 2 to 3 inches long. This worm is threadlike in appearance, but is thicker at one end, which gives it the appearance of a whip. The adult worm lives in the last part of the small intestines and the first part of the large intestines, where it fastens to the wall of the gut.

Threadworms: Are round worms approximately 2 millimeters long and live in the small intestines. This worm can infect both dogs and humans. This parasite is found in regions like South Western United States and Gulf Coast areas. It likes humid, subtropical weather. This worms life cycle is complex, eggs and larvae are passed in the feces. Larvae become infective and are either ingested or gain entrance by directly penetrating the skin.

Pinworms: Are sometimes a concern to families with pets and children. However, dogs and cats are not a source of human pinworm infection as they do not acquire or spread this disease.

Heartworms: resemble large spaghetti noodles. These worms can be found world wide because they are spread by mosquitoes. The overall incidence among dogs is 15 to 20 percent. Where the disease is highly endemic, virtually all unprotected dogs will become infected. Dogs that have a greater exposer to the outdoors have an increased risk, In fact, dogs living outdoors are 4 to 5 times more likely to develop heartworms than those living indoors. In order to help prevent and treat heartworm it is important to understand it’s life cycle. Infection starts when L3 larvae in the mouthparts of a mosquito enter a dog’s skin at the site of a bite. The larvae burrow under the skin and undergo 2 molts that eventually lead to the development of small immature worms. The first molt (L3 to L4) happens 1-12 days after inoculation. The larvae remain in the L4 stage for 50-68 days and then molt into L5 (immature worms). During the brief  L3 stage, 1-12 days after the larvae enter the dogs body are they susceptible to the killing effects of one drug. During the L3 and L4 stages the larvae are susceptible to 2 other drugs (ivermectin and milbemycin). This knowledge is used in prevention programs. Immature worms migrate into peripheral vein, which carry them to the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, where they await further maturation. Almost 6 months later the worms mature, reaching lengths of 4-12 inches and live up to 5 years. As many as 250 worms can be found in a heavily infested dog.

Next: First Aid for your dog or puppy