Articles in Health Category

Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can affect a dog’s blood, liver, and kidneys. The bacteria that cause the illness are carried primarily by rats and other rodents, but dogs that are infected with the disease can infect other dogs as well. Ingestion of the urine of an infected animal is the most common means [...]

Hepatitis, a disease of the liver that is seen in several animals, including humans, is caused by a viral infection. Canine hepatitis is caused by the virus designated CAV-1 which is seen only in dogs. Humans and other animals are not at risk to contract hepatitis from the CAV-1 virus.

The canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a highly contagious disease in dogs known as distemper. Dogs who contract distemper suffer damage to their gastrointestinal, central nervous and respiratory systems. Distemper is incurable and often fatal.

Heartworms (Latin name Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic worms that are common in both dogs and cats.  Like their name suggests, they live in the dog’s heart, normally free-floating in the right ventricle and nearby blood vessels.  The worms are transmitted from dog to dog by mosquitoes which pass the worm larvae through their saliva.  The [...]

Yes, you heard it right.  Dogs suffer from allergies just like us.  The studies find that about 20% of the dogs in the United States suffer from one allergy or another, with flea allergy dermatitis being the most common form of allergies in dogs.  Other types include atopic dermatitis, food allergies, and inhalant allergies.