5 Illnesses to Watch Out for in Your Puppy

Puppies’ immune systems aren’t very strong in their first years of life and because of that, they’re more at risk of developing illnesses. If left untreated, some of these illnesses can be life-threatening, so it’s important to know what the signs and symptoms of some of these ailments are, and how to prevent them.

To help you protect your pup, here is a list of 5 common puppy illnesses to watch out for.

 1. Distemper

What it looks like: It will usually appear as sneezing, eye discharge, loss of appetite, or hardening of footpads and nose. If left untreated it can lead to pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage.

If they show symptoms: Take them to the vet right away. They will probably be given antibiotics and medications to combat their symptoms, but there is no cure for distemper.  

How to Prevent it: Vaccinate! The Distemper vaccine is available for puppies when they’re 6-8 weeks of age.

 2. Parvovirus

What it looks like: It may appear as bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite.

If they show symptoms: Take them to the vet. They will probably have to undergo fluid therapy, and will be given antibiotics and anti-nausea medications.

How to prevent it: Vaccinate! The Parvovirus vaccine is recommended for puppies 6-8 weeks of age, but they need to be given booster shots at 3-week intervals until they are 16 weeks of age for the vaccine to be most effective.

3. Heartworm Disease

 What it looks like: It may look like your pup is fatigued, or has a decreased appetite. They may also lose a considerable amount of weight over time.

If they show symptoms: Take them to your vet where they can get the medicine to kill the heartworms. They may also require hospitalization.

How to prevent it: You can give your pup a monthly heartworm preventative pill. Most pills are safe for puppies to take by the time they’re 6-8 weeks old.

4. Bordetella

 What it looks like: Your pup may have a persistent, dry wheezing cough, along with runny eyes and nose. If left untreated, it may turn into an upper respiratory infection, and in rare cases, pneumonia.

If they show symptoms: Take them to the vet and keep them away from other dogs so they won’t spread the illness. Your vet will probably prescribe your pup an antibiotic depending on the severity of the cough.

How to prevent it: Vaccinate! The Bordetella vaccine is available to puppies 6-8 weeks of age. You will need to get a booster shot for your pup at 10-12 weeks of age, and then booster shots every 12 months.

 5. Coccidia

 What it looks like: Your pup may experience diarrhea, have blood in their stool, or be dehydrated.

If they show symptoms: Take your pup straight to the vet. They will most likely be given drugs to kill the Coccidia parasite.

How to prevent it: Coccidia is microscopic, and is most commonly found in environments with other infected animals. Making sure to keep your puppy away from potentially infected animals can help prevent them from contracting Coccidia.

What illnesses do you think people should watch out for when it comes to their puppy? Leave a comment and let us know!