Infections

Canine Parvovirus

Canine parvovirus is a severe, potentially fatal gastrointestinal disease that infects dogs. Puppies and young dogs are most susceptible and tend to have the most severe infections. However, dogs that didn’t acquire immunity can get the infection at any age. Symptoms of parvovirus in dogs Parvovirus attacks the intestinal tract, essentially destroying the inner lining of the intestines. Symptoms most…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Canine Distemper Virus

Canine distemper is a life-threatening disease that most commonly affects puppies and young dogs. Distemper is caused by a virus that can spread easily through an unimmunized (unprotected) population. Fortunately, adult dogs often develop some degree of immunity with age and are less likely to develop the disease. How Does Canine Distemper Spread? Canine distemper spreads through respiratory secretions that…

by Dr. Lorie Huston

Everything You Need To Know About Parvo

Parvoviruses are a species-specific single-stranded, non-enveloped DNA virus. The canine virus appeared by a mutation in the early 1970s. Subsequent mutations brought about the epidemics of canine parvovirus disease in 1978 – 1979. Since this was a new virus, the pet population did not have immunity to it. Most exposed dogs became very ill and many died. The virus invades…

by Dr. Keith Niesenbaum, DVM

Dogs and Coronaviruses: Do We Share Coronavirus Infections with Dogs?

Coronaviruses are a group of related viruses classified by common properties. Viruses are infectious agents made up of genetic material enclosed in a protein envelope. Different viruses target different species and various body systems. Different viral diseases can affect: respiratory tract gastrointestinal tract circulatory system nervous system the skin the liver Coronaviruses got their name from the Latin word corona,…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

COVID-19 and My Dog: Can My Dog Get It and Could They Infect Me?

Could my dog get and spread the new Coronavirus infection? One of the problems with new infections is that there are a lot of unknowns. Even though various coronaviruses had been around for a long time, the COVID-19 is different. Human transmission is what led to the global pandemic. However, the reports on the infection found in a dog triggered…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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