Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with bandaged foot. Hops bread health of dogs is a well studied area in veterinary medicine.
For a complete list, see List of dog diseases. Timely vaccination can reduce the risk and severity of an infection. Most of these diseases are spread directly from dog to dog, while others require a vector such as a tick or mosquito. Viral diseases in dogs can be serious, especially in kennels. There are some bacteria that are contagious from dog to dog. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Humans and dogs become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from infected animals.
This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. Brucellosis in dogs is caused by Brucella canis. It is a sexually transmitted disease, but can also be spread through contact with aborted fetuses. The most common sign is abortion during the last trimester or stillbirth.
Tick-borne diseases are common in dogs. Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread by Ixodes pacificus on the West coast of the United States and by I. One of the most common fungal diseases in dogs is ringworm, or dermatophytosis, an infection of the skin, hair, or nails. There are three fungal species that cause ringworm in dogs. About 70 percent of infections are caused by Microsporum canis, 20 percent by M. There are several fungal diseases that are systemic in nature, meaning they are affecting multiple body systems.
Blastomycosis, caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, is a fungal disease that affects both dogs and humans. It is transmitted through the inhalation of fungal spores. Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, is a disease with a worldwide distribution. In the United States it is mainly found in the Mississippi and Ohio River areas, most commonly in bird and bat feces. Signs include weight loss, cough, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Veterinary parasitology studies both external and internal parasites in animals. External parasites, such as fleas, mites, ticks and mosquitoes can cause skin irritation and are often carriers of other diseases or of internal parasites. Various mites cause skin problems such as mange. The two species of chewing lice that affect dogs are Trichodectes canis and Heterodoxus spiniger. The dog sucking louse is Linognathus setosus. Parasites, particularly intestinal worms such as hookworms, tapeworms and roundworms, can be transmitted in a dog’s feces. Hydatidosis is caused by the cestode Echinococcus.
It is observed in dogs, wild canids, foxes, etc. Due to its importance as a zoonosis, prevention and treatment is crucial. Preventing hydatidosis is an easier task than treatment. Genetic conditions are a problem in some dogs, particularly purebreeds. For this reason many of the national kennel clubs require that dogs with certain genetic illnesses or who are deemed to be carriers cannot be registered. Skin diseases are very common in dogs.