Dog diseases in Europe
Babesiosis (spread by brown ticks)
Babesiosis caused by species of Babesia and is seen throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. It is a parasite of the blood causing anaemia due to destruction of the red blood cells, pale mucus membranes, jaundice, weakness, fast breathing, red urine, collapse and occasionally death. The disease can come on suddenly and can be fatal affecting dogs 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to infected ticks, so it is essential to get prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment. To become infected, ticks need to feed on the host for 24 to 48 hours. Prevention is based on avoiding ticks from biting your dog and removing them within 24 hours.
Prevention - tick control
Do not walk your dog on rough ground or forests animals with grazing animals. Use a spot-on or a special collar should be used to repel ticks making them much less likely to attach to to your dog. Check your dog every day for ticks and use a tick-remover tool to remove any ticks found as soon as possible.
Babesiosis caused by species of Babesia and is seen throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. It is a parasite of the blood causing anaemia due to destruction of the red blood cells, pale mucus membranes, jaundice, weakness, fast breathing, red urine, collapse and occasionally death. The disease can come on suddenly and can be fatal affecting dogs 2 to 3 weeks after exposure to infected ticks, so it is essential to get prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment. To become infected, ticks need to feed on the host for 24 to 48 hours. Prevention is based on avoiding ticks from biting your dog and removing them within 24 hours.
Prevention - tick control
Do not walk your dog on rough ground or forests animals with grazing animals. Use a spot-on or a special collar should be used to repel ticks making them much less likely to attach to to your dog. Check your dog every day for ticks and use a tick-remover tool to remove any ticks found as soon as possible.
Brown dog tick
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille, is unusual among ticks, in that it can complete its entire life cycle indoors. Because of this, it can establish populations in colder climates. The tick is found world-wide but more commonly in warmer climates, and is found on dogs, in kennels and houses, and occasionally on wildlife. Many tick species can be carried indoors on animals, but cannot complete their entire life cycle inside. Although R. sanguineus will feed on a wide variety of mammals, dogs are the preferred host and appear to be required to develop large infestations.
Infestations in houses can explode to very high levels quickly. Typically, a few ticks are brought into the house or kennel, often on a dog which has been away from home. The early stages of the infestation, when only a few individuals are present, are often missed completely. The first indication the dog owner has that there is a problem is when they start noticing ticks crawling up the walls or curtains!
High levels of infestation can cause skin irritation and damage in dogs, and the population can reach pest proportions in houses and kennels. R. sanguineus is a vector of disease in dogs; canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) and canine babesia (Babesia canis). These rarely cause disease in humans; only a few cases are known. In dogs, symptoms of canine ehrlichiosis include lameness and fever; those for babesiosis include fever, anorexia and anemia. Both have been found In parts of Europe, USA, Asia and Africa R. sanguineus is a vector of Rickettsia conorii, known locally as Mediterranean spotted fever, boutonneuse fever, or tick typhus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus has not been shown to transmit the bacterium which causes Lyme disease.
Prevention - tick control
The earlier the infestation is discovered and addressed, the easier it will be to control. Monitoring and grooming dogs, particularly upon return from kennels or locations where other dogs are present, is the best way to detect infestations early. Dogs should be examined regularly and attached ticks removed and disposed of.
The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille, is unusual among ticks, in that it can complete its entire life cycle indoors. Because of this, it can establish populations in colder climates. The tick is found world-wide but more commonly in warmer climates, and is found on dogs, in kennels and houses, and occasionally on wildlife. Many tick species can be carried indoors on animals, but cannot complete their entire life cycle inside. Although R. sanguineus will feed on a wide variety of mammals, dogs are the preferred host and appear to be required to develop large infestations.
Infestations in houses can explode to very high levels quickly. Typically, a few ticks are brought into the house or kennel, often on a dog which has been away from home. The early stages of the infestation, when only a few individuals are present, are often missed completely. The first indication the dog owner has that there is a problem is when they start noticing ticks crawling up the walls or curtains!
High levels of infestation can cause skin irritation and damage in dogs, and the population can reach pest proportions in houses and kennels. R. sanguineus is a vector of disease in dogs; canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) and canine babesia (Babesia canis). These rarely cause disease in humans; only a few cases are known. In dogs, symptoms of canine ehrlichiosis include lameness and fever; those for babesiosis include fever, anorexia and anemia. Both have been found In parts of Europe, USA, Asia and Africa R. sanguineus is a vector of Rickettsia conorii, known locally as Mediterranean spotted fever, boutonneuse fever, or tick typhus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus has not been shown to transmit the bacterium which causes Lyme disease.
Prevention - tick control
The earlier the infestation is discovered and addressed, the easier it will be to control. Monitoring and grooming dogs, particularly upon return from kennels or locations where other dogs are present, is the best way to detect infestations early. Dogs should be examined regularly and attached ticks removed and disposed of.
Brucella canis
Brucellosis is a gram-negative proteobacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs and other canids. Bacteria B. canis are rod-shaped or cocci, oxidase, catalase, and urease positive. The species was firstly described in USA in 1966 where mass abortions of beagles were documented. The disease is characterized by epididymitis and orchitis in male dogs, endometritis, placentitis and abortions in females, and often presents as infertility in both sexes. Other symptoms such as inflammation in eyes and axial and appendicular skeleton, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, are less common. Humans can be also infected but infections are rare.
Brucella canis is a zoonotic organism. Signs of this disease are different in both genders of dogs; females who have Brucella canis face an abortion of their pre-developed fetus. Males face the chance of infertility; the reason is that they develop an antibody against the sperm. This may be followed by inflammation of the testes which will generally settle down a little while after. Symptoms do not only include testicular inflammation, infertility in males, and abortion in females. Another symptom is the infection of the spinal plates or vertebrae, which is called diskospondylitis.
Brucella canis also poses a significant public health hazard since it is transmissible to humans, especially those handling aborted fetuses. Pregnant women and people with impaired immune system should avoid contact with infected dogs. Symptoms of an infection can be flu-like with recurrent fever, headache, lack of appetite, weakness, back pain and enlarged lymph nodes. In more serious cases, heart valves and meninges are affected. Infection between people can in rare cases occur. People are often successfully treated with antibiotics.
For dogs the treatment for B. canis is very difficult to find and often very expensive. The combination of minocycline and streptomycin is thought to be useful, but it is often unaffordable. Tetracycline can be a less expensive substitute for minocycline, but it also lowers the effect of the treatment.
Prevention - mating control
When possible, all breeding dogs should be isolated for two weeks and at the end of two weeks, have the individual (male or female) tested by your veterinarian for brucellosis. Do this even if the dog was tested before shipment.
Brucellosis is a gram-negative proteobacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs and other canids. Bacteria B. canis are rod-shaped or cocci, oxidase, catalase, and urease positive. The species was firstly described in USA in 1966 where mass abortions of beagles were documented. The disease is characterized by epididymitis and orchitis in male dogs, endometritis, placentitis and abortions in females, and often presents as infertility in both sexes. Other symptoms such as inflammation in eyes and axial and appendicular skeleton, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, are less common. Humans can be also infected but infections are rare.
Brucella canis is a zoonotic organism. Signs of this disease are different in both genders of dogs; females who have Brucella canis face an abortion of their pre-developed fetus. Males face the chance of infertility; the reason is that they develop an antibody against the sperm. This may be followed by inflammation of the testes which will generally settle down a little while after. Symptoms do not only include testicular inflammation, infertility in males, and abortion in females. Another symptom is the infection of the spinal plates or vertebrae, which is called diskospondylitis.
Brucella canis also poses a significant public health hazard since it is transmissible to humans, especially those handling aborted fetuses. Pregnant women and people with impaired immune system should avoid contact with infected dogs. Symptoms of an infection can be flu-like with recurrent fever, headache, lack of appetite, weakness, back pain and enlarged lymph nodes. In more serious cases, heart valves and meninges are affected. Infection between people can in rare cases occur. People are often successfully treated with antibiotics.
For dogs the treatment for B. canis is very difficult to find and often very expensive. The combination of minocycline and streptomycin is thought to be useful, but it is often unaffordable. Tetracycline can be a less expensive substitute for minocycline, but it also lowers the effect of the treatment.
Prevention - mating control
When possible, all breeding dogs should be isolated for two weeks and at the end of two weeks, have the individual (male or female) tested by your veterinarian for brucellosis. Do this even if the dog was tested before shipment.
Demodicosis, also called demodectic mange or red mange
Demodex is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex canis as the animal's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control.
Demodex is a genus of mite in the family Demodicidae. Demodex canis occurs naturally in the hair follicles of most dogs in low numbers around the face and other areas of the body. In most dogs, these mites never cause problems. However, in certain situations, such as an underdeveloped or impaired immune system, intense stress, or malnutrition, the mites can reproduce rapidly, causing symptoms in sensitive dogs that range from mild irritation and hair loss on a small patch of skin to severe and widespread inflammation, secondary infection, and in rare cases can be a life-threatening condition. Small patches of demodicosis often correct themselves over time as the dog's immune system matures, although treatment is usually recommended.
Prevention - healthy dog
Demodectic mange is transmitted from host to host through direct contact. Typically animals become infected through nursing from their mother. Demodex mites are host-adapted; there is no zoonotic potential in either canine or feline demodicosis. These mites (Demodex canis) thrive only on their specific hosts (dogs). The transmission of these mites from mother to pup is normal (which is why the mites are normal inhabitants of the dog's skin), but some individuals are sensitive to the mites due to a cellular immune deficiency, underlying disease, stress, or malnutrition, which can lead to the development of clinical demodectic mange.
Demodex is caused by a sensitivity to and overpopulation of Demodex canis as the animal's immune system is unable to keep the mites under control.
Demodex is a genus of mite in the family Demodicidae. Demodex canis occurs naturally in the hair follicles of most dogs in low numbers around the face and other areas of the body. In most dogs, these mites never cause problems. However, in certain situations, such as an underdeveloped or impaired immune system, intense stress, or malnutrition, the mites can reproduce rapidly, causing symptoms in sensitive dogs that range from mild irritation and hair loss on a small patch of skin to severe and widespread inflammation, secondary infection, and in rare cases can be a life-threatening condition. Small patches of demodicosis often correct themselves over time as the dog's immune system matures, although treatment is usually recommended.
Prevention - healthy dog
Demodectic mange is transmitted from host to host through direct contact. Typically animals become infected through nursing from their mother. Demodex mites are host-adapted; there is no zoonotic potential in either canine or feline demodicosis. These mites (Demodex canis) thrive only on their specific hosts (dogs). The transmission of these mites from mother to pup is normal (which is why the mites are normal inhabitants of the dog's skin), but some individuals are sensitive to the mites due to a cellular immune deficiency, underlying disease, stress, or malnutrition, which can lead to the development of clinical demodectic mange.
Canine distemper, sometimes termed hardpad disease in canine
Distemper is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families, including domestic and wild species of dogs. In canines, distemper impacts several body systems, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and the spinal cord and brain, with common symptoms that include high fever, eye inflammation and eye/nose discharge, labored breathing and coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy, and hardening of nose and footpads. The viral infection can be accompanied by secondary bacterial infections and can present eventual serious neurological symptoms.
Canine distemper is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the family paramyxovirus (the same family of the distinct virus that causes measles in man). The disease is highly contagious via inhalation and is the leading cause of infectious disease death in dogs.
Puppies from three to six months old are particularly susceptible.CDV spreads through aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids, including nasal and ocular secretions, feces, and urine, six to 22 days after exposure. It can also be spread by food and water contaminated with these fluids.The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although a fever can appear from three to six days after infection.
Canine distemper virus tends to orient its infection towards the lymphoid, epithelial, and nervous tissues. The virus initially replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract. The virus then enters the blood stream and infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital epithelial, and central nervous systems, and optic nerves. Therefore, the typical pathologic features of canine distemper include lymphoid depletion (causing immunosuppression and leading to secondary infections), interstitial pneumonia, encephalitis with demyelination, and hyperkeratosis of the nose and foot pads.
The mortality rate of the virus largely depends on the immune status of the infected dogs. Puppies experience the highest mortality rate, where complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis are more common. In older dogs that develop distemper encephalomyelitis, vestibular disease may present. Around 15% of canine inflammatory central nervous system diseases are a result of CDV.
Prevention - vaccination
A number of vaccines against canine distemper exist for dogs. Infected animals should be quarantined from other dogs for several months due to the length of time the animal may shed the virus.The virus is destroyed in the environment by routine cleaning with disinfectants, detergents, or drying. It does not survive in the environment for more than a few hours at room temperature (20–25°C), but can survive for a few weeks in shady environments at temperatures slightly above freezing. It, along with other labile viruses, can also persist longer in serum and tissue debris.
Distemper is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families, including domestic and wild species of dogs. In canines, distemper impacts several body systems, including the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts and the spinal cord and brain, with common symptoms that include high fever, eye inflammation and eye/nose discharge, labored breathing and coughing, vomiting and diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargy, and hardening of nose and footpads. The viral infection can be accompanied by secondary bacterial infections and can present eventual serious neurological symptoms.
Canine distemper is caused by a single-stranded RNA virus of the family paramyxovirus (the same family of the distinct virus that causes measles in man). The disease is highly contagious via inhalation and is the leading cause of infectious disease death in dogs.
Puppies from three to six months old are particularly susceptible.CDV spreads through aerosol droplets and through contact with infected bodily fluids, including nasal and ocular secretions, feces, and urine, six to 22 days after exposure. It can also be spread by food and water contaminated with these fluids.The time between infection and disease is 14 to 18 days, although a fever can appear from three to six days after infection.
Canine distemper virus tends to orient its infection towards the lymphoid, epithelial, and nervous tissues. The virus initially replicates in the lymphatic tissue of the respiratory tract. The virus then enters the blood stream and infects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital epithelial, and central nervous systems, and optic nerves. Therefore, the typical pathologic features of canine distemper include lymphoid depletion (causing immunosuppression and leading to secondary infections), interstitial pneumonia, encephalitis with demyelination, and hyperkeratosis of the nose and foot pads.
The mortality rate of the virus largely depends on the immune status of the infected dogs. Puppies experience the highest mortality rate, where complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis are more common. In older dogs that develop distemper encephalomyelitis, vestibular disease may present. Around 15% of canine inflammatory central nervous system diseases are a result of CDV.
Prevention - vaccination
A number of vaccines against canine distemper exist for dogs. Infected animals should be quarantined from other dogs for several months due to the length of time the animal may shed the virus.The virus is destroyed in the environment by routine cleaning with disinfectants, detergents, or drying. It does not survive in the environment for more than a few hours at room temperature (20–25°C), but can survive for a few weeks in shady environments at temperatures slightly above freezing. It, along with other labile viruses, can also persist longer in serum and tissue debris.
Ehrlichiosis (spread by ticks)
Erlichiosis is seen in all Mediterranean countries and causes disease in dogs caused by Ehrlichia canis and is also transmitted by ticks. Ehrlichiosis is a parasite that infects the white blood cells. Initially it causes a fever 1 to 3 weeks after infection and some dogs may recover completely. Other dogs remain infected and can develop problems with their immune and blood clotting systems.
Prevention - tick control
Do not walk your dog on rough ground or forests animals with grazing animals. Use a spot-on or a special collar should be used to repel ticks making them much less likely to attach to to your dog. Check your dog every day for ticks and use a tick-remover tool to remove any ticks found as soon as possible.
Erlichiosis is seen in all Mediterranean countries and causes disease in dogs caused by Ehrlichia canis and is also transmitted by ticks. Ehrlichiosis is a parasite that infects the white blood cells. Initially it causes a fever 1 to 3 weeks after infection and some dogs may recover completely. Other dogs remain infected and can develop problems with their immune and blood clotting systems.
Prevention - tick control
Do not walk your dog on rough ground or forests animals with grazing animals. Use a spot-on or a special collar should be used to repel ticks making them much less likely to attach to to your dog. Check your dog every day for ticks and use a tick-remover tool to remove any ticks found as soon as possible.
Heartworm (spread by mosquitos)
Heartworm is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and is common in Australia, America, Asia, Japan, Italy, Spain and southern France but could spread further to the northern coast of France with global warming. Heartworms live in the heart and large blood vessels, causing heart failure and breathing problems. Symptoms are not generally seen for about 6 to 12 months after infection. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Treatment in countries where the disease is endemic is based around mosquito control, and also preventative medication to stop dogs getting infected.
Prevention - mosquito control
Prevention of mosquito bites by using special insect repellent collars or spot-on products. The drugs that prevent heartworm in countries where the disease is endemic are given monthly.
Heartworm is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and is common in Australia, America, Asia, Japan, Italy, Spain and southern France but could spread further to the northern coast of France with global warming. Heartworms live in the heart and large blood vessels, causing heart failure and breathing problems. Symptoms are not generally seen for about 6 to 12 months after infection. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Treatment in countries where the disease is endemic is based around mosquito control, and also preventative medication to stop dogs getting infected.
Prevention - mosquito control
Prevention of mosquito bites by using special insect repellent collars or spot-on products. The drugs that prevent heartworm in countries where the disease is endemic are given monthly.
Leishmaniasis (spread by sandflies)
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan species of Leishmania and is common around the Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal, southern France, Italy and Greece. The disease can be chronic or recurrent and causes weight loss, skin and eye lesions, lameness and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease can be treated, but is difficult to cure completely and may not develop for up to 6 years after the initial infection. Leishmaniasis is spread by the Phlebotomine Sandflies that are mostly found in wooded areas and gardens - not beaches and are active at any time of the day from May to October.
Prevention - sandfly control
Do not allow dogs to sleep outside. Sandflies like cool resting places. Allow animals to sleep upstairs may reduce bites, since Sandflies have limited flight. Environmental insect repellents - e.g. coils and plug-ins. Repellent collars for dogs can give protection for 5 to 6 months.
Leishmaniasis is caused by protozoan species of Leishmania and is common around the Mediterranean including Spain, Portugal, southern France, Italy and Greece. The disease can be chronic or recurrent and causes weight loss, skin and eye lesions, lameness and enlarged lymph nodes. The disease can be treated, but is difficult to cure completely and may not develop for up to 6 years after the initial infection. Leishmaniasis is spread by the Phlebotomine Sandflies that are mostly found in wooded areas and gardens - not beaches and are active at any time of the day from May to October.
Prevention - sandfly control
Do not allow dogs to sleep outside. Sandflies like cool resting places. Allow animals to sleep upstairs may reduce bites, since Sandflies have limited flight. Environmental insect repellents - e.g. coils and plug-ins. Repellent collars for dogs can give protection for 5 to 6 months.
Tapeworm (spread by dogs and foxes)
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is found all over most of Europe and in other foreign countries. Foxes, and domestic dogs are the natural hosts for the adult stage of this tapeworm. The adult tapeworm lives in the gut of the dog, fox or other canids. The head of the tapeworm attaches to the gut wall and then produces hundreds of eggs that are shed in the dog's faeces, Wild rodents such as mice serve as the intermediate host. Eggs swallowed by rodents develop in the liver, lungs and other organs to form multiple cysts and infect dogs and foxes. People can also become an intermediate host by handling infected animals and can be infected by swallowing the tapeworm eggs. The disease can be very serious.
Prevention - worming & hygiene
Don't allow your dog to wander freely and eat rodents.After handling your dog always wash your hands with soap and warm water. Worming regularly with a product with suitable tapeworm activity will reduce the risk of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in your dog.
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is found all over most of Europe and in other foreign countries. Foxes, and domestic dogs are the natural hosts for the adult stage of this tapeworm. The adult tapeworm lives in the gut of the dog, fox or other canids. The head of the tapeworm attaches to the gut wall and then produces hundreds of eggs that are shed in the dog's faeces, Wild rodents such as mice serve as the intermediate host. Eggs swallowed by rodents develop in the liver, lungs and other organs to form multiple cysts and infect dogs and foxes. People can also become an intermediate host by handling infected animals and can be infected by swallowing the tapeworm eggs. The disease can be very serious.
Prevention - worming & hygiene
Don't allow your dog to wander freely and eat rodents.After handling your dog always wash your hands with soap and warm water. Worming regularly with a product with suitable tapeworm activity will reduce the risk of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in your dog.
- Babesiosis
- Brown dog tick
- Brucellosis
- Demodex - Demodectic mange
- Distemper
- Ehrlichiosis
- Rabies
- HCC
- Heartworm
- Kennel Cough
- Leishmaniasis
- Leptospirosis
- Parvovirus
- Pinjelarver
- Tapeworm
- TVT
This is a severe infection of leishmaniasis that many stray dogs can get. It is very painful and dangerous without treatment. This dog was treated and got better and almost completely recovered. The nose will unfortunately always be damaged and partially gone.
Here's the same dog and the treatment is almost complete. A much happier and alert dog.