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Dogs + Infectious Diseases

  • Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial intestinal infection usually acquired by exposure to raw meat, poultry, or infected water, but can be spread between pets and humans. Signs of infection are watery or mucoid diarrhea with straining, possible cramping, lethargy, and fever. Testing, treatment and prevention are discussed.

  • Canine coronavirus (CCoV) is not the same virus as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Canine coronavirus disease, known as CCoV, is a highly infectious intestinal infection in dogs, especially puppies. CCoV does not affect people, and causes gastrointestinal problems as opposed to respiratory disease. Crowding and unsanitary conditions lead to coronavirus transmission. This article discusses signs, treatment, and vaccines for this disease.

  • Kennel cough is the common name for an infectious respiratory disease that affects the trachea and lower airways in dogs. Viral or bacterial pathogens may cause it. Treatment may or may not be necessary with antibiotics and, in some cases, anti-inflammatory medication. There are no long-term effects from this infection.

  • Canine influenza is a relatively new, highly contagious virus that causes respiratory disease in dogs. It has been reported in all US states and some Canadian provinces. Clinical signs include coughing, runny nose, and fever. Definitive testing can be performed in the early stages of the disease. Vaccination is recommended for dogs at a higher risk of infection or morbidity. The virus is not spread to humans, but cats can become infected.

  • Capillaria is a small internal parasite that is closely related to intestinal worms, though they can live in a variety of locations within the body. Diagnosis can be difficult because the eggs intermittently. Dogs acquire Capillaria infections from the environment. This handout outlines diagnosis, treatments, and prevention.

  • COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease of humans that was first discovered in late 2019. The illness is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, which is a new coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. Certain animals can be infected by the COVID-19 virus, but it appears to be infrequent. Dogs and cats seldom show severe clinical illness if infected with COVID-19.

  • Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is an infection caused by a blood-borne protozoal parasite. It is spread mostly by insects in the subfamily Triatominae, known as "kissing bugs." This handout outlines the signs of this disease, treatment, prevention, and risk to human health.

  • Coccidiosis is an intestinal tract infection caused by a single-celled organism (protozoa) called coccidia. Coccidia are microscopic parasites that live within the cells that line the intestine. The most common clinical sign of coccidiosis is diarrhea, but most dogs have no clinical signs.

  • COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Current evidence suggests that person-to-person spread is the main source of infection. While there is evidence of transmission from humans to dogs and cats, it does not appear common. If you suspect that you are ill with COVID-19, you should take the same precautions with your pet as you would with people.

  • Discospondylitis is a bacterial or fungal infection of the intervertebral discs and the adjacent vertebral bones in the back. It primarily affects dogs, though rarely can affect cats. It affects large-breed dogs more often and generally starts as back pain. This handout outlines the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.