Like the human flu, canine influenza, or “dog flu”, is very contagious. It can easily be spread to other dogs through natural behavior, such as barking or sneezing, or from shared toys or water bowls. If your dog shows any signs of dog flu, it’s important to keep him away from other dogs to avoid passing along the infection.
The flu virus can survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and on hands for 12 hours.
Though humans can’t catch dog flu, humans can spread it to other dogs if they come into contact with an infected dog or item and then touch another dog. Be sure to wash your hands, clothes, and any potentially contaminated surfaces to avoid spreading the virus to other dogs.
Dogs are most infectious in the first 2-4 days of infection, before they start showing signs. That means your dog could be spreading the virus before you even know he is sick.
The pancreas is an important organ that lies near the stomach, colon, and small intestine. It has two functions: to produce hormones, such as insulin, and to produce enzymes that help in the digestion of food. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the disorder is called pancreatitis.
There are two forms of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Acute pancreatitis occurs with a sudden onset of symptoms and no previous signs of the condition. Chronic pancreatitis develops over time and is frequently recurrent. Acute pancreatitis can become chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can lead to dehydration, organ damage, diabetes, insufficient digestive enzyme production, and, in severe cases, death. A variety of triggers for pancreatitis have been reported.
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious, potentially fatal viral disease that most often occurs in puppies or adult dogs who haven’t been vaccinated against parvovirus. The virus affects the rapidly dividing cells in a dog’s gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow. The impact of the viral infection on your dog is severe diarrhea and a dangerously low white blood cell count.
Parvovirus is spread through direct dog-to-dog contact or contact with virus-contaminated feces, environments, objects, or people. The virus can survive in the environment for long periods of time, and is resistant to heat, cold, humidity, and drying. Even trace amounts of feces from an infected dog may harbor the virus and infect other dogs. The virus is present in the feces for up to three weeks after infection and recovered dogs may serve as carriers.
Parvovirus can exist in an environment for many months, but it can be inactivated by cleaning thoroughly with a dilute bleach solution (1 part bleach to 30 parts water).
Hot weather, freezing temperatures, snow, and rain DO NOT inactivate this virus.
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that affects a dog’s stomach. The term is used colloquially to refer to two stomach disorders: gastric dilatation (GD), where the stomach fills with gas; and the more serious gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), where the stomach fills with gas and then twists on itself.
Both conditions can cause shock because the distended, gas-filled stomach obstructs blood flow. However, gastric dilatation can be relieved by emptying the stomach while gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) requires emergency surgery to untwist the stomach and save the dog’s life.
