5 Common Illnesses for Dogs:

Parvovirus: This is a virus that attacks cells in a dog, this usually affects the intestinal tract and it attacks white blood cells. In more severe cases, younger dogs who contract this virus can result with damage to the heart and cause lifelong cardiac issues.

• Symptoms: Lethargy, Severe vomiting, Loss of appetite, Bloody, foul-smelling diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. 

• Preventions: Make sure your dog has been vaccinated for this disease. This should be a CORE vaccination for all puppies and dogs. 

• Treatments: There are no drugs that can kill this virus. Treatments can include intensive care at a veterinarian hospital to lessen the symptoms and boost your dog's immune system. At the veterinary hospital your dog will receive antibiotics to control secondary infections, drugs to control the vomiting, and intravenous fluids to treat dehydration. The stay at the veterinary hospital is about 5-7 days. Getting your dog vaccinated is very important because treatment is not always successful, so get your dog vaccinated!

Kennel Cough: Kennel Cough is a viral and bacterial illness that causes inflammation in your dog's voice box and windpipe region. This is really similar to a chest cold in humans. 

• Symptoms: A persistent dry cough with a “honking” sound, In most cases, she’ll appear healthy except for the cough, Gagging, Coughing up white foamy phlegm, Fever, Nasal discharge. 

• Preventions: The absolute best way to prevent your dog from getting Kennel Cough is to prevent exposure. However, there are vaccinations for components for kennel cough such as Parainfluenza, Bordetella and Adenovirus-2.

•  Treatment: In most cases, you'll be advised to let Kennel cough just do it's thing (determine this after seeing a veterinarian). Some things you can do to ease the discomfort are to run a humidifier, isolate your dog from other dogs, give your dog an antimicrobial (prescribed), make sure your dog is eating and drinking.

Heartworms: Heartworms is when your dog has a parasitic worm living in his or her's heart or arteries. The worms travel through your dogs bloodstream, attacking and harming the essential organs. This is a very fatal and serious disease. 

• Symptoms: Labored breathing, Coughing, Vomiting, Weight loss, listlessness and fatigue after only moderate exercise. In some cases, some dogs show no symptoms at all until the late stages of infection. 

• Preventions: There are quite a few medications that can prevent your dog from contracting this illness. These medicines however, can only be prescribed by your vet. 

• Treatment: The best treatment should be determined after a thorough examination of your dog. The most common and highest success rate is injections of the drug into the muscles called adulticides. This usually requires hospitalization for multiple days. After treatment, your dog should be put on preventative medicine to prevent anymore infections.

Ringworm: Ringworm isn't a worm, it's a fungus infects your dogs skin, nails, or hair; this disease is HIGHLY contagious and can spread to humans too. 

• Symptoms: Skin lesions that typically appear on the head, ears, paws and forelimbs. Ringworm can patchy, crusted, circular bald spots that sometimes look red in the center, In mild cases, there may be just a few broken hairs, while bad cases can spread over most of a dog’s body. It’s also possible for a pet to carry the fungus and not show any symptoms whatsoever. 

• Preventions: Since this is highly contagious, it's more likely for your dog to contract it from a Kennel. Clean your dog's brushes, blankets, and your home regularly. Make sure your dog takes baths regularly and wash their blankets or bedding regularly.

• Treatment: Treatment will vary depending on how sever your dogs case is. Your veterinarian may prescribe medicated shampoo or soap, and sometimes maybe even oral medicine (if necessary). Stay on treatment for as long your veterinarian says.

Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease that resides in the brain and spinal cord. This disease is extremely fatal and all mammals, including humans, can contract it.

• Symptoms: There are a variety of symptoms for Rabies, ranging from mild to extremely severe. Changes in behavior (including restlessness, apprehension, aggression or irritability), Biting or snapping at any form of stimulus, Attacking other animals, humans and even inanimate objects, Licking, biting and chewing at the bite site, Fever, Hypersensitivity, Hiding in dark places, Eating unusual objects, Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles, Foaming at the mouth, Disorientation, incoordination and staggering, Paralysis of the hind legs, Loss of appetite, Weakness, Seizures, Sudden death (in most severe cases).

• Preventions: The best prevention is getting your dog vaccinated, in some areas this is required. Avoid your dog having contact with wild animals or stray pets.

5 Common Illnesses for Cats

Upper Respiratory Infection: URI is a viral infection that affects your cats upper respiratory tract (ex. nose, throat, and sinus areas). 

• Symptoms: Sneezing, Congestion, Runny nose, Cough, Clear to colored nasal discharge, Gagging, drooling, Fever, Loss of or decreased appetite, Rapid breathing, Nasal and oral ulcers, Squinting or rubbing eyes, Open-mouth breathing

• Preventions: The way to prevent URI is to keep up with vaccines, keep your cat isolated from infected cats, and minimize stress.

• Treatment: Your veterinarian may prescribe one of these methods to treat your cat. They are, Medications, Isolation, Rest, Support with fluids, Nutritional support

High Rise Syndrome: This just referred to cats who fall from high places frequently, most commonly from unscreened window sills. This can result in broken jaws or bones, bruised muscles or in more severe cases, death. The best thing an owner can do is try to prevent your cat from falling from high places.

• Preventions: Some things you can do to prevent your cat from falling from a high place is make sure all of your higher up windows have screens and know that cats can slip through child proof window guards. 

Ringworm: Ringworm isn't a worm, it's a fungus infects your cats skin, nails, or hair; this disease is HIGHLY contagious and can spread to humans! 

• Symptoms: Skin lesions that typically appear on the head, ears, paws and forelimbs. Ringworm can patchy, crusted, circular bald spots that sometimes look red in the center, In mild cases, there may be just a few broken hairs, while bad cases can spread over most of a cats body. It’s also possible for your car to carry the fungus and not show any symptoms. 

• Preventions: Since this is highly contagious, it's more likely for your cat to contract it from a Kennel or other cats. Clean your cat's brushes, blankets, and your home regularly. Make sure your cat takes baths regularly and wash their blankets or bedding regularly.

• Treatment: Treatment will vary depending on how sever your cats case is. Your veterinarian may prescribe medicated shampoo or soap, and sometimes maybe even oral medicine (if necessary). Stay on treatment for as long your veterinarian says.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): FeLV is a virus that affects the cats immune symptom. Some cats may not show symptoms, so you should always get your new or sick cat tested for FeLV. This is one of the most common causes of death in cats.

• Symptoms: Not all cats show symptoms but if they do they will be one these: Loss of appetite and weight loss, Pale or inflamed gums, Poor coat condition, Abscesses, Fever, Upper respiratory infections, Diarrhea and vomiting, Seizures, Changes in behavior, Vision or other eye problems, Enlarged lymph nodes, Reproductive problems (in females), Jaundice, Chronic skin disease, Respiratory distress, Lethargy.

• Preventions: Get your cat infected for FeLV and keep your cat away form possibly affected cats. 

• Treatments: Sadly, there is no cure for FeLV.

• Care: Here are ways you can care for your cat if they have FeLV. Feed your cat a nutritionally balanced diet, Provide a quiet place for your cat to rest indoors and away from other cats, and Bring your cat to the vet every six months at the very least.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): FIV affects the cats immune system and sometimes won't show symptoms until years after the initial infect. Since this disease affects your cats immune system, your cat is most susceptible to other diseases.

• Symptoms: Symptoms might not show in your cat for years but when they do they will be: enlarged lymph nodes, Fever, Anemia, Weight loss, Disheveled coat, Poor appetite, Diarrhea, Abnormal appearance or inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis), Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), Inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis), Dental disease, Skin redness or hair loss, Wounds that don’t heal, Sneezing, Discharge from eyes or nose, Frequent urination, straining to urinate or urinating outside of litter box, Behavior change.

• Preventions: Talk to your veterinarian about if the vaccine is the right choice for your cat, stay away from infected cats.

• Treatment: There is no specific cure the disease but these will help with suppressing the symptoms. Medication for secondary infections, Healthy, palatable diet to encourage good nutrition, Fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy, Anti-inflammatory drugs, Immune-enhancing drugs, and Parasite control.