🐕 Common Dog Diseases: Symptoms & Home Care

Dogs can catch upper respiratory infections similar to human colds. Typical symptoms include:

• Runny nose and sneezing – clear or slightly thick discharge.
• Coughing & throat clearing – mild to moderate.
• Lethargy and reduced appetite – less playful, sleeps more.
• Possible mild fever in some cases.

🏡 Home care & supportive treatment

• Keep your dog warm – provide extra blankets and avoid drafts.
• Ensure fresh water intake to prevent dehydration.
• Use a humidifier or take them into a steamy bathroom to ease breathing.
• Veterinary medications such as Shuanghuanglian oral liquid or Amoxicillin must only be given under prescription – never self-medicate.
• Dress them in a warm dog sweater during cold weather.

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Common symptoms:

• Diarrhea – watery or porridge-like, sometimes foul-smelling or with blood streaks.
• Vomiting – undigested food, foam, or yellow bile.
• Loss of appetite & lethargy – refusing meals, hiding, or unusual tiredness.
• Abdominal pain – dog may hunch over, arch back, or assume a “praying position” (front legs down, rear up).
• Fever – often from bacterial or viral infection.

💊 Immediate care & recovery steps

• Withhold food and water for 6–8 hours (unless puppy or diabetic – ask vet first) to rest the gut.
• After fasting, offer small amounts of 5% glucose solution or electrolyte solution to prevent dehydration.
• Introduce a bland diet (boiled chicken & rice) for 2–3 days.
• Probiotics (e.g., canine-specific powder) help restore gut flora.
• Medications like Cimetidine or Omeprazole (acid reducers) should only be used under veterinary direction.

Osteochondrosis is a developmental cartilage disorder often seen in large/giant breed puppies. Key symptoms:

• Difficulty rising and walking – stiff gait, reluctance to jump.
• Lameness or limping – may shift between legs.
• Joint swelling and deformity – visible enlargement of affected joints (shoulder, elbow, knee).
• Muscle atrophy – loss of muscle mass around the affected limb over time.
• Functional impairment – reduced range of motion.

🩺 Supportive treatment & supplements

• Pet-specific chondroitin & glucosamine – supports cartilage repair.
• Calcium chews / phosphate supplements – only under vet guidance to avoid excess.
• Gentle massage and physical therapy – improves circulation and reduces stiffness.
• Balanced nutrition – high-quality diet with omega-3 fatty acids.
• Moderate, controlled exercise – short leash walks, avoid high-impact activities (jumping, stairs).

Kennel cough (canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is highly contagious. Symptoms evolve in stages:

• Early stage: Short, dry, harsh cough (like a honking goose). Appetite and energy remain normal initially.
• Mid stage: Cough becomes spasmodic and paroxysmal, often triggered by excitement, eating, drinking, or at night. May end with a gag or retch.
• Late stage: Lethargy, low-grade fever (39–40°C / 102.2–104°F), increased eye/nose discharge, and throat pain. Secondary bacterial infections possible.

Complications may include canine distemper, hepatitis, or parainfluenza — which worsen cough and respiratory distress.

🧴 Recommended care & isolation

• Isolate your dog from other pets for at least 7–14 days.
• Use a harness instead of a collar to avoid throat pressure.
• Encourage rest and steam therapy (bathroom steam).
• Antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline) may be prescribed for bacterial overgrowth; cough suppressants only per vet advice.
• Severe cases need veterinary respiratory support and possibly nebulization.