Common Diseases Prevailing in Dogs with Their Symptoms, Diagnosis and Homeopathic Treatment

Introduction

Dogs are faithful companions, and they depend on us for good care. To help your canine friend live a healthy life, you should know some of the most common health problems. There are several common dog diseases that a dog can catch. Many of these diseases are preventable and treatable although there is no way to ensure that your dog will be 100% safe from them in his lifetime. Some of the most common dog diseases include parvo, rabies, distemper, mange, leptospirosis, kennelcough, urinary tract disease, allergic dermatitis, arthritis, and kidney disease.

Various homeopathic remedies for these diseases and ailment are as follows Conventional dog medication usually applies certain chemical or biological agents to our dog’s body in the form of antibiotics and antiviral drugs. These drugs work by suppressing the dog’s illness symptoms. During this process of symptom suppression, the dog’s inherent defence mechanism is weakened. Conventional medicine may make the symptoms go away (for the time being) but does nothing to remove the predisposition of disease and the weakness of immune system.

Homeopathic medicines are alternative medicines based on the doctrine of homeopathy “like cures like”: a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people. There are some commonly used homeopathic medicines such as allium cepa,

Arnica, Chamomilla, Hypericum, Ignatia, Magnesia phosphorica, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Phus tox, etc.

Canine Parvovirus (CPV)

The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a highly contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The virus manifests itself in two different forms. The more common form is the intestinal form, which is characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and lack of appetite (anorexia). The less common form is the cardiac form, which attacks the heart muscles of fetuses and very young puppies, often leading to death. The majority of cases are seen in puppies that are between six weeks and six months old. The incidence of canine parvovirus infections has been reduced radically by early vaccination in young puppies.

Signs & Symptoms of Parvo in Dogs

The major symptoms associated with the intestinal form of a canine parvovirus infection include:

• Severe, bloody diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Anorexia
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Severe weight loss

The intestinal form of CPV affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, and an affected animal will quickly become dehydrated and weak from lack of protein and fluid absorption. The wet tissue of the mouth and eyes may become noticeably red, and the heart may beat too rapidly.

Diagnosis of Parvovirus in Dogs

CPV is diagnosed with a physical examination, biochemical tests, and a special test for the parvovirus in faeces. A urine analysis, abdominal radiographs and abdominal ultrasounds may also be performed. Low white blood cell levels and significant dehydration are indicative of CPV infection, especially in association with bloody stools.

Biochemical and urine analysis may reveal elevated liver enzymes, lymphopenia, and electrolyte imbalances. Abdominal radiograph imaging may show intestinal obstruction, while an abdominal ultrasound may reveal enlarged lymph nodes in the groin, or throughout the body, and fluid-filled intestinal segments.

Treatment of Parvovirus

Homeopathic remedies are effective in relieving GI symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Usually they act rather quickly.

For acute vomiting and diarrhea, use Arsenicum Album (30C).This remedy can be life-saving and should be in your dog first aid kit. Give your dog one dose every hour for up to 6 doses, and then 4 doses daily until the vomiting and diarrhea subside. If the vomit contains blood, use Phosphorus (30C). This remedy is very effective for vomiting. Dose the same as Arsenicum Album. If there is blood in the stools, use Mercurius Corrosivus (30C). Give your dog 4 doses daily until the condition improves.

Parvo-K contains the following 100% active homeopathic ingredients in therapeutic pet- friendly dosage:

• Arsen alb. (6C) is a homeopathic remedy often used for digestive upsets including cramping, vomiting and diarrhoea. Also good for dogs showing signs of lethargy and irritability.
• Belladonna (30C) is used homeopathically for fast relief from acute fever, pain, inflammation and all illnesses with a sudden and severe onset. Thirst, fever and swollen/tender abdomen are further indications for Belladonna.
• Parvo (30C) is a homeopathic remedy used both prophylactically (preventatively) and curatively in the treatment of canine Parvovirus.
• Zingiber off (D3) this homeopathic ingredient is well respected and focuses mainly on the digestive tract. Particularly useful when digestive fluids and acids cause issues. In homeopathic potency this ingredient can be used to address symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, digestive upsets.

Canine distemper

Canine distemper (sometimes termed hardpad disease) is a viral disease that affects a wide variety of animal families, including domestic and wild species of dogs, coyotes, foxes, pandas, wolves, ferrets, skunks, raccoons, and large cats, as well as pinnipeds, some primates, and a variety of other species. Animals in the family Felidae, including many species of large cat as well as domestic cats, were long believed to be resistant to canine distemper, until some researchers reported the prevalence of CDV infection in large felids. Both large Felidae and Domestic cats are now known to be capable of infection, usually through close housing with dogs or possibly blood transfusion from infected cats, but such infections appear to be self- limiting and largely without symptoms. In summary, the symptoms of distemper in dogs include:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• General depression
• Weight loss
• Dehydration
• Nasal discharge
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Bloodshot eyes
• Conjunctivitis
• Dry eye syndrome
• Corneal Ulcer
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hardening of the paw pads
• Skin rashes
• Ataxia
• Involuntary muscle movements
• Seizures
• Apoplexy

Diagnosis of Canine distemper

Infection with the distemper virus can be hard to diagnose with certainty. It is not uncommon for puppies with suggestive clinical signs to have a recent vaccination for the virus. This makes it hard to judge infection by antibody titerin many instances. There is a latent period from the time the virus enters a dog’s body until clinical signs appear of approximately 10 to 14 days which means that puppies already infected may be vaccinated before clinical signs appear. The vaccination is not likely to be effective in preventing the disease when it is given after infection occurs. Sometimes the virus can be identified in infected tissues using immunofluorescent techniques. This works in the white blood cells several days after infection and in conjunctival (the pink part of the eye area) swabs up to 21 days after infection. Inclusion cysts may be seen in conjunctival swabs as well.

General blood chemistry and blood cell count values are usually pretty uninformative when distemper is present. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taps may indicate antibodies to distemper virus and increased protein. X-rays may show signs of pneumonia that are typical for viral infection but not definite for distemper virus alone. In many instances the course of the disease finally provides the diagnosis as initial signs of a generalized illness change to neurologic signs over time.

Treatment of Canine distemper

The following medicines, when carefully selected according to the annexed indications, shall be found more successful in curing this canine scrouge than allopathic means.

• Aconitum. In the first stage, when there is dullness, loss of appetite, inflamed watery eye, quick breathing, and accelerated pulse. It may also be resorted to at a later period of the disease to check the tendency to local inflammations.
• Belladonna. It is indicated, especially when the eyes and throat are affected, as indicated by sensitiveness of the eyes to light, increased vascularity of the white of the eye, and of the inner surface of the lids; agglutination of the lids, and evident pain in these parts; and as regards the throat by an inflamed appearance of the back of the mouth, and by dry, irritating cough, evidently excited by irritation at the top of the windpipe. It is also a valuable remedy when the brain is involved, with such symptoms as delirium and fits. In some cases of encephalitis, it may be necessary to give Aconitum and Belladonna in turns.
• Bryonia. It is required when symptoms of bronchitis set in, viz., short, hurried, and oppressed breathing; rattling of mucus in the chest; frequent moist cough. Both Bryonia and Aconitum may be needed in such a case as this.
• Arsenicum. It is indicated by these symptoms — intense injection of the vessels of the eye; swelling and closure of the lids; profuse secretion of tears and intolerance of light; ulcers and speck on the cornea. This remedy is indicated whenever the disease has prostrated the powers of life, the animal then being emaciated, weak, without appetite, and otherwise in a state apparently lifeless.
• Phosphorus. It is indicated particularly when the lungs are inflamed, as shown by the rust- coloured expectoration, the laboured breathing, and the characteristic signs heard on examining the lungs. It is also a good remedy for the diarrhoeic complication, when the discharge is thin and slimy, or even bloody.
• Phosphoric acid. It has been of service when there is excessive, slimy, or watery diarrhoea; foetid purulent discharge from the nose; and general prostration.
• Mercuriscorrosivus. It is indicated when the mouth is covered with small superficial ulcers, the secretion of saliva increased, and the breath offensive; and also, when there are frequent discharges of bloody mucus from the bowels, with colic, urging and straining.
• Veratrum. It may be of service in cases of diarrhoea, indicating Arsenicum, but continuing in spite of it. Or both these medicines may be given alternately, especially when the disease is advanced, and the symptoms are typhoid in character.

Ehrlichiosis

Ehrlichia is a rickettsial bacteria belonging to the family Ehrlichiaceae. There are several species of Ehrlichia, but the one that most commonly affects dogs and causes the most severe clinical signs is Ehrlichiacanis. This species infects monocytes in the peripheral blood. The brown dog tick, or Rhipicephalus sanguineous, that passes the organism to the dog is prevalent throughout most of the United States, but most cases tend to occur in the Southwest and Gulf Coast regions where there is a high concentration of the tick. Ehrlichia is found in many parts of the world and was first recognized in Algeria in 1935. During the Vietnam War ehrlichiosis became well known as a dog disease due to the infection and death of many military working dogs. Two types of human ehrlichiosis have been identified in the United States: human monocytic ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.

Symptoms of Ehrlichiosis

The acute stage of the disease, occurring most often in the spring and summer, begins one to three weeks after infection and lasts for two to four weeks. Clinical signs include a fever, petechiae, bleeding disorders, vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, discharge from the nose and eyes, and edema of the legs and scrotum. There are no outward signs of the subclinical phase. Clinical signs of the chronic phase include weight loss, pale gums due to anaemia, bleeding due to thrombocytopenia, vasculitis, lymphadenopathy, dyspnoea, coughing, polyuria, polydipsia,

lameness, ophthalmic diseases such as retinal haemorrhage and anterior uveitis, and neurological disease. Dogs that are severely affected can die from this disease.

Although people can get ehrlichiosis, dogs do not transmit the bacteria to humans; rather, ticks pass on the ehrlichia organism. Clinical signs of human ehrlichiosis include fever, headache, eye pain, and gastrointestinal upset. It is quite similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but rash is not seen in patients.

Diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis

Most commonly by serologic testing of the blood for the presence of antibodies against the ehrlichia organism. Many veterinarians routinely test for the disease, especially in enzootic areas. During the acute phase of infection, the test can be falsely negative because the body will not have had time to make antibodies to the infection. As such, the test should be repeated. A PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test can be performed during this stage to detect genetic material of the bacteria. The PCR test is more likely to yield a negative result during the subclinical and chronic disease phases. In addition, blood tests may show abnormalities in the numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, and most commonly platelets, if the disease is present. Uncommonly, a diagnosis can be made by looking under a microscope at a blood smear for the presence of the ehrlichia morulae, which sometimes can be seen as intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within a white blood cell.

Differential diagnoses for ehrlichiosis include

• Acute stage:
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
  • Brucellosis
  • Blastomycosis
  • Endocarditis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Lymphosarcoma
• Chronic stage:
  • Estrogen toxicity
  • Myelophthisis
  • Immune-mediated pancytopenia
  • Multisystemic diseases associated with specific organ dysfunction (eg, glomerulonephritis)

Treatment of Ehrlichiosis

Ledum Palustre is a very good, tried and true, homeopathic remedy that has proven to be a winner in the race against tick diseases. With Ledum you don’t have to think about what kind of tick bit your dog because Ledum works to restore the body’s defense mechanism against all tick diseases.

• Aurumarsenicum 200
• Merc sol 30
• Cantharis 200
• Nux vomica 200
• Pulsatilla 200 

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis (also known as Weil’s disease, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever and many more is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochaetes of the genus Leptospira that affects humans and a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It was first described by Adolf Weil in 1886 when he reported an “acute infectious disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice and nephritis”.

Though being recognised among the world’s most common zoonoses, leptospirosis is a relatively rare bacterial infection in humans. The infection is commonly transmitted to humans

By allowing fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or with the mucous membranes

Leptospirosis is caused by a spirochaete bacterium called Leptospira spp. that has at 5 different serovars of importance in the United States causing disease (icterohaemorrhagiae, canicola, pomona, grippotyphosa, and bratislava). There are other (less common) infectious strains.

Leptospirosis is transmitted by the urine of an infected animal, and is contagious as long as it is still moist. Although rats, mice and voles are important primary hosts, a wide range of other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits, hedgehogs, cows, sheep, raccoons, possums, skunks, and even certain marine mammals are also able to carry and transmit the disease as secondary hosts. Dogs may lick the urine of an infected animal off the grass or soil, or drink from an infected puddle.

Risk factors include veterinarians, slaughter house workers, farmers, and sewer workers.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is also transmitted by the semen of infected animals. Abattoir workers can contract the disease through contact with infected blood or body fluids.

Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact. Leptospirosis is common among watersport enthusiasts in specific areas as prolonged immersion in water is known to promote the entry of the bacteria. Occupational

Leptospirosis is a biphasic disease that begins with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, myalgias, intense headache). The first phase resolves and the patient is asymptomatic briefly before the second phase begins that is characterized by meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice), and renal failure. Because of the wide range of symptoms, the infection is often wrongly diagnosed. This leads to a lower registered number of cases than there really are.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or a rash. The symptoms in humans appear after a 4-14 day incubation period.

Diagnosis of Leptospirosis

Kidney tissue, using a silver staining technique, revealing the presence of Leptospira bacteria on infection the microorganism can be found in blood for the first 7 to 10 days (invoking serologically identifiable reactions) and then moving to the kidneys. After 7 to 10 days the microorganism can be found in fresh urine.

Diagnosis of leptospirosis is confirmed with tests such as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and PCR. Serological testing, the MAT (microscopic agglutination test), is considered the gold standard in diagnosing leptospirosis.

Differential diagnosis list for leptospirosis is very large due to diverse symptomatics. For forms with middle to high severity, the list includes dengue fever and other hemorrhagic fevers, hepatitis of various etiologies, viral meningitis, malaria and typhoid fever. Light forms should be distinguished from influenza and other related viral diseases. Factors like certain dwelling areas, seasonality, contact with stagnant water (swimming, working on flooded meadows, etc) and/or rodents in the medical history support the leptospirosis hypothesis and serve as indications for specific tests (if available).

Leptospira can be cultured in Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium, which is incubated at 28 to 30ºC. The median time to positivity is three weeks with a maximum of 3 months.

Homeopathic Treatment of Leptospirosis

• Aconite: Sudden onset of fever, with chilliness, throbbing pulses and great restlessness from anxiety. It is a remedy of cold, dry weather, bitter winds.
• Gelsemium: There is heaviness and tiredness of body and limbs. Head heavy; eyelids heavy, limbs heavy. Useful for cold & fevers of mild winters.
• Chills in back. Dr. Tylor says “Chills and heat chase one another.” There bursting type of headachae from neck, overhead to eyes and forehead; relieved by copious urination. Thirstless remedy.
• Eupatorium Perfoliatum: There is intense aching in limbs and back as if bones were broken. Patient dare not move for pain. There is aching in all bones with soreness of flesh. There is bursting type of headachae as if patient dare not move for pain. There is shivering chills in back. Chill begins at 7 to 9 am. Eyeballs sore. There may be vomiting of bile. Useful for ‘Break- bone fever’ i.e. Dengue.
• Arsenic Album: Chilliness, restlessness, anxiety, fear of death, prostration. Burning relived by heat. Patient is oversensitive, fastidious. Red- hot – needle like pains. Sensation of ice water running through veins or boiling water going through veins. Patient has thirst for sips of cold water at frequent interval.
• < midnight.
• Pulsatilla: Useful for Influenza with flitting chilliness: Chills in spots. Cold creeps in back. Chilliness < warm room. Profuse morning sweat. Heat as if hot water thrown over him. One sided chilliness – heat – sweat. External warmth is intolerable. < close room. Palpitation and anxiety, must throw off clothes.
• Baptisia: Useful for rapid onset of fever. Patient sinks rapidly into a stupid typhoid state. There is dull, red face, drugged, besotted appearance. High temperature: red, dusky & comatose
• appearance. Patient drops asleep while answering. It is useful medicine for Fever with Gastrointestinal complaints: sudden attacks of violent diarrhoea and vomiting. Great prostration. In worst cases mouth and throat are foul, and discharges very offensive. Patient feels that he is scattered into parts and can’t get himself together.
• Bryonia: Useful for Influenza with white tongue, thirst for much cold fluid. Symptoms worse from every movement, every noise, attacked with dry heat. Patient wants to lie quite still and be let alone. Also useful for Pleurisy, Pleuro-pneumonia. Headache and pain all better by pressure and worse by movement. The anxiety, dream and delirium of Bryonia are of business, in delirium he wants to go home. Pain in head < coughing. Patient is irritable.
• Nux Vomica: Useful for Fever with Chilliness on the slightest movement. Chilliness < after drinking, on slightest exposure to the open air. He cannot get warm. Great coldness not removed by heat of stove, or by bed coverings. Attacks as of fever, shivering and drawing inn limbs. Hahnemann says, “Serious ailments from catching cold are often removed by it.”

Mange

It produce intense irritation the affected parts are either dry and scaly or humid and ulcerous.There are two common types of mite causing Mange skin disease: The Sarcoptes mite lives deep in the hair follicles while the Demodex mite lives on the skin surface eventually. While these two have similarities, knowing the difference comes in handy during diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Most important to note is the Mange is a treatable skin infection. Make sure to consult a vet as soon as you note any telling symptoms of mange.

Demodectic/Red Mange

Demodectic is the most common type of mange in dogs. It appears when the dog’s immune system is not capable of keeping Demodex mites under control. Thus, the dog’s immune system is unable to fight off the overpopulation of insects. This type of mange occurs

primarily in puppies under two years old. Older dogs with evidence of Red Mange could be due to immune suppression brought on by illness or medication.

Demodectic is not contagious to other pets or humans, but it can be transmitted from mothers to their puppies during birth or breastfeeding.

Sarcoptic Mange: Unlike Demodectic, Sarcoptic mange also known as Canine scabies is a highly contagious skin infection found in dogs. It is caused by Sarcoptic mites. Dogs may be infected if they come in contact with an infected area, dogs or hosts. The insect’s mate, then female leaves behind eggs burrowed in the dog’s skin. These will then hatch in four to ten days.

Canine Scabies is highly contagious. It’s advisable to quarantine your dog to avoid infecting other pets. Sarcoptic Mange affects dogs of all ages might be affected, but it’s most common in puppies.

Humans can also be affected by Sarcoptic mange. It can cause small itchy red bumps on the affected area on the human skin. However, their reproduction in human skin is impossible not like the dog’s skin, so the human skin heals in 11 to 16 days.

Common Symptoms of Mange in Dogs

While symptoms may be different for both types of mange, the procedure for checking the symptoms remains the same. This may include, examining the dog’s feet, checking for hair loss, bald spots, and itching,Hair loss is common in dogs with mange

Symptoms for Dogs with Sarcoptic Mange

Canine Scabies has symptoms that are similar to those of flea infections. These symptoms show two to four weeks after exposure, and although Sarcoptic Mange cannot lead to death it can negatively affect your dog’s health. Here are the major symptoms of scabies in dogs:

• Redness, red bumpy rashes that look like mosquito
• Intense scratching
• Alopecia (hair loss), Patchy hair loss on face, ears, legs, and
• Crust formation in the affected area
• Sores
• Skin rash
• Scabs
• Presence of papules
• Crusty sores

Symptoms for Dogs with Demodectic Mange

Demodectic mange commonly occurs mostly in adult dogs with weak immune systems. Demodectic Pododermatitis takes place on the dog’s feet and is very hard to detect or treat. Here is what to watch for:

• Scaling (Bald scaly patches)
• Persistent itching
• Scabbing
• Hair loss
• Sores / lesions

If the dog’s symptoms are confusing or too complicated to understand, have your dog checked by a vet. He’ll examine and perform tests to rule out bacterial infection of the skin, food allergies, or chiggers which portray almost similar symptoms as Mange.

Treatment

Here are the 5 best homeopathic remedies for eczema or atopic dermatitis-

1. Graphites – best homeopathic medicine for eczema with thick discharge
2. Mezereum – best eczema treatment in homeopathy with crust formation
3. HeparSulph– best homeopathic medicine for atopic dermatitis with pus formation
4. Dulcamara – best medicine for eczema worse in cold damp weather
5. Sulphur- best medicine for eczema with burning

Homeopathic Remedies for Curing Mange in Dogs

• Psorinum: It is used for the treatment of mange and as a prophylactic as well.
• Sulphur: This remedy is used in ascending potencies.
• Tellurium: It is recommended when lesions appear on both sides of the body.
• Arsenicumalb: It is used for severe restlessness and itching, which gets worse at night.
• Arsenicum: It is an excellent remedy for pustular lesions on the face and head.

Kennel Cough

Just as human colds may be caused by many different viruses, kennel cough itself can have multiple causes. One of the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica m– which is why kennel cough is often called Bordetella. Most dogs that become infected with Bordetella are infected with a virus at the same time. These viruses, which are known to make dogs more susceptible to contracting Bordetella infection, include canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes virus, parainfluenza virus and canine reovirus.

Dogs “catch” kennelcough when they inhale bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory  tract. This tract is normally lined with a coating of mucus that traps infectious particles, but there are a number of factors that can weaken this protection and make dogs prone to kennel cough infection, which results in inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).These factors include:

• Exposure to crowded and/or poorly ventilated conditions, such as are found in many kennels and shelters
• Cold temperatures
• Exposure to dust or cigarette smoke
• Travel-induced stress

Symptoms of Kennel Cough

The classic symptom of kennel cough is a persistent, forceful cough. It often sounds like a goose honk. This is distinct from a cough-like sound made by some dogs, especially little ones, which is called a reverse sneeze. Reverse sneezes can be normal in certain dogs and breeds, and usually only indicates the presence of post-nasal drip or a slight irritation of the throat. Some dogs with kennel cough may show other symptoms of illness, including sneezing, a runny nose, or eye discharge.

Aconitum napellus. Symptoms such as fever and sneezing come on rapidly, the mouth is dry despite   drinking    a    lot   of    water,    the    animal   seems               anxious—pacing   or    clingy. Ferrumphosphoricum. Low-grade fever with few other indications. May have “drippy” nose, hacking cough with some mucus production.

Full-blown Kennel Cough

There are a number of remedies that can be very useful at this stage.

• Droserarotundifolia. Spasmodic or paroxysmal coughing spells, cough sounds “deep,” worse when lying down. There may be hoarseness and/or laryngitis, and the throat is very sensitive.
• Bryonia alba. Dry cough, aggravated by motion or being carried, although better sitting sphinx-like. Tremendous thirst. Rapid shallow breathing, panting from pain.
• Spongiatosta. Barking cough that sounds like sawing through wood; cough is better from lukewarm water and warm food.
• Rumexcrispus. Dry, spasmodic coughing, cough is worse from cold air, or touching the throat.
• Ipecac. Coughing so violent, it ends in retching or even vomiting.
• Old animals and those with chronic diseases have a much harder time getting through this disease. Kennel Cough is predominantly an upper respiratory disease, so if you hear mucus or rattling in the chest, this means the disease has progressed to the lungs and probably needs professional help. In the meantime, consider the following remedies:
• Antimoniumtartaricum. A lot of thick mucus in the lungs; the animal is already very weak from days of coughing and so has trouble raising the mucus.
• Carbo vegetabilis. The dog is cold and exhausted. Cough is much worse at night. Cough in the morning brings up greenish mucus.
• Homeopathic remedies for Kennel Cough include Drosera for a dry, hacking cough and violent coughing spells. The throat feels ticklish when Drosera is indicated, and pressure to the neck (such as from a collar) can trigger a bout of coughing. The cough may also be worse when lying down.
• Aconite is useful in the very early stages, when signs of kennel cough (coughing, hacking as though something is caught in the throat), first appear.
• RumexCrispus is helpful for a cough associated with tickling in the throat, and which tends to be dry and persistent.
• SpongiaTosta is most helpful for croupy, barking coughs which tend to improve with eating and drinking warm things but get worse from cold drinks. Spongia is indicated for a cough that startles the dog from sleep.

Summary

Thereare various diseases and condition that can affect pet dogs. These include various viral, bacterial, parasitic diseases and ailment, Dogs are susceptible to many diseases transmitted by contact with infected dogs or wildlife. Here are the common canine diseases:

• Rabies — Transmitted by bites from infected Symptoms can include seizures, paralysis, aggression and lack of coordination. Unless treated quickly, rabies is often fatal.
• Distemper — Transmitted by contact with secretions from an infected dog’s nose. Causes pneumonia and There is no cure for the disease. Several vaccines exist that prevent the disease. Distemper is the leading cause of infectious disease death in dogs.
• Parvovirus — Transmitted by exposure to contaminated feces. Causes vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment is intensive, requiring intravenous fluids and medications. Mainly a disease of unvaccinated puppies and dogs; younger pups are more likely than older dogs to die.
• Hepatitis (Adenovirus) — Virus is found in feces and saliva. Causes fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Treatment consists of aggressive fluid therapy. Often fatal, but prevented through
• Parainfluenza — Transmitted by nasal secretions. Causes coughing and sneezing. Antibiotic treatment helps speed
• Bordetella — Transmitted by nasal secretions. Causes coughing and sneezing. Antibiotic treatment helps control
• Lyme disease — Transmitted by Causes fever and joint inflammation. Treatment with antibiotics usually successful.
• Leptospirosis — Picked up from water contaminated by infected urine. Causes kidney and liver disease. Many infections go unnoticed; severe infections are often
• Giardia — Picked up by drinking contaminated water. Causes diarrhea. Treated with antibiotics.

Conclusion

Almost all dog illnesses are amenable to homeopathic treatment. However, homeopathy for dogs is best used to treat chronic ailments – skin irritations, chronic gastric and intestinal disorders, asthma, allergies, arthritis, etc. Even in cases where curative treatment is not possible, such as advanced cases of arthritis, cancers etc., homeopathic remedies are effective in reducing pain (without causing side effects) and improving the animal’s quality of life. In addition, homeopathy for dogs is very effective in the treatment of acute ailments and injuries, such as acute diarrhoea, bleeding, bites and stings, etc. Very often, the action of a rightly selected homeopathic remedy is faster than any other medicines.

References

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