New Born Puppies are usually vulnerable to diseases. This is because their immune system is still very weak. You therefore need to handle your puppy like a toddler. But you can always boost his immune system by giving him a balanced diet and getting him immunized. However, no matter how well you feed the little fellow, there are certain diseases that he has to go through. His survival depends on how well you are prepared to cope with these illnesses.
Parvovirus (Parvo)
Puppies that are between the ages of 12 weeks and 3 years are more vulnerable to Parvo attacks. Managing this illness is tricky due to the fact that it’s contagious. This means that healthy puppies can get it by coming into contact with an infected dog. However, the disease doesn’t affect humans. You can therefore attend to your dog without fear of contracting the virus.
A puppy that’s suffering from Parvo is likely to have fever at the initial stages. The disease is also characterized by violent diarrhoea and throwing up. These symptoms cause the dog to become very weak due to loss of water. It’s recommended that you take the dog to the nearest clinic before the situation worsens. You can keep Parvo at bay by vaccinating your puppy from the time it’s six weeks old. Regular vaccination must continue until the dog is above 3 years.
Distemper
If your puppy contracts distemper, it will sneeze frequently. Besides that, there could be discharge oozing from the eyes. Most dog owners confuse distemper with cold due to constant sneezing. It’s therefore important to have the puppy examined by a vet so that the condition can be confirmed.
If this condition is allowed to persist, it can develop into pneumonia. The condition normally requires the dog to be hospitalized for at least 14 days. You can protect your puppy from distemper through immunization. The first injection is administered at 6 weeks. The second injection should be administered in the 10th week.
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is usually caused by parainfluenza viruses. And just like other viral diseases, the condition can be spread from one dog to another through the air. As a matter of fact, this illness is very common in kennel facilities probably due to congestion. A puppy that has been diagnosed with kennel cough looks drowsy and weak.
