| Pets are prone to many illnesses. Hence, they | | | | fleas and ticks. They are found everywhere and |
| should be taken care of very well and also | | | | can cause extreme irritation to the pet leading to |
| monitored regularly for any symptom of ill health | | | | skin disorders and skin diseases. Ear mites can |
| to keep their well being. A pet can be a happy | | | | cause severe diseases and annoyance in the pet |
| companion to human being only if it is healthy. | | | | commonly in cats and dogs. Hence, it needs to be |
| Some of the symptoms of pet diseases causing ill | | | | treated well by taking the pets to the |
| health: | | | | veterinarian. |
| Loss of appetite, excessive gain or loss of weight, | | | | Rabies: Rabies is one of the deadly pet diseases |
| excess water consumption, abnormal discharges | | | | caused by a virus which attacks the pet's |
| of the nose, eyes etc., abnormal, difficult, | | | | nervous system. Normally rabies is transmitted by |
| uncontrolled waste elimination, lethargy, abnormal | | | | the bite from a rabid animal. It is not necessary |
| behavior, sudden viciousness, limping, abnormal | | | | that all rabid animals appear mad and foam at the |
| lumps, finding difficult to get up or lie down, | | | | mouth. Many infected pets can be very tame and |
| dandruff, open sores, dull coat or ragged coat, | | | | calm. Rabies affects only mammals. It does not |
| excessive head shaking, scratching, biting or licking | | | | affect reptiles, birds, fish or amphibians. |
| any particular part of the body, tartar on the | | | | Types of cancer in pets: |
| teeth, foul breath etc. | | | | Cancer is a common pet disease and it accounts |
| Common pet diseases: | | | | for almost 50% of the deaths of the pets over |
| Lyme disease: This is an infectious disease spread | | | | 10 years of age. Some cancer types like the |
| by a tick, which is not larger than the head of the | | | | breast cancer can be prevented to a large extent |
| pin in size. It is caused by a bacterium called | | | | with early spaying, whereas other types of |
| spirochete transmitted to the pets and humans | | | | cancers are very difficult to be prevented since |
| by the tick bite. If not treated properly it may | | | | the causes are not known properly. |
| lead to heart diseases or neurological complications | | | | Commonly found cancer types are skin tumors - |
| or joint damages and kidney related problems in | | | | More common among older dogs, but lesser |
| the pets. | | | | among cats, breast tumors are seen both in dogs |
| Infestation due to internal parasites: Internal | | | | and cats. Early spaying can reduce their incidence. |
| parasites like the hookworms, tapeworms, | | | | Head and neck cancer - The common disease is |
| heartworms and roundworms rob the pets of | | | | the mouth cancer more in dogs and lesser in the |
| important nutrients, causing fatigue, loss of | | | | cats. Cancer in the nose also seen in dogs and |
| appetite, anemia and even death. Especially | | | | cats, lymphoma is found in cats and dogs with an |
| puppies and kittens are very much susceptible to | | | | enlargement of one or more lymph nodes of the |
| these kinds of infestations. This can be very well | | | | body, testicular tumors are seen in the dogs and |
| controlled and prevented. | | | | rarely in cats and bone tumors are common |
| Infestations due to external parasites: Pets are | | | | among large breed dogs and rarely seen in the |
| affected by external parasites like the lice, mites, | | | | cats. |