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