Diseases In Dogs

The following are the most common diseases found in dogs in Spain:

Diseases Spread By Mosquitoes:

Mosquitoes primarily transmit heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) to dogs, a dangerous condition causing heart and lung damage. Other less common, but serious, mosquito-borne illnesses include West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), and in some regions, leishmaniasis, which can cause skin lesions and severe systemic illness.

• Heartworm Disease: The most common threat. Mosquitoes inject larvae that grow into adult worms in the heart and lung vessels, causing coughing, exercise intolerance, and heart failure.
• Leishmaniasis: Transmitted by sandflies (often confused with or grouped with mosquito threats), causing skin lesions, hair loss, and chronic organ damage.

Diseases Spread By Ticks:

Ticks transmit serious bacterial and protozoal diseases to dogs, including Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Babesiosis. Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, lethargy, anaemia, and swollen lymph nodes. Preventative tick control and annual testing are essential to prevent these potentially fatal infections.

Diseases Spread By Viruses:

Common viral diseases in dogs include highly contagious and often fatal infections like Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). Other significant viral illnesses include Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Canine Parainfluenza, Rabies, and Canine Influenza (kennel cough). Many are preventable through core vaccinations.

Diseases Spread By Bacteria:

Bacterial diseases in dogs range from common skin and ear infections (pyoderma, staph) to serious systemic illnesses like leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and kennel cough. Key bacterial pathogens include Leptospira, Salmonella, Bordetella, and Staphylococcus, often causing respiratory, digestive, or skin issues, and some are zoonotic (transmissible to humans).

Epilepsy in dogs is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures caused by abnormal brain activity. While sometimes linked to genetics (idiopathic), seizures can also stem from structural brain issues. Common signs include collapsing, convulsions, drooling, and paddling motions. While usually not curable, it is manageable through medication to improve quality of life.

Worm infestation:

Worm infections in dogs, including common intestinal parasites like roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and whipworms, are often asymptomatic but can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, and a swollen belly. Serious infections may lead to anaemia (hookworms) or fatal heart complications (heartworms). Regular deworming, flea control, and cleaning up feces are crucial for prevention.

All these diseases are preventable and can be treated. See the separate section for advice on prevention of diseases.

Fact sheets on each disease or condition and their treatment can be found in the "Fact Sheets" section.