Research
has shown that 70% of those who have dog(s) in their homes do not know the
exact causes of death in dogs.
Swallowing of bones, eating remnants, car
accidents, poisoning, tick infestation and parvo-viral infections are the
leading causes of death in dogs. Knowing more about these conditions would help
your dog to live a long, rewarding and fulfilling life.
Bones
Cooked
or raw, bones can be very hazardous to your dog because if swallowed, they
become lodged in its esophagus (or throat).
Inside
the neck of a dog, the throat lies behind the trachea (wind pipe). So, if a
bone lodges in the throat, it would put pressure on the wind pipe and reduce
the amount of air that the pet can breathe in or out.
In some bad cases, the wind pipe becomes blocked, thereby preventing the dog
from breathing. The pet may drop dead within a few minutes.
In some
other cases, the bone is crushed by the pet and swallowed. The sharp edges of
the swallowed bone can puncture the throat, stomach or intestines of the animal
and result in its death.
Remnants
Remnants
are usually not stored under hygienic conditions and they may be contaminated
with micro-organisms and foreign objects, such as tooth picks, bottle crown
tops, serviette paper, stones and dirt.
If
these substances are ingested (swallowed), they can cause severe damage to the
stomach and intestines of your dog.
I have
seen a dog vomit a tooth pick after eating the remnants of a meal. If the
toothpick found its way into the dog’s stomach, your guess is as good as mine.
Car accidents
Car
accidents are not very common causes of death among pets, but when they occur
it usually results in instant death or permanent disability. Accidents usually
occur in the garage or parking area.
Accidents
can be avoided by looking beneath and around your car before moving it. Also
you can ensure that your pet is in your sight or better still, locked in the
kennel before you move the car.
Tick infestation
Ticks
fasten themselves onto the skin of dogs and feed on their blood. Many ticks
feeding on a pet at the same time can result in a significant loss of
blood(Anemia).
Apart
from anemia, ticks can transmit diseases like tick fever (Babesiosis) and tick
paralysis. Some signs of these diseases include increased body temperature,
loss of appetite, yellow or brown urine, weakness, anaemia, paralysis (in case
of tick paralysis) and death.
Take
prevention and control of ticks seriously and ensure that you do not crush
ticks. If you crush ticks, they will increase in number.
The
reason is simple. When you crush ticks, you will allow hundreds of eggs in
their bodies to spill out. These eggs hatch after a few days and become adult
ticks in a short while.
Ticks
can be eliminated by using commercial sprays and safe chemical solutions. But I
recommend that the procedure be carried out by a veterinarian or qualified
professional who should also be careful not to eliminate the ticks and the dog.
Poisoning
A
leading cause of poisoning is the use of tick control solutions, sprays and
chemicals to bath for dogs. Even if you cover their mouths or prevent them from
licking their body, these chemicals can still find their way into the body
through the pores (tiny holes) on the skin.
Signs
of poisoning include increased salivation, vomiting, body weakness, collapse,
muscle spasms, convulsions.
Activated
charcoal administered orally can be a good first aid. In the absence of
charcoal, you can give milk or egg solution. Palm oil is also commonly used but
I don’t usually recommend this because it induces vomiting. A weak pet may
inhale the vomit and this can lead to suffocation and death.
Great
caution should be taken before, during and after using these chemical
substances because your pet’s skin is very sensitive. Also, please ensure that
the spray or solution has been recommended by a veterinary doctor.
Furthermore,
before you apply sprays or solutions, remove feeding bowls, drinking bowls,
leftover food, beddings, treats and toys. Also, make sure that all pesticide
residues are kept out of the reach of children and pets. Do not carelessly dump
left over chemicals where it could contaminate soil or drinking water.
Parvovirus
Canine
parvovirus type 2 (CPV2) is an extremely contagious virus that primarily
afflicts dogs. It is contacted when unvaccinated dogs come in contact with
infected dogs or persons/objects that have been contaminated with the faeces,
saliva and other body secretions of infected dogs.
The
specific sign of parvo virus is a foul smelling bloody diarrhea. Other signs
include generalized weakness, loss of appetite, drooling, vomiting and a
life-threatening dehydration.
Ninety-one
percent of untreated cases will result in death and treatment may be successful
if disease is quickly detected.
Vaccination
can prevent parvo virus.
However, preventive measures should still be taken after vaccination because I
have seen vaccinated dogs come down with the virus. I will discuss the reasons
for vaccination failure some other time. So, I recommend that you avoid walking
young dogs in public places until it all the required vaccinations have been
administered.
In most
cases, adult dogs above five years of age will not come down with the disease.
But puppies and adolescent are most susceptible to the virus.
A
solution of one part bleach to thirty parts water is a potent in-activator of
the virus.
Reference:
punchng
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