In recent years, dog keeping has become increasingly popular in cities, and people’s affection for pet dogs has grown stronger. As pet owners, we all hope to prevent illness in time whenever possible. Today we will briefly discuss what to do if a Dogo Argentino gets sick and what kinds of food may be suitable in that situation.
1. Canine distemper
What is canine distemper? It is the disease often referred to simply as “dog distemper.” If a Dogo Argentino catches it, one of the main signs is fever. This disease is highly contagious and can cause severe damage to the dog’s body. Even today it remains difficult to treat, and dogs that recover may still be left with many aftereffects. In addition, a recovered dog may continue spreading the disease for a long time, so distemper is considered especially frightening by both owners and veterinarians. How does a Dogo Argentino become infected?
1. Transmission routes
A Dogo Argentino may become infected after direct contact with a sick dog. Some pet dogs carry the virus without showing symptoms, and contact with them may also cause infection. Even dogs that have recovered from distemper may still transmit the disease through physical contact with other dogs. These are direct transmission routes. There are also indirect routes: saliva, blood, urine, and other secretions from infected dogs contain the virus. If a Dogo Argentino comes into contact with or sniffs these contaminants, the virus can enter through the digestive tract and lead to infection.
2. Symptoms
After a Dogo Argentino is infected with the distemper virus, the main symptom is a rise in body temperature. The fever may last for several days and then go down, only to rise again and persist. This repeated fever can last a long time. Because of this, some owners may mistake it for an ordinary cold or common fever and fail to treat the dog in time, missing the crucial window for treatment. If your Dogo Argentino can no longer walk normally or even develops convulsions, the illness is already very serious. That is why owners must pay attention to changes in the dog’s normal condition and contact a veterinarian immediately if anything unusual appears.
3. Treatment
Treatment is generally carried out in a hospital, and if the illness is severe, hospitalization may be necessary. Every Dogo Argentino is different, so treatment methods also vary. The veterinarian will determine the proper treatment according to the condition. What owners should do is provide careful nursing, with special attention paid to changes in the dog’s body temperature.
The first step is to take the dog’s temperature. There are two methods: inserting a thermometer into the rectum, or measuring from the root of the hind leg. The first method is more accurate, but care must be taken not to hurt the dog, so measuring near the leg is often easier for ordinary owners. The second step is to disinfect the dog carefully, keep its body clean, and wash and disinfect its clothing and other items. In terms of diet, the dog should be given easily digestible food and a balanced diet to maintain strength. Most importantly, caring for a sick Dogo Argentino requires love and patience, along with frequent comforting and encouragement.
2. Fungal skin disease
Skin disease is also one of the common illnesses seen in pet dogs. Fungal skin disease is a contagious skin problem caused by fungi such as dermatophytes, and it can spread between animals and humans. Owners should therefore be very careful. This disease often lasts a long time, and if you come into contact with a sick Dogo Argentino while caring for it, you must pay attention to your own hygiene and keep the infected dog away from other pets and people.
1. Transmission routes
Canine fungal skin disease mainly spreads through direct body contact. Another route is contact with objects contaminated by fungal spores. Eating moldy food or staying in a dark, damp environment can also easily trigger infection. Parasites such as fleas may also spread pathogens, so in damp seasons Dogo Argentinos are even more likely to become infected.
2. Symptoms
What are the symptoms? At the beginning, people often do not notice the disease easily. After a few days, round or oval patches begin to appear on the dog’s body, accompanied by hair loss, and they gradually spread over larger areas. If the dog is already weak physically, it is even more likely to develop this disease, and the severity may be much greater than in an otherwise healthy Dogo Argentino.
3. Treatment
Once you notice symptoms of fungal skin disease, the dog should be taken to a hospital immediately for examination and treatment so that the illness does not worsen through delay. If the Dogo Argentino has skin disease, the coat generally needs to be shaved to make treatment easier. Because fungal skin disease can also infect humans, owners must pay attention to their own safety. Once the dog is diagnosed, treatment should begin as quickly as possible, both for the dog’s health and for personal safety, while fully cooperating with the veterinarian.
3. Mange or mite infestation
1. Cause of the disease
Besides highly contagious diseases such as distemper and fungal skin disease, Dogo Argentinos also commonly suffer from mite infestation. Severe mite infestation can develop into mange. If the dog lives in a hot, damp environment, or during humid summer weather, it becomes easier for a Dogo Argentino to get mites. Young dogs have relatively weak resistance, so once infected they may become much more seriously affected. That is why the health of young dogs deserves special attention.
2. Symptoms
When mites invade the dog’s body, the skin may become red and hair loss may appear. Some Dogo Argentinos will feel itchy and constantly scratch the affected area with their paws, or rub the body against the floor or walls. This behavior can lead to severe hair loss.
3. Treatment
If the Dogo Argentino shows these symptoms, take it to the hospital promptly for examination. Do not ignore the problem as if it were minor. Under veterinary guidance, medicated baths can be used to help relieve the condition. It is also important to watch for allergic reactions to medication, so medicines should never be used privately without consulting a veterinarian.
In short, if we want the Dogo Argentino to grow up healthy and avoid disease, the correct approach is prevention in advance. Keep the home well ventilated and dry, maintain environmental hygiene, and consider vaccination for the dog to help prevent disease effectively.