02-07-2012, 11:47 PM
A dog's first vaccine is always against DHPP (short for Distemper, Hepatitis, Para Influenza and Parvovirus) Four major diseases that if left untreated, can be fatal to pretty much any canine.
After googling some information, I found out that all of the previously mentioned have been killing wolves too.
Canine Distemper is ultimately responsible for the low survival rates of wolf pups in Yellowstone. The overall gray wolf population declined in Yellowstone last year by 27%.
Canine distemper is usually transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions. But contact with fecal material and the urine of infected dogs or things they have contaminated can also cause infection.
Here are a list of the symptoms: http://www.dogsymptomscure.com/dog-distemper-symptoms.php
Infectious Canine Hepatitis is an acute liver infection in canines. It's viral and thus, highly contagious. The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys.
Wiki has a list of symptoms here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_canine_hepatitis
Canine Parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is frequently confused with kennel cough. It is airborne.
While the symptoms are very similar, canine parainfluenza is actually a major factor that can cause kennel cough, which is an acute inflammation of the upper airways. The disease can progress to pneumonia in puppies or chronic bronchitis in older dogs.
Link to the symptoms: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5254793_canine-p...a-symptoms.html
And last but not least, Parvovirus is fecal-oral, highly contagious and often FATAL. Parvo can be carried on the canine's hair and feet, as well as on contaminated crates, shoes, and other objects. For example, canine steps in fecal matter and then proceeds to lick its paws.
Additional info and symptoms here: http://aboutdogsandpets.com/canine-parvovirus
And that's only the four major illnesses. This doesn't count the parasites passed down from a mother's milk down to her pups 99.9999999% of the time. All puppies have parasites, benign for the most part. And then you have the wicked ones like coccidia, who weaken a puppy's immune system and leave the killing blow to parvovirus or distemper.
Wolves have on average 5 to 6 puppies per litter but they can go up to as many as 12 puppies, if not more. Realistically, these diseases would be fatal to a vast majority of the pups (as much as 50% or so).
Lyme disease is another one, not quite as deadly but an annoyance nonetheless. It's transmitted via ticks - it mostly affects the joints. Symptoms include: stiff walk and arched back, sensitivity to the touch, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, etc.
I don't think I've ever seen anything RPed like this before. Just putting the idea out there. -shrug-
/endbabble.
After googling some information, I found out that all of the previously mentioned have been killing wolves too.
Canine Distemper is ultimately responsible for the low survival rates of wolf pups in Yellowstone. The overall gray wolf population declined in Yellowstone last year by 27%.
Canine distemper is usually transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions. But contact with fecal material and the urine of infected dogs or things they have contaminated can also cause infection.
Here are a list of the symptoms: http://www.dogsymptomscure.com/dog-distemper-symptoms.php
Infectious Canine Hepatitis is an acute liver infection in canines. It's viral and thus, highly contagious. The virus is spread in the feces, urine, blood, saliva, and nasal discharge of infected dogs. It is contracted through the mouth or nose, where it replicates in the tonsils. The virus then infects the liver and kidneys.
Wiki has a list of symptoms here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_canine_hepatitis
Canine Parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is frequently confused with kennel cough. It is airborne.
While the symptoms are very similar, canine parainfluenza is actually a major factor that can cause kennel cough, which is an acute inflammation of the upper airways. The disease can progress to pneumonia in puppies or chronic bronchitis in older dogs.
Link to the symptoms: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5254793_canine-p...a-symptoms.html
And last but not least, Parvovirus is fecal-oral, highly contagious and often FATAL. Parvo can be carried on the canine's hair and feet, as well as on contaminated crates, shoes, and other objects. For example, canine steps in fecal matter and then proceeds to lick its paws.
Additional info and symptoms here: http://aboutdogsandpets.com/canine-parvovirus
And that's only the four major illnesses. This doesn't count the parasites passed down from a mother's milk down to her pups 99.9999999% of the time. All puppies have parasites, benign for the most part. And then you have the wicked ones like coccidia, who weaken a puppy's immune system and leave the killing blow to parvovirus or distemper.
Wolves have on average 5 to 6 puppies per litter but they can go up to as many as 12 puppies, if not more. Realistically, these diseases would be fatal to a vast majority of the pups (as much as 50% or so).
Lyme disease is another one, not quite as deadly but an annoyance nonetheless. It's transmitted via ticks - it mostly affects the joints. Symptoms include: stiff walk and arched back, sensitivity to the touch, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, etc.
I don't think I've ever seen anything RPed like this before. Just putting the idea out there. -shrug-
/endbabble.