Immune system
Like us humans, our pets are also exposed to various pathogens every day. If your dog has a strong immune system, these "attacks" are generally not a major problem. In animals with a weaker immune system, such as puppies, dogs that are already ill or older dogs, pathogens have an easier time of it.
A strong immune system - the best protection against infections!
What makes your dog's immune system strong and what can you do to help? Fortunately a lot! Avoiding stress, a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, but also sufficient periods of rest, for example, are good prerequisites for ensuring that your furry friend's immune system can defend itself against pathogens in the best possible way.
DEFINITION
What does the immune system do?
Viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites - your dog's immune system is challenged every day by a wide variety of pathogens. If it functions well and is correspondingly powerful, it can reliably fend off the "intruders" and is therefore an important protection against infections. Pathogens are usually transmitted from one animal to another through direct contact or via the air (droplet infection), but also through feces, urine or saliva. Once the pathogens have found their way into the body, your dog's immune system is on top gear: It calls up immune cells and antibodies to fight off the intruders and protect your four-legged friend from falling ill.
Despite good defenses, an infection can still occur from time to time. The symptoms are usually less pronounced and of comparatively short duration. The situation is different if your four-legged friend's immune system is weakened. In this case, the body's defenses are unable to withstand the various stresses. If an infection occurs, the disease breaks out with severe symptoms and the healing process can take longer. One of the typical infectious diseases in dogs is kennel cough.
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms that indicate an infection
It is not only in older and previously ill animals that the body's defenses can weaken. Very young dogs whose immune system is not yet fully developed can also fall ill more quickly. Those who have just had an infection can also become reinfected with pathogens more quickly. For signs that indicate an infection, take a close look at your furry friend:
An infection and its symptoms weaken your dog's body and the immune system also uses up energy in the fight against the pathogens. If your dog sleeps an unusual amount and is difficult to motivate to be active, this may indicate an infection.
Does your four-legged friend react in an unusually negative way to being touched or doesn't want to be petted by you? These could be signs of general discomfort or pain.
Excessive nasal discharge and increased sneezing can indicate an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, but also other illnesses. In the case of a bacterial infection, the discharge is often cloudy and yellow or greenish. If your dog shows no other symptoms, a foreign body, such as a lump of dirt or a blade of grass, in the nose could also be the cause. As a general rule: if the nasal discharge is not clear or is persistent or bloody, a visit to the vet is necessary!
Your dog usually has a body temperature of around 37.5 to 39 degrees Celsius. At a temperature of 40°C or higher it has a fever, which can become life-threatening starting at a temperature of 41°C. To be on the safe side, consult your vet if the temperature is above 39.0 °C.
There are several possible causes of coughing in your dog: Eating too quickly, a heart condition or, in rare cases, a swallowed foreign body. However, infections of the respiratory tract also manifest themselves through coughing (dry or wet - the latter often accompanied by liquid or mucous sputum). In the case of an infectious disease, watery eyes and nasal discharge usually also occur. Kennel cough is an infectious disease and is characterized by a barking, dry and sometimes spasmodic cough. This can be triggered by light pressure on the windpipe. A persistent cough should be checked out by your vet.
If you notice that your dog's eyes are excessively moist, this may be a sign of a viral or bacterial infection. Conjunctivitis, for example, is accompanied by increased tearing. Conjunctivitis is also characterized by reddened conjunctiva and sometimes even swollen, itchy eyes. If bacteria are involved, the discharge from the eyes is often yellowish. Conjunctivitis should always be treated by a vet to prevent damage to the cornea. Other causes of watery eyes can be allergies and irritation of the eye or cornea by a foreign body. However, only one eye is usually affected.
If your dog is not eating as usual, it is advisable to take its body temperature. This is because fever and inflammatory processes in the body often trigger a loss of appetite. Gastrointestinal complaints can also occur as a result of an infection. Nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea can then occur and should be closely observed and, depending on the severity and duration, should definitely be clarified by a vet.
Please note: You should take the mere suspicion that your dog could be suffering from an infection seriously and visit your vet as soon as possible at the first signs. This is the only way to ensure prompt and appropriate treatment.
CAUSES
Causes of a weakened immune system
There are phases in your dog's life when the immune system is more challenged. For example, the change of coat in spring and fall, but also winter, is a demanding time. The following factors can also weaken the immune system:
- Diseases
e.g. infections, parasite infestation, chronic underlying diseases, allergies - Stress
e.g. triggered by relocation, change of caregivers, new animals in the household, hectic environment, travel, exhibitions or sporting events (e.g. agility) - Housing conditions
e.g. too little exercise, too short rest periods, stays in boarding kennels - Feeding
e.g. inadequate composition (lack of nutrients) or poor quality of food - Medication
e.g. long-term use of cortisone
The age of the animals also plays a role when it comes to their immune system. For example, the immune system of puppies is not yet fully developed and is only trained through contact with antigens. With increasing age, however, the production of antibodies and defense cells decreases.
You know your dog best!
If it is prone to stress and falls ill quickly after stressful situations (e.g. when traveling), ask your vet about preventative measures.
DIAGNOSIS
Examination and diagnosis
If you discover signs in your dog that indicate an infection and therefore a weakened immune system, you should seek veterinary advice. A thorough examination of your four-legged friend can reveal what is wrong with it. Depending on the symptoms, further tests may need to be carried out. A suspected diagnosis can be confirmed or ruled out on the basis of blood and urine tests or fecal tests. In some cases, it may also be necessary to assess the organs with an ultrasound device or to take an X-ray.
As health problems of all kinds can weaken the immune system, regular health checks and preventive examinations are particularly useful in order to detect and treat illnesses as early as possible. Especially for older animals!
TREATMENT
Treatment of complaints
How your dog's symptoms are treated always depends on what has caused them. In the case of parasite infestation in the feces, for example, a deworming agent is recommended for treatment. If a bacterial infection has been diagnosed, treatment with antibiotics may be necessary.
If your dog's immune system is not yet fully developed or has been weakened by long-term stress or age, you can provide targeted support: Natural veterinary medicines with the ingredients white swallowwort and sulphur, for example, have proven to be effective in strengthening the body's defenses, as they have immunomodulating, antiviral and expectorant properties. Your vet can advise you on suitable options and preparations.
PREVENTION
Strengthen the immune system
It is generally sensible and advisable to boost your dog's immune system as much as possible so that infections don't stand a chance. You are probably doing a lot already:
If your dog is already a senior, it is advisable to provide targeted support for the immune system. The same applies if your furry friend is already suffering from other illnesses or is exposed to more pathogens due to frequent contact with other dogs. It may also be necessary to support the immune system after therapy, e.g. with antibiotics.
Good to know
If you want to support your dog, consider the natural veterinary medicines from Heel Vet.
