Newcastle Disease in Poultry

 

Newcastle disease is a severe, systemic, and fatal viral disease of poultry due to virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1. Clinical signs in unvaccinated birds include sudden death, lethargy, and respiratory distress. Diagnosis is based on laboratory confirmation. Vaccines prevent clinical signs but not infection, and the control of the disease is challenging in enzootic regions.

Newcastle disease (ND) is an infection of domestic poultry and other bird species with virulent Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Newcastle disease is not a food safety or public health concern. Virulent NDV is capable of producing a devastating disease in domestic fowl, with vast social and economic consequences. It is a worldwide problem that presents primarily as an acute respiratory disease; however, depression, nervous signs, or diarrhea may be the predominant clinical form.

Severity of ND depends on the virulence and genetic type of the infecting virus and host susceptibility. There is no treatment for Newcastle disease, and, in many countries, infected and susceptible birds in the vicinity of an outbreak are culled to contain transmission of the disease.

Prevention is accomplished through vaccination and strict biosecurity. Real-time RT-PCR is the test of choice to detect viral RNA typical of virulent NDV and confirm infection in birds with clinical signs of disease. Occurrence of the disease in poultry is notifiable and may result in trade restrictions.

Etiology and Pathogenesis of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

Newcastle disease virus, synonymous with avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1), is an RNA virus and the most important of the 22 known APMV serotypes as a pathogen for poultry.

The original classification of NDV isolates into one of three pathotype groups based on their pathogenicity in chickens as virulent (velogenic), moderately virulent (mesogenic), or of low virulence (lentogenic) has been abbreviated for regulatory purposes. Velogens and mesogens are now classified as virulent NDVs (vNDVs), the cause of Newcastle disease and reportable infection; infections with lentogens, the NDVs of low virulence (loNDVs) widely used as live vaccines, are not reportable.

Severity of infection depends on:

• virus virulence

• virus tropism

• age, immune status, and susceptibility of host species

External factors such as stress, environmental temperature, and season have a lesser impact on disease course.

Chickens are the most susceptible and waterfowl the least susceptible of domestic poultry; however, some differences may be observed if the NDV strain is adapted to a particular species. The virus infects susceptible birds through the respiratory or digestive tract when they inhale contaminated dust or aerosolized virus or ingest contaminated materials.

In field outbreaks the incubation period varies from 4 to 6 days; however, clinical signs may appear as early as 2 days and as late as 15 days postinfection.

Epidemiology of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

Virulent Newcastle disease strains are endemic in poultry in most of Asia, Africa, Mexico and some countries of South America. Other countries, including the US and Canada, are free of those strains in poultry and maintain that status with import restrictions, active surveillance and monitoring, and culling infected poultry and susceptible birds within infected premises/zones.

Cormorants, pigeons, and imported psittacine species can be infected with vNDV and occasionally have also been sources of vNDV infections in poultry. Newcastle disease virus strains of low virulence are prevalent in free-living wild birds, live bird markets, and poultry, especially waterfowl.

Migratory waterfowl and Charadriiformes (shorebirds) can be infected with loNDV and vNDV and can shed NDV without any apparent clinical signs of illness. Infection of domestic poultry with naturally circulating loNDV can contribute to respiratory distress in young naive birds and lower productivity in adult birds.

Transmission of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

Infected birds shed virus in exhaled air, respiratory discharge, and feces. Virus is shed during the incubation period, during the clinical stage, and for a varying but limited period during convalescence. Virus may also be present in all parts of the carcass and in eggs laid during acute vNDV infections.

The role of vertical transmission of NDV is unclear and disputable because hatchlings can become infected by contaminated feces, eggshells, or environment. Chickens are readily infected by aerosols and by ingesting contaminated water or food. Infected chickens and other domestic and wild birds may be sources of NDV.

The main modes of transmission are:

• movement of infected birds: poultry; wild, exotic, and companion birds; racing and show birds

• movement of poultry products

• movement of people and contaminated equipment or litter (main mode of virus transmission between poultry flocks and farms)

Transmission via movement of contaminated feed and vehicles and through poorly inactivated vaccines has a lesser role in virus transmission but has been documented.

Clinical Signs of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

There are no pathognomonic clinical signs for Newcastle disease. Onset is rapid, and signs appear throughout the flock as early as 2 days (average 4–6) after aerosol exposure. Transmission is slower if the fecal-oral route is the primary means of transmission, particularly for caged birds. Young birds are the most susceptible.

Observed clinical signs depend on whether the infecting virus has a predilection for respiratory and digestive systems (viscerotropic) or nervous systems (neurotropic).

Clinical signs of infection with viscerotropic velogenic NDV in chickens include:

• lethargy

• inappetance (anorexia)

• respiratory distress (sometimes birds make a whistling sound)

• clear mucus discharge from the mouth

• prostration

• sudden death (sometimes the only finding)

• up to 100% morbidity and mortality, especially in naive populations

AUDIO

Whistling sound, adult hen

In some cases, periorbital and head edema develop. The comb may become blue due to hypoxia, and some strains cause hemorrhage. Birds that do not die within several days after infection may have watery greenish diarrhea and show nervous signs including tremor, twisted necks (torticollis), and opisthotonus (especially in vaccinated poultry).

Egg production may be interrupted or stop completely. Eggs may be abnormal in color, shape, or surface and have watery albumen (may be the only sign in fully vaccinated hens). Well-vaccinated birds may appear clinically normal aside from decreased egg production; however, these birds will shed virus in saliva and feces. Poorly and suboptimally vaccinated birds may develop neurologic signs 10–14 days after infection and may recover.

Torticollis, pigeon

COURTESY OF DR. KIRIL DIMITROV.

Eggs, abnormal shape

COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST POULTRY RESEARCH LABORATORY OF THE USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.

Newcastle disease, chickens

COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST POULTRY RESEARCH LABORATORY OF THE USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE. IMAGES BY KIRIL DIMITROV.

Clinical findings of infection with neurotropic velogenic NDV in chickens include respiratory distress with sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge. Respiratory signs may accompany neurologic signs, but usually follow:

• tremors and convulsions

• paralysis of wings and legs

• torticollis

• circling with clonic spasms

• complete paralysis

• up to 100% morbidity and 50% mortality (up to 90% in young birds)

Clinical signs of infection of chickens with mesogenic NVD include:

• respiratory signs with gasping, coughing, sneezing, and rales in young birds

• decrease in egg production, which returns to normal in a few weeks

• neurologic signs in protracted cases

• low mortality (may be higher in young birds)

Infections with loNDV vary from inapparent to an onset with mild respiratory signs, but secondary infections may exacerbate the clinical presentation. While adult birds commonly have subclinical infection, young birds may show gasping, coughing, sneezing, and rales. In turkeys, clinical signs largely resemble those in chickens but often are milder. Decrease in egg production is typical, and eggs have soft shells and abnormal shape.

Conjunctivitis, rhinitis, difficult breathing (dyspnea), diarrhea, and nervous signs (tremors, ataxia, and torticollis) are typical in pigeons. Mortality can reach 40%. Infection in cormorants and exotic birds (particularly psittacines) is characterized by inability to fly and leg and wing paralysis. Infection of chickens with some pigeon- or cormorant-adapted NDV strains may lead to neurologic clinical signs but is inapparent in most cases.

Lesions

Remarkable gross lesions are usually present only in infection with viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease viruses. Petechiae may be observed on the serous membranes; hemorrhages of the proventricular mucosa and intestinal serosa are accompanied by multifocal necrotic hemorrhagic areas on the mucosal surface of the intestine, especially at lymphoid foci such as cecal tonsils and Peyer's patches. Splenic and thymic necrosis, hemorrhages, and edema may also be present.

Lesions, vNDV infection

COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST POULTRY RESEARCH LABORATORY OF THE USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE.

In chickens, congestion and hemorrhage of the trachea and lung may be observed with velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus. Egg yolk peritonitis with atrophied follicles may be found in laying birds. In contrast, lesions in birds infected with loNDV strains may be limited to congestion and mucoid exudates present in the respiratory tract with opacity and thickening of the air sacs. Secondary bacterial infections increase the severity of respiratory lesions.

Hyperemia and mild multifocal petechial hemorrhages can be observed in the meninges of the encephalon in infection of chickens with cormorant-adapted NDV strains.

Diagnosis of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

• Newcastle disease virus isolation

• Detection of vNDV RNA

• Detection of NDV-specific antibodies

The clinical signs and gross lesions due to infection with virulent Newcastle disease virus are not pathognomonic and therefore cannot be used alone for diagnosis of Newcastle disease. Laboratory confirmation is required for diagnosis of Newcastle disease.

The virus can be isolated from oropharyngeal or cloacal swabs or tissues from infected birds by inoculation of the allantoic cavity of 9- to 11-day-old SPF embryonated chicken eggs. Infection is confirmed by recovery of a hemagglutinating virus that is inhibited with NDV antiserum or by detection of NDV RNA by real-time RT-PCR. Real-time RT-PCR can be used for detection of viral RNA directly from clinical samples (swabs, tissues, feces, and discharges), and the assay can discriminate vNDV from loNDV.

In the absence of recent vaccination, a rise in NDV antibody titer by hemagglutination-inhibition or ELISA of paired serum samples indicates NDV infection. To confirm diagnosis, identification of an isolate as vNDV is established by the rapidity of killing day-old SPF chicks inoculated by the intracerebral route, the intracerebral pathogenicity index, or genomic sequencing and identification of a specific amino acid motif at the cleavage site of the fusion protein (F) precursor (F0).

Reference laboratories use nucleotide sequence analysis to detect genetic differences for comparison of isolates from different outbreaks and to identify the source of those infections.

Differential Diagnosis of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

The acute form of Newcastle disease should be differentiated from other diseases known to cause high mortality with sudden death, or lethargy and respiratory signs, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Among suboptimally vaccinated birds in whom the onset of clinical signs is not rapid and the mortality is not as high, the mild forms of NDV and infections need to be differentiated from:

• infectious bronchitis

• infectious laryngotracheitis

• avian metapneumovirus

• infectious coryza

• mycoplasmosis

• fowl cholera

• aspergillosis

Prevention of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

No medication has been shown to impact the course of virulent Newcastle disease virus infection, and treatment with antivirals is not recommended. In cases of flocks affected by loNDV, supportive care with antimicrobials against secondary infections may alleviate clinical signs and decrease morbidity and mortality. Prevention of Newcastle disease is achieved through biosecurity and vaccination.

Biosecurity

Practicing strict biosecurity and implementing strategies to prevent introduction (or transmission) of vNDV into poultry premises are efficient preventive and intervention measures. Routine disinfection procedures, feed and water quality, and pest and litter management should be properly controlled.

Many countries practice outbreak containment by culling infected and susceptible birds in a controlled zone to prevent further transmission of disease. Respective authorities should be immediately notified in case of a suspected vNDV infection. Regulations on the importation of live birds and poultry products, especially from endemic regions, facilitate the control of international transmission of vNDV.

Vaccination

Vaccines are available for chickens, turkeys, and pigeons and are used to induce an antibody response; therefore, vaccinated birds must be exposed to a larger dose of vNDV to be infected. Unfortunately, ND vaccines do not provide sterile immunity, and in many areas of the world, vaccines are used to prevent losses from sickness and death.

While there is an increasing number of reports of Newcastle disease outbreaks in vaccinated poultry, approved vaccines prevent clinical signs of disease under experimental conditions. Passively transferred maternal antibodies and antibodies from previous immunizations impact vaccination against NDV, and vaccination protocols with multiple deliveries (boosters) need to be carefully and properly designed. Field and environmental conditions, as well as concurrent infections, may also negatively impact immune response to vaccination.

Live Virus Vaccines

Live lentogenic virus vaccines, chiefly B1 and LaSota strains, are widely used and typically administered to poultry by mass application in drinking water or by spray. Mucosal immunity induced in birds vaccinated by live virus vaccines applied by these routes decreases the amount of vNDV the vaccinated birds will shed if infected with vNDV, compared with the immune response induced by an inactivated virus vaccine.

Mass vaccination methods are less labor intensive; however, if they are not applied properly, they may lead to < 85% of the flock being immunized, the threshold needed for herd immunity. Alternatively, individual administration of live virus vaccines is via the nares or conjunctival sac. Healthy chicks are vaccinated as early as day 1 of life. However, delaying vaccination until the second or third week avoids maternal antibody interference with an active immune response.

Inactivated Virus Vaccines

Oil-adjuvanted inactivated virus vaccines are also used after live virus vaccine in breeders and layers. They may be used alone in situations where live virus may be contraindicated (eg, in pigeons). In countries where vNDV is endemic, a combination of live and inactivated virus vaccine can be used; alternatively, if permitted by law, a live mesogenic strain virus vaccine may be used in older birds.

The frequency of revaccination to protect chickens throughout life largely depends on the risk of exposure and virulence of the field virus challenge. Administering inactivated virus vaccines is more labor intensive, because each bird has to be handled individually. Accidental inoculation of human tissues with oil-based vaccines requires prompt medical treatment.

Vectored Recombinant Vaccines

Fowlpox or turkey herpesvirus–vectored NDV vaccines are commercially available for chickens and have the advantage of being able to be administered in ovo at the hatchery. These vaccines must be reconstituted as directed by the manufacturer. Because they take 3–4 weeks to produce a protective level of immunity, a window of exposure occurs during which chickens are susceptible to vNDV infection and biosecurity becomes even more important.

Zoonotic Risk of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

All Newcastle disease virus strains can produce a transitory conjunctivitis in humans; however, the condition has been limited primarily to laboratory workers and vaccination teams exposed to large quantities of virus. Before poultry vaccination was widely practiced, conjunctivitis from NDV infection occurred in crews eviscerating poultry in processing plants. The disease has not been reported in people who rear poultry or consume poultry products.

Key Points

• Newcastle disease is caused by virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1 (aka Newcastle disease virus).

• The disease has no pathognomonic clinical signs or lesions; laboratory confirmation is needed for diagnosis.

• Gross lesions include petechiae in the GI tract and edema of the head.

• Clinical signs involve the respiratory and often nervous systems, as well as misshapen eggs.

• Newcastle disease is successfully controlled by vaccination in commercial poultry, but no treatment is available.

Lumpy Cow Skin Disease Treatment Explained

 Lumpy cow skin disease is a concern for cattle owners, leading to significant economic losses worldwide. Thus, many are eager to know what treatment works. 

Unfortunately, lumpy cow skin disease has no direct antiviral treatment. Instead, the infected animals receive supportive care, which involves the use of antibiotics, painkillers, and wound care sprays to treat symptoms. As there’s no treatment, vaccines are used to control disease transmission.

A clear-cut treatment regimen for this prevalent disease would be a godsend for many livestock farmers. However, it remains elusive for the time being. Still, as you’ll learn in this article, all hope is not lost.

What Is Lumpy Cow Skin Disease?

Lumpy cow skin disease is a viral infection caused by a capripoxvirus. It originated in Africa, but since the 1970s, the condition has been affecting cattle in Asia and Europe. For instance, a case was recorded in Indonesia in March 2022. 

To the best of my knowledge, lumpy cow skin disease has not shown up in North America yet. That being said, we need to stay alert and be prepared. 

The ease of transmission, lack of treatment, and significant economic loss have made this disease a primary concern for livestock owners and governments worldwide.

Symptoms of Lumpy Cow Skin Disease

Lumpy cow skin disease is often detected through the presence of skin nodules in the following parts of a cattle’s body:

• Head
• Neck
• Udder
• Scrotum
• Perineum
• Respiratory tract (severe cases)
• Gastrointestinal tract (severe cases)

Besides skin lesions, symptoms include: 

• Fever
• Depression
• Anorexia 
• Reluctance to move
• Rhinitis (nasal discharge)
• Conjunctivitis 
• Excess salivation (hypersalivation) 
• Watering eyes (lacrimation)
• Decrease in milk production

Lumpy cow skin disease may lead to abortion or miscarriage in pregnant cattle. If the baby calf survives, it also shows skin nodules and other symptoms. Sometimes, this can also lead to hair loss in the calves.

Some cattle may show all these symptoms or even none. Others have tiny skin lesions that many livestock owners miss.

Transmission of Lumpy Cow Skin Disease

The best-known conduit of lumpy cow skin disease transmission is insects, such as ticks, flies, and mosquitos. 

However, science is yet to determine if that’s the only means of passing on the disease as there are other possible ways, for example, direct contact (cattle-to-cattle) and infected objects or instruments.

What is certain, though, is that lumpy cow skin disease cannot be transmitted to humans, even when you drink milk from an infected animal. 

Diagnosis of Lumpy Cow Skin Disease

Veterinarians may use the presence of skin nodules and other symptoms typical of lumpy cow skin disease to establish a diagnosis. 

However, for the confirmation of a diagnosis or suspicions, diagnostic methods such as histopathology, virus isolation, and PCR can be used. Of these three, virus isolation and PCR are among the best as they involve laboratory tests that determine the type of virus present. That’s important because the causal virus is the primary characterization of this illness. 

You may be wondering why go to such lengths to identify the type of virus infecting your cattle. That’s because lumpy cow skin disease can be mistaken for other conditions that cause skin lesions, such as:

 

• Pseudo-lumpy skin disease
• Bovine herpes mammillitis  
• Bovine papular stomatitis
• Pseudocowpox
• Cowpox 
• Cutaneous tuberculosis 
• Demodicosis

How to Treat Lumpy Cow Skin Disease

As I’ve noted, lumpy cow skin disease is a viral condition. Thus, antiviral substances are essential as a means of primary treatment. However, such are yet to be developed. 

 

Ringworm

A page about ringworm in cattle, its causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and control.

Information

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin with a worldwide distribution. The disease is of significant economic consequence to the farmer since growth rates are affected in the active stage of infection and the disease causes hide damage.

Aetiology

The infection of hair and skin keratin with the dermatophytes Trichophyton verrucosum (95% of cases), and less commonly Tricophyton mentagrophytes, cause lesions commonly referred to as ringworm. Trichophyton verrucosum is responsible for more than 90% of the cases.

Epidemiology

The infection is spread primarily through direct contact between animals, with clinically infected animals being the greatest source of infection. The spores of ringworm fungi survive many months and in some cases years in the farm environment and may be transmitted either by fomites (brushes, gates, feed carts…) or by asymptomatic carriers to susceptible hosts. There is an increased risk of outbreaks during building work, with a much higher number of spores being released into the air. 
  
Housing is important in the spread. Lesions are seen primarily around the head and neck of cattle, this is due to rubbing the head against fences and pushing through feeding bars. A natural outbreak will generally affect only younger animals, though older animals which have not previously had contact with the dermatophyte can also easily be affected due to the lack of natural immunity. The disease is more common in cooler countries and may be influenced by humidity. The incubation period of the disease is generally considered to be approximately one week although four weeks has been suggested as the period in some outbreaks. 
  
Factors that influence susceptibility of an animal to dermatophyte infection are: 
  
Age of the animal: Young animals are by far more susceptible to infection. This is probably related to lack of prior exposure/infection and thus no immunity. Adult cattle are also quite frequently affected. The overall incidence of ringworm based on evidence of hide damage in a number of European countries appears to be around 10% of cattle. 
  
Crowding together young animals 
  
Factors that decrease resistance to infection: Poor nutrition, concurrent disease, previous use of immunosuppressive drugs. 
  
Environmental factors may play a role, since the prevalence of the disease is increased in hot, humid climates. Calves kept indoors or exposed to foggy weather with little or no sunlight have an increased incidence.  
  
Other species may also be infected, including horses, sheep and also man in whom it may cause serious skin lesions. The zoonotic implications are serious, and once ringworm is known to be on farm all precautions must be taken to avoid spread to farm staff and especially children.

Clinical Signs

• Skin lesions
• Pruritus
• Hair loss
• Poor growth 

The clinical manifestation varies in terms of the number and size of affected sites, but the head and neck areas are most susceptible. In addition to the multifocal nature of the disease, the individual lesions usually vary considerably in size. The primary changes that are observed clinically are alopecia, scaling and crusting. Lesions are characteristically greyish-white and have an ash-like surface. Their outline is circular and they are slightly raised due to the accumulation of many layers of scale and the swelling of tissues beneath due to a moderate inflammatory reaction. The size of lesions varies, 3-5 cm diameter being common; in the more severely affected animals lesions become confluent to form extensive areas of infection.  
The degree of associated pruritus varies, but pruritus is usually either mild or absent. In most cases, ringworm is a self-limiting disease, with the duration of infection ranging from 1 to 4 months. The spontaneous regression is probably at least partly related to the development of immunity. The clinical changes clear from the centre outwards, leaving lasting skin damage in the form of scar tissue and collagen deposits.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made on the clinical signs of the classic lesions of ringworm. The asbestos like lesions are very typical for cattle. A conclusive diagnosis requires mycological examination in the form of direct microscopy and culture. 
  
Collection of samples 
  
For the collection of samples there are two procedures: 

By forceps, epilation of hair from areas of active infection. 
Scrapings of crust, hair and scale using a scalpel blade. 
Using either of these procedures the material obtained is collected in a paper envelope, sealed and labeled for transmission to the laboratory. 
  
If culture is contemplated, swabbing the area with 70% alcohol prior to collection of material may reduce contaminants in the specimen. 
  
Laboratory tests 
  
Direct microscopy: Microscopic examination reveals the constituents of the fungi on the skin and hair fragments 
Culture: definite diagnosis of the species of fungus requires the use of culture techniques. Culture mediums are Sabouraud’s agar, mycobiotic agar and dermatophyte test medium (DTM). In order to arrive at a conclusive answer culture time may need to be extended for as long as three weeks.

Control

The ringworm fungus produces spores that are resistant to ordinary cleaning, and need heavy disinfection to clear them. 
They last over a year so can be present long after the infection in the animals have gone, and even after the animals themselves have gone. 
Farm premises must be disinfected between batches of calves and wooden surfaces treated with creosote ( tar-based wood paint) 
Animals should be handled with gloves. 
Bought-in calves or other animals should be screened for skin lesions on arrival and separated and treated until all lesions have gone. Spores may still be present. 
Potentially in-contact animals should be vaccinated since spread is likely on subsequent mixing.

Vaccination

Prophylaxis is by vaccination and environmental disinfection. Disinfectants require high concentrations of chlorine, up to 4%. 

Treatment 

Treatment of ringworm in cattle faces two major obstacles: 
The difficulty of eliminating the organism from the environment. 
The number of animals that need to be treated.

Only one product is available containing Enilconazole. 

• A member of the conazole family
• Needs 2 or 3 weekly applications
• Kills the surface infection but not very sporicidal
• Applied as an emulsified wash
• Penetrates into hair follicles, but unable to do so if a lot of surface encrustation exists that prevents soaking of the deep follicles

10 most common dog illnesses and conditions

 Ear infections, kennel cough and ringworm are among the common illnesses dogs may develop. Pups of all ages can suffer from a range of medical problems, so it's important owners learn the common conditions, how to spot them and tips on how they can be treated.

Not sure what to look out for? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know...

1. Kennel cough

The name given to infectious bronchitis in dogs, kennel cough is one of the most common contagious diseases that is caused by a combination of viruses and bacteria. One of the most obvious symptoms of kennel cough is a forceful, hacking cough that can often sound like your pup has something lodged in their throat.

The team at Everypaw Pet Insurance explain: "Affected dogs should be kept in a warm environment, have restricted exercise, and kept away from other animals to prevent spreading. Treatment is not necessary as the cough gradually resolves after 2-3 weeks. But antibiotics can be given if the infection spreads to the chest."

2. Fleas

Dog fleas – small insects that lay their eggs in fur — is another common condition many pet parents may come across. Not sure what signs to look out for? Dogs with fleas will scratch, bite and lick themselves to relieve the itching. You may also notice your dog suffering from crusty rashes or hair less, particularly those that are allergic to fleas.

"To prevent flea infestations you will need to regularly treat your dog and home," say the team. "There are tablets, powders, sprays, spot-ons and shampoos available to kill adult and immature fleas. You will need to wash your dog's bedding and hoover flooring to get rid of eggs."

3. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition that is common in dogs and cats, causing the digestive enzymes to leak into the pancreas and self-digest. According to Everypaw Pet Insurance, the signs to look out for include your dog refusing to eat, feeling sad and abdominal upset. If you are concerned about your dog's health, always head to your local vet.

4. Ringworm

Ringworm has a number of different appearances in dogs, with the main sign being areas of hair loss with a crusty covering. This common fungal infection is highly contagious and can be passed from dogs to other animals or humans, so it needs to be treated immediately.

Once you have visited the vet, don't forget to throughly clean your dog's environment to banish the presence of ringworm. Deep-clean their bedding, toys, bed and food bowl.

5. Dog diarrhoea

"There are many causes of diarrhoea, including changes in diet, bacterial infections, poisonous chemicals, or damage to the digestive system. It occurs when there is a disturbance to the normal function of the large bowel (intestine)," the experts say.

"Dogs suffering from diarrhoea may need to empty their bowels more frequently and will have softer than normal stools. Feed your dog a diet of plain chicken and rice, and it should improve in 1-2 days." If your dog hasn't improved by then, head to your local vet for advice. Puppies with diarrhoea dehydrate quickly, so should be seen by a vet sooner.

6. Dog ear infections

Ear infections are often caused by excess moisture, which can become painful, itchy and produce a bad smell. If your dog is suffering from an ear infection, you may notice them beginning to groan, cry, shake their ears and head, or rub up against the floor to relieve pain.

"Most ear infections can be treated with ear drops and regular cleaning of the ears. But the primary disease will also need to be treated to prevent a recurrence," say the team.

7. Conjunctivitis

Much like humans, conjunctivitis is an uncomfortable condition that may cause your dog to paw at their eye, blink or squint. In most cases, your local vet will be able to treat the condition with eye drops or ointment, however some pups will require antibiotic treatment if this is an underlying problem.

8. Mange

"Mange is caused by an infestation of tiny mites on the dog's skin, causing hair loss and itching," continue Everypaw Pet Insurance. "Dogs will scratch and chew to relieve the itch, causing damage to the skin. They are highly contagious and can easily pass onto other dogs. They are generally only passed from mother to pup via muzzle."

While it is an unpleasant experience for dogs, the good news is that it can be easily treated using drugs, anti-parasitic shampoos, dips and spot-ons.

9. Poisoning

From dangerous spring plants to festive foods, poisoning in dogs occurs when they swallow or absorb something dangerous. Common signs include:

• Drowsiness
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Salivation or drooling
• Breathing difficulties
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

If you think your dog has been poisoned, you must take them to the vet immediately for treatment to give them a better chance of survival. Pet parents should also keep all poisonous substances, cleaning products and toxic foods well out of reach.

10. Blocked anal glands

"Blocked anal glands occur when the sacs fail to empty, usually due to loose faeces or if the dog's gland ducts are too narrow. Affected dogs will excessively lick the area, drag their bottom on the ground, and sit down abruptly clamping their tail," say the experts.

"A vet or owner (if shown how) can manually empty the anal glands. But chronic blockages need to be drained, flushed and treated with antibiotics. Adding more fibre to the diet may help to prevent a recurrence."