Spread by mosquitoes, Heartworm disease can first present as a mild but persistent cough, tiredness or reluctance to exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss. untreated, symptoms can get more severe and the disease can be deadly.

Kingston and surrounding area are considered a major hot spot for Lyme disease due to high populations of ticks. Lyme disease can be very serious in dogs, causing kidney failure, lameness, fever and lethargy. Key signs of Lyme include a limp that seems to switch legs/joints, general stiffness and loss of appetite.  

A bacterial infection spread by ticks, Anaplasmosis can present with flu-like symptoms including lethargy, high fever and joint pain. Untreated it can lead to platelet depletion and bleeding disorders.

Carried by the brown dog tick, the lone star tick and the American dog tick, Ehrlichiosis is a serious disease that can lead to anemia, eye issues and neurological problems. Early symptoms include pale gums, depression, nose bleeds, fever and painful joints.

Picked up through contact with contaminated soil or stool or ingestion of fleas, intestinal parasite can cause diarrhea, loose or bloody stool, pale gums, dull coat, and a ‘potbellied’ appearance. Patients that are infected may have difficulty gaining weight and seem to be in poor health overall.