In all mammals, the body’s defence against disease is served by the immune system. The white blood cells and antibodies are key role players against infections and foreign bodies within the body.

When the immune system fails it can either over compensate or under compensate. An overachieving immune system begins mistakenly attacking its own cells and causes a wide variety of medical issues known as autoimmune disorders while an underachieving immune system fails and is unable to protect the body adequately and leaving it vulnerable to infection and bacteria.

It is important for puppies to nurse when they are first born in order to obtain colostrum which is rich in antibodies to help the puppy to develop its own immune system. Puppies that do not get this milk are at a high risk for infections. This pre-milk is essential for the puppy to develop a strong immune system, and puppies should be allowed to nurse for at least 6 weeks. ronments.

There is no known cause of autoimmune disorders in both humans and dogs. These disorders can affect all the breeds and potential causes can range from over vaccination to environmental pollutants, food preservatives and genetic factors. Autoimmune diseases cannot be cured, but can be managed with high doses of immunosuppressive drugs and corticosteroids to lower the dog’s immune response.