Coronavirus A: Like the notorious parvovirus, the coronavirus can cause diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration in dogs -- and it can be just as deadly. The coronavirus is extremely contagious and spreads rapidly among exposed dogs. It is not uncommon for all unvaccinated dogs in a kennel or a household to come down with the virus within a day or two after one of them is exposed. The first symptoms are depression, lack of appetite and vomiting. Diarrhea usually follows a day or two later. Coronavirus, like parvovirus, is most severe in puppies. Because both coronavirus and parvovirus have many of the same symptoms, it is difficult to distinguish between them without a lab test. Dogs can come down with both diseases at once, which sharply reduces their chances for recovery. Because puppies are so susceptible to both diseases, they should get their first vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. Booster vaccinations also are given at three-week intervals until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old, and then annually. Adult dogs should receive one vaccination and then a booster in three to four weeks. Female dogs should get a booster vaccination three weeks before breeding. Parvo is routinely included with the distemper combination vaccination, often called the 5-in-1 vaccination or DHLP-P. But be sure to ask your veterinarian specifically to give the coronavirus vaccination, too, because it might not be included in the combination vaccination. Feline
Leukemia Virus A: The spread of feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a true epidemic -- and this deadly disease has become one of the main killers of cats throughout the world. FeLV is highly contagious and easily can be transmitted from one cat to another in saliva, urine and feces. There is no known cure. The feline leukemia virus causes an acquired immune deficiency, resulting in the destruction of the animal's immune system. This leaves the cat susceptible to a wide variety of cancers, infections and diseases. A simple blood test can determine if your cat carries the feline leukemia virus. If the test is positive, your cat has been exposed to the virus and should be isolated from all other cats. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that your cat will become idle and die. Some cats are able to fight off the virus and become immune to it. Other cats that remain chronically infected with the virus usually die from infectious diseases not directly related to the virus because of weakened immune systems. Vaccinations against FeLV consist of a series of three initial injections, followed by a yearly booster. The vaccine is not 100 percent effective, but these vaccinations are absolutely necessary, especially for all cats that regularly come in contact with other cats. All cats that test negative for the feline leukemia virus should be vaccinated as early in life as possible. Vaccinating a cat that has tested positive for FeLV is useless in preventing or fighting the virus. Feline
Infectious Peritonitis A: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a very contagious, usually deadly disease, and your other cats are at a great risk of becoming infected. However, a vaccination has been developed to help protect them. There are two forms of the FIP disease. When a cat has the "dry" form of FIP, small inflamed lesions spread throughout the body's organs. The symptoms of this form are vague, usually consisting of persistent, chronic fever, weight loss, depression and neurological signs. When a cat has the "wet" form of FIP, fluid accumulates in the chest and abdominal cavities. The cat may have fever, weight loss, decreased appetite, depression, abdominal swelling and difficulty breathing. FIP occurs primarily in cats between 6 weeks and 5 years of age, although most victims are younger than 2 years old. Sometimes pregnant cats are infected, resulting in still-born or weak newborn kittens. Older cats can become more susceptible to FIP when their immune systems weaken. A veterinarian can run an FIP blood test that will give a very strong indication as to whether or not a cat has FIP. Cats with the "wet" form of FIP have a characteristic sticky yellow fluid which can be taken from the abdomen or the chest. There is no specific treatment for this ultimately fatal disease, other than general supportive care such as proper nutrition, antibiotics and intravenous fluids to make your pet more comfortable. The FIP vaccine is given painlessly with a special plastic dropper in the cat's nostril, rather than by needle injection. In addition to the FIP vaccine, proper care of cats and kittens can help prevent the disease. FIP is transmitted by contact with urine, saliva or feces of infected animals. It is very important to minimize the contact that your cat has with strange or obviously ill cats. Other general preventive measures include keeping your cat's living quarters, litter box, and food and water dishes as clean as possible. Also, be sure your cat is tested for the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline AIDS (FIV), and receives all recommended vaccinations during an annual physical examination by your veterinarian. Kennel
Cough A: The bordetella vaccination, which helps guard your pet against kennel cough, is now given by putting drops into the dog's nostril, rather than by injection. It is painless and very effective. Kennel cough, or infectious tracheobronchitis, is an upper-respiratory disease that is caused by a combination of a virus (parainfluenza) and a bacteria (bordetella). Kennel cough is widespread and quite contagious among unvaccinated dogs that are boarded in kennels. Dogs also can pick up the disease at pet shows, grooming shops, public parks, veterinary clinics or other places where dogs are in close contact with each other. Kennel cough starts as a slight, dry, hacking cough and often develops into a severe cough. It usually is accompanied by sneezing, nasal discharge and sometimes vomiting. Kennel cough is spread through the air, much like a common cold or influenza is spread among people. A mild case of kennel cough usually will affect your dog about as long as a heavy cold might affect you. However, dogs with severe cases often have a fever and reduced appetite. If not properly treated, pneumonia might develop. Veterinarians use antibiotics and cough suppressants to treat the disease. Dogs should be vaccinated once a year to be protected against kennel cough. The bordetella vaccine works within 48 hours and allows people to have their dogs vaccinated just a few days before they drop them off at the kennel. Be sure the kennel staff knows which veterinary clinic has your pet's medical records and what you want done in case of a medical emergency. Also, it is very important that your dog is current on all other vaccinations, including the distemper combination (DHLP-P), parvo, corona and rabies. In addition, a thorough physical examination by a veterinarian before boarding can help detect serious medical problems that otherwise might develop when you are away. Lyme
Disease A: Ticks are parasites that can transmit a variety of diseases to pets and humans, including Lyme disease, one of the fastest spreading diseases in North America. A vaccine against Lyme disease is now available. All dogs that live or travel in areas where Lyme disease has been reported should be vaccinated. The spiral-shaped Lyme disease bacteria, carried by the small deer tick, cause flu-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache and sometimes a skin rash in people. If left untreated, heart, nerve and joint problems can develop. Pets with Lyme disease often have a sudden onset of severe depression with hot, swollen, painful joints and a strong reluctance to move. In addition, they usually begin to show signs of fever, fatigue, enlarged spleen, swollen lymph nodes and lack of appetite. The most common diagnostic symptom in animals is lameness from acutely inflamed joints. Veterinarian's can confirm Lyme disease using laboratory tests, but a positive result only indicates that the pet has been exposed to the organism that carries the disease at some point in time. Many of the animals that test positive never develop the symptoms of the disease. If treatment with antibiotics is started early enough, all symptoms of Lyme disease typically can be eliminated within 48 hours. However, it is important that the medication be given for a full 10- to 14-day period to avoid recurrence. Some pets, however, take months to recover, and some bacteria are becoming resistant to medication. Pets can't transmit Lyme disease to humans, but be careful when removing ticks from your animals. Use tweezers to grasp the tick's head and body and pull it away from your pet's skin. Avoid squashing the tick with your fingers because you might become infected if Lyme disease bacteria are present. Disinfect the bite area with alcohol. If your pet has many ticks, or if you don't want to deal with the nasty little parasites, bring your animal to a veterinarian so experienced staff can remove the ticks and recommend a tick repellant with residual action to prevent recurrence. Tick populations are largest during the summer months, and ticks are more prevalent in thick brush and wooded hillsides or canyon areas. Dogs are more likely than cats to get Lyme disease, and horses also can become infected. Parvovirus A: Mutations in the potentially deadly and highly contagious parvovirus can result in "breaks" in parvo vaccine coverage. It is possible to develop a milder form of the disease even trough your dog has been inoculated. Other reasons for "breaks" in vaccination coverage include outdated or mishandled vaccines or the possibility that your dog's immune system isn't responding in a normal way. The rugged parvovirus can survive for months in extreme temperatures and can be carried into a household on someone's shoes. Even if your dog hasn't come into contact with other animals, the danger of him having been infected with parvovirus exists. The first signs of parvovirus often are depression, loss of energy and loss of appetite. Vomiting typically develops next, followed by diarrhea and dehydration. The pet's stool has a very bad odor and may be tinged with blood. The parvovirus affects the immune systems of dogs and lowers the number of white blood cells that fight off the infection. Treatment, which should take place in an isolation ward of a veterinary hospital, consists of giving intravenous fluids and electrolytes, as well as various medications including antibiotics to fight secondary bacterial infections. It is critical to get aggressive treatment as early as possible. All dogs should be vaccinated for parvo as well as distemper and coronavirus. Puppies receive their first combination distemper-parvo vaccination at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Boosters should be given at three-week intervals until the puppy is 16 to 19 weeks of age. Many veterinarians recommend that the last vaccination in the series be given at 20 to 24 weeks. At one year, puppies should have a distemper-parvo combination booster. After that, a single distemper-parvo booster every year for the rest of the dog's life is the best way to prevent this potentially fatal disease. It is very important for all dogs to keep current on these vaccinations. Dogs can be even more susceptible to parvo as they get older because of weakened resistance. Also, parvovirus, like many other viruses, has been able to continue to mutate and change form, increasing the necessity of receiving a booster every year. Rabies
Vaccination A: Ideally, young dogs should be vaccinated for rabies at 3 months of age, then receive a rabies booster vaccination when they are 1 year old. Typically, dogs over the age of 1 year are required to be vaccinated for rabies every three years, although local regulations may vary. Veterinarians usually recommend that puppies be vaccinated for rabies as soon after 3 months of age as possible. The rabies vaccine is required for your dog by law because an outbreak of rabies could be deadly for humans, as well as animals. A rabies certificate is required for interstate travel in the United States, and many countries around the world have strict regulations to control the spread of this dangerous health threat. Although the DHLP-P (distemper-parvo combination) vaccination usually is not required by law like the rabies vaccination, it may be even more critical to your dog's health because the DHLP-P vaccination can prevent several more common potentially life-threatening infectious diseases. The
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