As with humans, our furry Companions can become ill even if you take proper care of them or keep them indoors all the time. Many virus’ can be carried (such as Parvo) in to your pet from the outside environment. Although they have a natural immunity to various diseases upon birth, this natural immunity that they get from their mothers' milk is not permanent. When pets grow older, they become more susceptible to diseases to which they were initially immune to. The only way to ensure that they are continuously protected is to have them vaccinated for a variety of conditions.
Vaccinations ensure that other animals and pets are not endangered. If you have an unvaccinated pet that gets sick, it could transmit the disease to other nearby unvaccinated pets. As a final note Rabies vaccination provides protection to humans too. Getting bitten by a rabid dog could prove fatal without immediate medical attention.
That is a decision between you and the doctor. Some factors, including travel, exposure to certain situations help to determine the appropriate vaccination protocol for your pet.
• Canine Distemper: A highly contagious and potentially fatal disease, spread by discharge from the nose and eyes of infected dogs. The distemper virus attacks many organs, including the nervous system, which may be permanently damaged, even if the dog recovers.
• Canine Influenza: Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection of dogs caused by a novel influenza A subtype H3N8 virus that was first discovered in 2004. Like influenza viruses for other species, CIV causes flu‐like illness consisting of cough, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Virtually all exposed dogs become infected; about 80% develop flu‐like illness, while another 20% do not become ill. While the overall mortality rate for canine influenza is low, the secondary pneumonia can be life‐threatening.
• Hepatitis: Cause by Canine Adenovirus Type 1, this disease is transmitted among dogs by contact with secreations such as saliva, infected urine or feces. It causes liver failure, eye damage, and respiratory problems. The severity of this disease can range from mild to fatal.
• Leptospirosis: a bacterial infection spread by contact with infected, urine-contaminated water. It is more common in rural than urban areas and is marked by a high fever and a yellow color of the gums. It can cause permanent kidney or liver damage. If untreated, it can be fatal.
• Lyme Disease: a disease that infects the musculoskeletal system, heart and kidneys. Lyme disease is caused by the Borrelia organism and is transmitted by Iodes tick bites. In areas where ticks are prevalent, doctors may want to vaccinate for Lyme disease every year.
• Kennel cough(Canine Tracheobronchitis): A respiratory tract infection which is easily transmitted from one dog to another in situations such as play groups, obedience traiing or boarding at a kennel. Most training facilities require vaccination certification. This disease is caused by various airborne bacteria and viruses, including Canine Parainfluenza virus, Canine Adenovirus Type II and Bordetella Bronchiseptica.
• Parvovirus and Coronavirus Infections: Infections of the dog’s intestinal tract. A parvovirus infection is usually more severe than a coronavirus infection – in fact it is often fatal. The parvovirus and coronavirus cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. The diarrhea is usually bloody and has a very foul odor. Both diseases are transmitted by viral particles through the nose or mouth.
• Rabies: This incurable viral disease affects the ventral nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. IT is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (such as skunks, foxes, raccoons, bats, and coyotes)through bites or any break in the skin. VAccination will provide your pt with a much greater resistance to rabies if it is exposed to the disease. You must be aware that there is no cure once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities absolutely require that all dogs, and sometimes cats, receive rabies vaccinatins on a regular basis. Plus, you will definitely have to provide vaccination records if you want to travel with your dod across the United States or around the world.
Note: at present there is no rabies vaccine licensed for use in wild animals. Wild animals, especially raccoons or skunks, often carry the rabies virus without showing signs of the disease. Most veterinarians do not recommend wild animals as pets. Check with your doctor on this policy.
• Feline Distemper(Panleukopenia): Feline distemper virus is caused by a virus so resistant it can survive up to one year outside the cat's body. Infection rates in unprotected cats can run as high as 90% to 100%. Treatment of the disease is very difficult and even if recovered, a once infected cat can spread the disease to other unprotected animals.
Note: Feline distemper is not the same as canine distemper. Distemper is not contagious between dogs and cats.
• Feline Leukemia: The leading cause of death in cats in North America, Feline Leukemia Virus can result in a multitude of serious health problems for your cat-everything from cancerous conditions such as leukemia to a wide range of secondary infections cause by the destruction of the immune system. After initial exposure to the virus, a cat may not show sign of its presence for months, if not years.
• FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus): is a retrovirus similar to FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and the human AIDS virus. It was first discovered and isolated in 1986. It is estimated that 1 in 12 cats are infected with FIV. Some specialists believe that FIV is currently under-diagnosed. Although FIV is predominantly found in male cats, females can and do get this disease. Transmission can be vertical (passed on from the mother cat to the kittens) or horizontal (bite wounds are the primary mode of transmission.) This disease is usually fatal.
• Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): Another leading viral killer of cats, second only to feline leukemia, FIP has two forms – wet and dry. Clinical signs of the wet form include fluid in the abdomen, fluid in the chest and a persistent fever. The dry form can be very difficult to diagnose, as often some of the telltale signs do not appear. FIP is fatal after clinical signs develop. The vaccine for FIP is intranasal (it is squirted into the nose rather than injected with a needle).
• Rabies: See discussion on canine rabies.
• Upper Respiratory Diseases: A disease complex that has three main causes: the rhinotracheitis virus (a herpes virus), the calcivirus and the chlamydia bacteria. Protection against all of these is available in one vaccine. A cat with an upper respiratory disease acts like a human with a cold. Clinical signs include sneezing, runny eyes and difficulty in breathing. Transmitted from cat to cat by inhaling infective particles through the nose and mouth, it is highly contagious. Even if the cat recovers, it can remain a carrier for life, possibly infecting other cats.
(you many also check out www.petsandparasites.org)
A parasite is an organism that lives at the expense of another living being. Internal parasites, like intestinal worms and heartworms, live inside the body. Dogs, cats and horses are subject to a variety of internal parasites, but some parasites are species specific. Here’s what you need to know about the more common internal parasites.
• Heartworm: is a condition in dogs and cats caused by a certain type of parasite. These parasites are transmitted to your pet through mosquitoes. If you are living or traveling in an area where there are lots of mosquitoes during the night, it is very important that you seriously consider heartworm prevention measures for your dog. Heartworm is a very dangerous disease. It can kill your dog if you don’t do something about it. The moment heartworm-transmitting mosquitoes bite your dog, the larvae will be transferred into its bloodstream. It will incubate there for several days. However Heartworm disease is very preventable with monthly medications.
• Hookworms: There are two kinds of canine hookworm that infects dogs – Uncinaria stenocephala and Ancylostoma caninum. As in the case of roundworm infections, dormant hookworm larvae can be activated in pregnant female dogs, and transmitted to puppies through the placenta or through their mother’s milk. Dogs can also be infected by accidentally eating hookworm eggs and larvae in the environment. Another way infection can occur is through larvae penetration of the skin or the lining of the mouth. Adult hookworms use their “teeth” to attach to the lining of the dog's small intestine, and suck large amounts of blood. This can lead to intestinal distress with dog hookworm symptoms like diarrhea, black stools, weight loss, failure to grow properly, white gums, severe blood loss, anemia, and even death.
• Roundworms: Adult roundworms attach to the wall of the intestine and drain protein from the host. For this reason, roundworms are most harmful to young animals, who need as much nourishment as possible while they are growing. Humans may be affected by roundworms. If the roundworm eggs are ingested by a human, the roundworm larvae can migrate throughout the body, causing a condition called visceral larval migrans. Children should never be allowed to play in areas contaminated by roundworm eggs.
• Tapeworms: There are two kind of tapeworms that infect both dogs and cats. One is transmitted by rodents, and the other is transmitted by fleas. The flea and the rodent are called the parasite’s intermediate host. Control of the intermediate host is extremely important in preventing re-infestation of tapeworms.The adult tapeworm lives inside the pet’s intestine. It attaches to the wall of the intestine and absorbs protein from the contents of the intestine. Because the tapeworm is taking nutrition from the pet’s intestine, the pet is not getting all the nourishment it should.
• Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) get their name from their whip-like shape. This intestinal parasite is quite prevalent throughout the U.S., especially in adult dogs. To become infected with whipworm, dogs accidentally eat whipworm eggs (while grooming, for example). Like hookworms, dog whipworms attach to the lining of the intestines and suck the dog’s blood, but they are generally less harmful and lead to fewer health problems. A small number of whipworms may not cause any signs, but a heavier infection can lead to diarrhea, weight loss, blood loss and anemia.
Simple –dogs and cats that never get out sometimes do. Gates are left open, front doors are not closed, window screens pop out. According to animal control, since the onset of microchipping, over 75% of pets who have a microchip are recovered!
First: Stopping pet overpopulation starts with you! In every community in every U.S. state, there are animals sitting in animal shelters waiting for homes. Only about half of those dogs and cats will ever get one. The other half will be euthanized.
Second: It’s the law! According to Clark County Code Ordinance 10.08.130 “…no person shall harbor any cat or dog unless spayed or neutered.” Here are a few “Myths” taken from the Humane Society’s website (www.humanesociety.org) to help you with your decision to spay or neuter your Companion:
MYTH: It's better to have one litter before spaying a female pet.
FACT: Every litter counts. Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about the appropriate time for these procedures.
MYTH: I want my children to experience the miracle of birth.
FACT: The miracle of birth is quickly overshadowed by the thousands of animals euthanized in animal shelters in communities all across the country. Teach children that all life is precious by spaying and neutering your pets. Breeding to “see the miracle of birth” demands that you also “see the tragic results”. Visit a shelter.
MYTH: But my pet is a purebred.
FACT: Purebreds account for 30% of all pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred. About half of all animals entering shelters are euthanized.
MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.
FACT: It is a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.
MYTH: I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT: Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
MYTH: But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.
FACT: Your pet's puppies or kittens have an unlikely chance of being a carbon copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are shelter pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet, and loving as your own.
MYTH: I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
FACT: You may find homes for your pet's puppies and kittens. But you can only control what decisions you make with your own pet, not the decisions other people make with theirs. Your pet’s puppies and kittens, or their puppies or kittens, could end up in an animal shelter, as one of the many homeless pets in every community competing for a home. Will they be one of the lucky ones?
We recommend spaying and neutering at 6 months of age.
Dogs are in “heat” for 21 days approximately every 6 months.
Cats, however, are a little different. Cats are in “heat” for 21 days however if not bred they will go in and out of their “heat” cycles until they are bred. This can become annoying as it is normal for them to “yowl” and hold their tails in the air during their cycles.
Yes, but it becomes a more time consuming and challenging procedure due to more blood flow to the uterus. Since more time is involved there is an additional charge to perform this procedure while your pet is in heat. There is also an increased risk for complications during the surgery, which is why we recommend that you wait until after your pet’s cycle is done.