Common Diseases of Small Animals Adapted from Ms. Daniels Dr. Smith

Objectives To analyze the diseases which affect small animals. To discover the common symptoms of various diseases. To examine treatment and prevention methods of various diseases.  

Small Animals Are as prone to disease as humans Can be vaccinated to prevent disease Can spread disease to humans

Dogs

Common Dog Diseases Heart disease Heartworm disease Canine distemper Canine parvovirus Kennel cough Lyme disease

Canine Heart Disease Can be present at birth or acquired Normally develops during middle age Causes heart failure results from the heart’s inability to pump blood at a rate required to meet the body’s needs

Canine Heart Disease Symptoms: early stages have no visible signs heart enlargement coughing difficulty breathing loss of appetite

Diagnosis Is made by a veterinarian who completes a: physical exam blood or urine test x-rays EKG (electrocardiogram)

Canine Heart Disease Treatment: there is no cure, but medications can be provided by your veterinarian to treat the symptoms Prevention: regular check-ups moderate exercise balanced diet

Heartworms Can affect any dog whether it is an indoor or outdoor pet Occurs when an infected female mosquito bites a dog and the larvae migrate through the tissues and eventually into a dog’s heart When mature are from six to eight inches long

Heartworms

Heartworms Symptoms: may not be visible until later stages of infection are the same as congestive heart failure dull coat lack of energy coughing difficulty breathing enlarged abdomen

Heartworms Diagnosis: is made through testing by a veterinarian

Heartworms Treatment: can be dangerous and expensive involves a series of injections no vigorous activity large amounts of rest preventive medication given once heartworms are eliminated Prevention: once-a-month heart worm oral medication year round testing for heartworms at least once a year

Canine Distemper Is a virus Damages a dog’s nervous system Is highly contagious Is transmitted by contact with infected urine, fecal material or saliva

Canine Distemper vomiting Symptoms can be mild to extreme constant squinting congestion of the eyes discharge from the eyes and nose weight loss vomiting

Canine Distemper Diagnosis can be difficult is based on a dog’s: vaccination history symptoms laboratory tests

Canine Distemper Treatment: there is no cure, but medications can be given to treat symptoms Prevention: vaccination is the best method should occur when dogs receive early shots isolation of sick dogs away from non infected dogs

Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Is a viral disease which attacks the intestinal track, white blood cells and the heart Is also called Parvo Is spread by dog-to-dog contact, fecal material of infected dogs, can also be carried on the hair and feet of dog, contaminated cages or shoes

Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Symptoms: depression loss of appetite vomiting diarrhea fecal discoloration blood in feces Diagnosis: fecal tests blood tests biopsy

Canine Parvovirus (CPV) Treatment: combat dehydration with water and electrolytes antibiotics given in the form of a shot or IV rest Prevention: vaccination booster vaccinations proper cleaning of kennels keeping dogs away from fecal waste of other dogs

Kennel Cough Is formally known as canine bordetellosis or bordetella Is caused by the bacteria Bordetalla bronchiseptica Causes a severe chronic cough Is transmitted by contact with the nasal secretions of infected dogs

Kennel Cough Diagnosis: Symptoms: is based on symptoms and history of exposure to other dogs performing bacterial cultures blood tests Symptoms: dry hacking cough followed by gagging watery nasal discharge lethargic fever pneumonia

Kennel Cough Treatment: for mild cases, let the disease run its course with a cough suppressant being administered for severe cases, antibiotics are administered water should be kept available at all times to reduce the chance of dehydration Prevention: avoid contact with other dogs, especially puppies vaccinations

Leptospirosis Caused by a spiral-shaped bacteria known as a spirochete Most canine cases are caused by Leptospira canicola and L. icterohaemorrhagiae Higher occurrence in warmer semi-tropical regions, in the late summer and early autumn Dogs that have access to marshy or muddy areas, ponds, stagnant surface water in low lying areas, and heavily irrigated pastures are more at risk. Large breed adult dogs are affected more frequently, but young dogs are affected more severely.

Leptospirosis Symptoms: Fever, shivering, wide-spread muscle pain and tenderness occur first Vomiting, dehydration, decreased appetite, and increased thirst Coughing, bleeding, jaundice, shortness of breath, red or weepy eyes

Leptospirosis Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Blood tests Urine tests Results take time, treatment usually begins before definite answer is obtained Treatment IV fluids to correct dehydration antibiotics Prevention Vaccinations Strict kennel sanitation Isolation of infected dogs Limiting access to stagnant water, marshy ponds, etc.

Lyme Disease Is a bacterial infectious disease syndrome Is spread primarily by ticks Symptoms can last months after the disease has been treated

Lyme Disease Symptoms: Diagnosis: fever loss of appetite acute lameness swollen joints arthritis weight loss Diagnosis: blood tests identification of symptoms

Lyme Disease Prevention: Treatment: avoiding ticks applying tick dips vaccinations Treatment: administering antibiotics giving pain relievers is a long process

Cats

Common Cat Diseases Heartworms Feline Panleukopenia Feline Leukemia Virus Feline Respiratory Disease

Heartworms Can affect any cat whether it is an indoor or outdoor pet Occurs when an infected female mosquito bites a cat and the larvae migrate through the tissues and eventually into a cat’s heart Can also reside in the pulmonary arteries When mature are from nine to eleven inches long

Heartworms Symptoms: may not be visible until later stages of infection are the same as congestive heart failure dull coat lack of energy coughing and difficulty breathing enlarged abdomen convulsions sudden death

Heartworms Diagnosis: clinical signs blood tests radiographs ultrasound

Heartworms Treatment: no approved treatment for cats can use some dog treatments, but there are some side effects which can cause pulmonary failure can treat the symptoms of heart worms and hope the cat outlives the worms Prevention: once-a-month heart worm oral medication year round testing for heartworms at least once a year

Feline Panleukopenia Is also called feline distemper Is a highly contagious viral disease Usually occurs in groups of cats Is passed from cat-to-cat by direct contact or by fecal waste from infected cats Destroys a cat’s cells making them more susceptible to other diseases and infections Has a very high mortality rate

Feline Panleukopenia Diagnosis: physical exam Symptoms: virus isolation history clinical signs Symptoms: loss of appetite depression high fever lethargy vomiting diarrhea dehydration

Feline Panleukopenia Treatment: if reached is limited to supportive therapy there are no antibiotics try to combat dehydration and malnutrition strict isolation constant attention Prevention: some cats will have immunity due to a survived mild case or have received the immunity from their mother vaccinations

Feline Leukemia Virus Is a fatal retrovirus affecting the cat’s immune system Increases the cat’s susceptibility to other disease Can be spread by contaminated nasal secretions, infected urine, feces and milk Does not survive for long outside of a cat’s body

Feline Leukemia Virus Diagnosis: Symptoms: clinical signs weight loss recurring chronic illness lethargy fever diarrhea erratic breathing patterns yellow color around the mouth Diagnosis: clinical signs blood test is the most accurate

Feline Leukemia Treatment: there is no cure confine cat to prevent exposure to non-infected cats symptoms are treated feed nutritionally balanced diets avoid feeding raw foods schedule check-ups for cat Prevention: avoidance of infected cats vaccination

Feline Respiratory Diseases Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Feline Calicivirus Feline Pneumonitis each cause respiratory diseases in cats are highly contagious transmitted from cat-to-cat through direct contact, through the air by sneezing or coughing or by humans if they have been close to infected cats

Feline Respiratory Diseases Symptoms: runny nose sneezing coughing lethargy fever loss of appetite Diagnosis: clinical signs vaccination and clinical history rarely a blood test

Feline Respiratory Diseases Treatment: administering antibiotics ensuring food and water intake rest Prevention: vaccination avoidance of infected animals

Rabies Caused by a virus that infects many different animal species, including humans. Mostly found in raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes Is found worldwide. Contracted through bites from infected animals, is found in their saliva May take 3-8 weeks after the initial infective bite has occurred before any signs of disease begin

Rabies Symptoms “Dumb” phase” Changes in behavior “Furious” phase Seek isolation Refuse to eat or drink “Furious” phase Excitative severe aggression biting roaming “Dumb” phase” Paralytic increased salivation dropping of the lower jaw inability to eat seizures death within days

Rabies Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Brain sample Difficult to diagnose animal while alive Treatment NONE Prevention specific vaccination schedule dependent on county, state laws

Zoonosis Is any infectious disease which is able to be transmitted from animals to humans or from humans to animals Is a disease which normally exists in other animals but has the ability to infect humans

How Can Diseases Be Transmitted from Pets to People? Biting Scratching Animal walking across a food preparation area Eating outdoors Unsanitary conditions Direct contact Not washing hands

Example Zoonotic Diseases Humans Catch From Small Animals Salmonellosis Pasteurellosis Heliobacter pylori causes gastric ulcers Cat Scratch Fever Lyme Disease Roundworms Ringworms Avian influenza Toxoplasmosis West Nile Virus Rabies

How to Prevent Zoonotic Spread of Disease Clean wounds incurred by animals Keep food preparation areas clean Keep animal waste areas and living areas clean Do not allow animals to eat off of plate or table Wash hands after handling animals

Small Animal Diseases No matter the type of small animal you own, regularly scheduled check-ups and vaccinations are always the best way to insure animal health If disease does occur take the animal to a trained veterinarian to gain an accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment for the sake of the animal and yourself