Vet Notes for Restraining and Handling

Common Medical Terms

• Pinna - Outer ear/flap

• Stifle - Knee

• Hock - Ankle

• Occlude - prevent blood from flowing by restraint, can be referred to hold off or rolling

• Recumbency - position of laying down or resting

• Bitch - intact female dog

• Stud/Male - intact male dog

• Prepuce - the skin and other tissues that surround the non erect penis

• Queen - a female cat who is not spayed, also a pregnant cat or nursing

• Tom - a male cat, particularly an intact male cat

• Patella - Knee Cap

• Hematoma - a pool of blood that forms outside of blood vessels (bruise)

• Seroma - an accumulation of fluids in the incision area (not infection) (reduces activity to help heal)

• Brachycephalic - squished nose, hard to breathe

• Dolichocephalic - long and slender nose

• Mesocephalic - normal noses

• Immunocompromised - having an impaired immune system.

• Comatose - a state of deep unconsciousness for a prolonged or indefinite period,

• Lethargy - not their usual self, quiet, calm, etc.

• Fomites - objects or materials which are likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture

Blood Draws

Common Veins for Blood Draws

• Jugular

• Cephalic

• Lateral Saphenous

• Medial Saphenous (femoral)

Common Restraints

Lateral Restraint

Lateral Restraint

• Might need 2 restrainers depending on size of dog

• Can be used for X-Rays, Blood Draws, Bandage Change, and Nail Trim (extreme cases)

• Have dog standing

• Support their head

• With your hands, grab their leg closest to your body

• Push them against your body, and turn them out

• They'll be laying on their side with feet away from you

• Your wrist or elbow will gently lay on their neck to help restrain

• Keep their bottom legs off the floor to prevent them from standing up

• Cephalic Restraint

Cephalic Restraint

• Leg forward/straight

• Hand behind elbow

• Roll vein outwards

• Pressure gently but firm enough to occlude (Rolling or Hold off) blood

Jugular Restraint

Jugular Restraint

• Start with a sitting position

• Smaller Dogs - Hold your thumbs behind the dog's ears, pointer finger in front of the ear, middle finger below the eyes, ring finger under the muzzle, and pinky finger up or lifting the collar

• Bigger Dogs - Hold muzzle with your hands, use your pinkies to pull the collar up

• Push their butt/body against your own

• Push the head up

Cat Handling Rules

Cat Handling Rules

• Use least amount of restraint necessary for safety

• Stay calm and relaxed

• Be firm but not aggressive

• Only attempt when all participants are ready as some cats have a limited amount of time they will tolerate handling

• Close all doors and windows

• Allow the cat to leave its cage or carrier on its own if possible

• Watch carefully for overstimulation signs (beginning to growl, swishing the tail)

• TOWELS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND

• Don't let owner restrain their own cat as it may lead to injury

• Consider giving pain medication if the patient if pain is expected to be induced during a procedure

• Consider chemical restraint/sedation if patient is overly aggressive, nervous, or difficult to handle as it may be safer for both the patient and handler

• Always remember that your safety is of the utmost importance

Dogs Vitals

Dogs Pulse

Dogs Pulse

Finding a pulse in a dog will be one of four ways.

1. The femoral artery (inner thigh, easiest)

2. Dorsal Pedal Pulse (one finger, around the hock/ankle)

3. Back of feet (needs more pressure, behind the padding of their feet)

4. Feeling their heart

Have the dog standing to get the best listen of the heart. Left side on the dog for a heartbeat, find femoral pulse in back leg. Feel the pulse while stethoscope is on the heart, so you feel a pulse every time the heart beats

Count heartbeat for 15 seconds and multiply by 4

Listen for 30-60 seconds for any irregularities

Dogs Mentation

- BAR/ Bright, Alert, Responsive - Jumping, excited to see you, curious, moving a lot

- QAR / Quiet Alert Responsive - Up, but barely moving, scared of environment

- Dull/Depressed - minimal response, does not care if I’m there, quiet, dull

- Depressed - A patient who is quiet in the kennel but perks up on a walk outside

- Sedated - A patient that is minimally responsive after receiving an injection of opioids

Dogs Monitoring Mucous Membranes

Monitoring Mucous Membranes

Evaluate Mucous Membrane color

- Look at the gums, you’re gonna want a pink color. Any muddy, gray, blue, white, are abnormal and need to be reported.

Measure capillary refill time

- Lift lip, apply pressure to gums above canine, watch color disappear, and reappear(less than 2 seconds)

Judging

- Judge moistures, they should be moist, not sticky. If slick with a lot of saliva, the animal may be nauseous. We don’t want it to be tacky,

Dogs Oscillometric Blood Pressure

Oscillometric Blood Pressure

- Make sure dog is in lateral recumbency (laying down)

- Measure cuff like a doppler, 40% circumference of the leg. The wrap around left.

- 4 Locations

• Between the hock and toes(back leg)

• Near the center of the hawk (back leg)

• Tail

• Between the elbow and carpus

-Used mostly for healthy dogs, use doppler if machine seems off

-Lots of animal movement will mess up the machines' counting. Use a doppler if animal is constantly moving

-The following can cause an inaccurate blood pressure reading when using an oscillometric blood pressure machine

• Trembling patient

• Hypothermia

• Cardiac arrhythmia

DogsRespiratory Rates and Effort

Respiratory Rates and Effort

- Listen to lungs (multiple areas) start at the cranial and move around. Do both sides

- When you listen to a dog's breathing with a stethoscope you are listening for

1. Crackling

2. Wheezing

3. Absence of breath sounds

- Standing or sternal recumbency if needed

- Count 15 seconds then multiply by 4

Effort - the difficulty of panting (focus on the breed)

Any Panting may be due to nervousness

-Watch breathing from across room, because close contact can scare the dog and it’ll change its breathing

Dogs Hydration Assessment

Hydration Assessment

- Can see if dogs needs more/less/no more IV fluids

- Look at mucus membranes, and capillary refill time (look for moisture and color, also watch the whole picture. A panting dog may be drier)

- Overhydration - Nasal discharge, over watery eyes, increased respiratory rate/effort, abnormality when listening to chest. (Decrease in heart rate, and body temperature in Cats)

Cats Vital

Cats Pulse

Cats Pulse

Finding a pulse on a cat will be done in 2 main places (place 2 fingers, and apply pressure. Move fingers around if needed)

1. The femoral artery (the inner thigh)

2. Feeling their heart, where the elbow meets their body wall. Use pressure and feel the heartbeat.

3. Dorsal pedal artery (above the foot, but not commonly used)

Finding heart rate, best in sternal recumbency or best, standing. Place the stethoscope in the center of its chest

Listen for 30-60 seconds for any irregularities

Feel femoral pulses to make sure every heartbeat will be a pulse.

Count beats for 10 seconds multiply by 6

Cats Monitoring Mucous Membranes

Monitoring Mucous Membranes

Evaluate Mucous Membrane color

- Look at the gums, you’re gonna want a pale pink color.

Measure capillary refill time

- Lift lip, apply pressure to gums above canine, watch color disappear, and reappear(less than 2 seconds, normal)

Judge Moisture

- Judge moistures, they should be moist, not sticky. If slick with a lot of saliva, the animal may be nauseous. We don’t want it to be tacky,

It is important to differentiate between dental disease and mucous membrane color

Animal Physical Exams

TPR

Temp -

• 100.5 - 102.5 Degrees (Cats and Dogs)

• 101.5 +/- 1 degree

HR/Pulse -

• small dogs: 90-160 bpm

• medium dogs: 70-110 bpm

• large dogs: 60-90 bpm

• cats: 150-200 bpm

Respirations -

• 18-24 rpm (dogs)

• 20-30 rpm (cats)

Count for 60 seconds (critical patients, count them all!)

Count for 30 seconds, multiply by 2

Count for 15 seconds, multiply by 4

Count for 10 seconds, multiply by 6

Count for 6 seconds, multiply by 10

lbs / 2.2 = kg

kg x 2.2 = lbs

1 kg = 2.2 lbs

Start from head to tail for the physical exams, this may include

- Examining for conceal abnormalities

- Examining for increased lens opacity

- Pupillary light reflexes

To measure temperature for cats and dogs, rectally is typically the best place to measure. Look for 100.5 and 102.5. If the temperature is above 104, let the doctor know.

- You can also measure temperature in their armpit and ears

The following is an appropriate place to obtain a doppler blood pressure measurement

1. Dorsal Pedal Artery

2. Front Foot

3. Tail Base

To choose the appropriate doppler cuff size for a patient, the cuff width should be 40% of the limb circumference

Intro to Vaccines

Simple Vocab

• Core Vaccines - necessary vaccines (a law abiding core for cats and dogs in rabies)

• Elective Vaccines - not totally necessary vaccines

• Immune System - your bodys natural defense system against disease and infection

• Microorganism - a small thing unseen from the naked eye, especially bacteria, virus, fungus, bacteria, etc.

• Pathogen - a bacteria, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease

• Pathogenic - “disease causing”

• Antibodies - the bodys weapon against pathogens. they kill bacteria and disease

• Antigen - anything that causes an immune response is considered an antigen (what is causing the need for antibodies)

• Attenuated - having been reduced in force, effect, or value. weakened, deactivated, or demishied

• Adjuvant - a substance which enhances the bodys immune response to an antigen. An extra ingredient to help a vaccine work better

Types of Vaccines

Types of Vaccines

• Inactivated/Killed Vaccines - uses a killed pathogen to elicit an immune response (lepto, FeLV, rabies)

• Live Attenuated/Modified Live Vaccines - uses a weakened pathogen to elicit an immune response (DAPP, FVRCP, Bordetella)

• Toxoid Vaccines - uses inactivated toxin to elicit an immune response (tetanus vaccine, rattlesnake)

• Booster Shots - an extra shot to help the original vaccine work harder/continue working. A little power up for the original vaccine

Most vaccines you have to “mix” are modified live

Modified Live Virus vs Killed Virus

Modified Live Virus vs Killed Virus

• Modified Live/Live-Attenuated(weak) Vaccine - contains whole pathogens that have been altered such that they can’t cause clinical disease but can still infect and multiply within the animal inducing immunological response

  • Pros - Very strong immune response, no need for booster shots, fast acting, no adjuvants necessary.

  • Cons - Potentially dangerous, more acute side effects, difficult storage, precaution for the immunocompromised

• Killed/Inactivated Vaccines - contain a killed (inactive) pathogen to “teach” your immune system how to fight that type of disease. Usually combined with adjuvants to help create a stronger immune response

  • Pros - Safer than modified live, minor sides effects, easy to transport and store

  • Cons - Requires booster shots, not quite effective as modified live, can be very expensive

Diseases and Vaccinations

Vaccine Reactions

• Common - tired, soreness at vaccine site, diarrhea, decreased appetite, mild fever

• Urgent - facial swelling, vomiting, lethargy/collapsing, difficulty breathing, body hives. (If any of these symptoms happen within a few hours of a vaccination, the patient must be seen IMMEDIATELY either at the colic or at an urgent care

For a dog's runny nose, look for a clear or colored discharge. If the sickness is getting worse and the discharge is clear, it's a viral infection. If it's yellow of green, it will be a bacterial infection

Vaccine Sites

The most common sites for topical and intradermal vaccinations in animals are the abdomen or the back

Dogs

• Heartworm Prevention can be given as early as 8 weeks of age

• Heartworm Prevention - give every 30 days (oral or topical) or every 6m-12m if injectable Prohart

• Heartworm Treatment - yearly done unless the dog has missed multiple doses, then recommended to test, then retest 6 months after

• HWP vs HWT - HWP is LESS expensive than HWT

Dogs and Cats

Cats

Common Diseases

Dogs:

• Rabies

• Distemper

• Adenovirus/Hepatitis

• Parvovirus

• Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex - “Kennel Cough”

• Leptospirosis

• Parasitic infections

• GI Parasites

• External Parasites

• Heartworm

Cats:

• Rabies

• Feline URI (Rhinotracheitis, Calici)

• Panleukopenia

• FeLV

• FIV

• FIP

• Parasitic infections

• GI Parasites

• External Parasites

DA2PP/DHPP/DAPP

Distemper

Distemper

• Will affect dogs, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and large cats such as lions and tigers.

• The vaccine for Distemper will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every 1-3 years.

• Distemper comes from a virus

• Transmission from Distemper will be :

  • Most body secretions, including urine, the infected dog typically spreads the disease through coughing infected secretions that get inhaled by the new host

• Symptoms for Distemper will be :

  • Discharge from eye and nose, Fever (which often comes and goes unnoticed), Poor appetite, Coughing and development of pneumonia, Vomiting and diarrhea, Callusing of the nose and foot pads, Seizures, neurologic disease 1 to 3 weeks

• To diagnose Distemper, you’ll need a PCR Test

  • (when using a modified live vaccine, it may cause a false positive)

• There is no definitive cure for Distemper, but you can give the animal supportive care while they are infected. Such as :

  • Antibiotics, fluids to prevent dehydration if diarrhea occurs

• To prevent Distemper, your best bet will be the vaccine.

• Distemper is not zoonotic.

Adenovirus

Canine Hepatitis/Adenovirus

• Will affect mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

• The vaccine for Adenovirus will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 6-8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every 1-3 years.

• Adenovirus comes from a virus (will affect liver, eyes, and blood vessels)

• Transmission from Adenovirus will be :

  • Direct contact with infected bodily fluids (urine, feces, saliva), contaminated environments or objects, water sources (can survive in different environments for months)

• Symptoms for Adenovirus will be :

  • Fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, jaundice, enlarged liver.

  • Severe Cases: blood clotting, seizures, and even sudden death

• To diagnose Adenovirus, you’ll need a blood test, liver enzyme analysis, viral detection methods

• There is no definitive cure for Adenovirus, but you can give the animal supportive care while they are infected. Such as :

  • Hospitalization, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, blood transfusion, or medication.

• To prevent Adenovirus, your best bet will be the vaccine, isolation, disinfecting contaminated areas, and avoiding contact with potentially infected wild dogs.

• Adenovirus is zoonotic.

Parvovirus

Parvovirus

• Will affect cats, dogs, coyotes, wolves, foxes, raccoons, minks, bobcats, and humans

• The vaccine for Parvovirus (apart of DAPP) will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every 1-3 years.

• Parvovirus comes from a virus

• Transmission from Parvovirus will be :

  • Feces with virus, Fomites

• Symptoms for Parvovirus will be :

  • Severe vomiting & diarrhea, Typically bloody diarrhea, Foul smelling diarrhea, Mucous diarrhea, Loss of appetite, Depression/lethargy, Fever

• To diagnose Parvovirus, traces of the virus or virus antigen in the stool, or the detection of anti-CPV antibodies in the blood serum.

• There is no definitive cure for Parvovirus

• To prevent Parvovirus, your best bet will be the vaccine (DAPP)

• Parvovirus is zoonotic.

• The virus does not directly cause death; rather, it causes loss of the lining of the intestinal tract, and destroys some blood cell elements. (The intestinal damage results in severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and infection in the bloodstream)

Parainfluenza

Parainfluenza

• Will affect horses, sheep, goats, water buffaloes, deer, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, rats, and pigs.

• The vaccine for Parainfluenza (apart of DAPP) will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every 1-3 years.

• Parainfluenza comes from a virus

• Transmission from Parainfluenza will be :

  • airborne

• Symptoms for Parainfluenza will be :

  • Dry hacking cough, inflammation of the larynx, fever, discharge from nose, sleeping more than usual, refusal to eat or reduced appetite.

• To diagnose Parainfluenza, you’ll need a blood test

• There is no definitive cure for Parainfluenza, but you can give the animal supportive care while they are infected. Such as :

  • Antibiotics based on the results of the cultures

• To prevent Parainfluenza, your best bet will be the vaccine (DAPP).

• Parainfluenza is zoonotic.

FVRCP

• FVRCP

Panleukopenia

Panleukopenia

• Will affect cats

• The vaccine for Panleukopenia will be a Core Vaccine (FVRCP) which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every year.

• Panleukopenia comes from a viral disease

• Transmission from Panleukopenia will be :

  • Urine, stool, and nasal

• Symptoms for Panleukopenia will be :

  • Vomiting, depression, loss of appetite, severe diarrhea, dehydration, high fever (will come and go, fall to lower than normal levels before death), gingivitis, stomatitis, seizures, may sit in front of their water bowls but not drink much, can damage the brain and eyes (young kittens)

• To diagnose Panleukopenia, you’ll need a enzyme linked immunosorbent (EILs), you'll see a shortage of red and white blood cells, fecal test (when feline parvovirus is found in stool),

• There is no definitive cure for Panleukopenia, but can help the symptoms, such as

  • Correcting dehydration, giving proper nutrients, and vaccinate (FVRCP)

  • If the cat survives for five days, its chances for recovery are greatly improved.

• To prevent Panleukopenia, your best bet will be the vaccine

• Panleukopenia is not zoonotic.

• 80–90% of cats die 3-4 years after diagnosis

• A cancer of white blood cells

• Causes anemia

• Attacks white blood cells (a cancer to it)

• Fatal in kittens

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR)

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR)

• Will affect cats

• The vaccine for FVR will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every year.

• FVR comes from a virus

• Transmission from FVR will be :

  • Direct contact with infected bodily fluids

• Symptoms for FVR will be :

  • Sneezing, nasal congestion, eye discharge, eye redness, excessive blinking, fever

• To diagnose FVR, you’ll need a PCR Test

• There is no definitive cure for FVR, but you can give the animal supportive care while they are infected. Such as :

  • Fluids, antibiotics, oxygen, and medication

• To prevent FVR, your best bet will be the vaccine and isolate your cat.

• FVR is not zoonotic.

Calicivirus

Calicivirus

• Will affect cats

• The vaccine for Calicivirus will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 8 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every year.

• Calicivirus comes from bacteria

• Transmission from Calicivirus will be :

  • Infected cat gets in contact with infected cat

• Symptoms for Calicivirus will be :

  • Sneezing, nasal congestion, difficult breathing

• To diagnose Calicivirus, you’ll need a doctor to collect cells, or collect discharge through eyes, ears and nose. Then they’ll need to test it

• There is no definitive cure for Calicivirus

• To prevent Calicivirus, your best bet will be the vaccine (URI Vaccine), bleach clean, isolation

• Calicivirus is not zoonotic.

• The disease is chronic (disease will be with them for the rest of their life)

• Stress can worsen it

• Connected to feline upper respiratory system

Rabies

Rabies

• Will affect wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, although any mammal can get rabies.

• The vaccine for Rabies will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 3-4 months, booster after 1 year, then every 1-3 years depending on cat/dog.

• Rabies comes from a virus

• Transmission from Rabies will be :

  • The infection is transmitted when one infected animal bites another, Saliva contact

• Symptoms for Rabies will be in 3 stages:

  • Stage 1/Prodromal stage - change in temperament, agitated, aggression, extroverts may become nervous or shy.

  • Stage 2/Furious Rabies - (most recognizable stage, most dangerous) nervousness, irritable, vicious, muscle spasms may prevent swallowing, excessive drooling of saliva.

  • Stage 3/Paralytic Stage/Dumb Stage - distortion of the face, difficulty swallowing (owner may think the animal has something stuck in its mouth or throat), comatose, death.

• To diagnose Rabies, you’ll need a doctor to collect and examine brain tissue. (if an animal is suspected of having or being exposed to rabies, and is not current on vaccine, then euthanasia is needed to examine brain tissue)

• There is no cure for Rabies (Fatal)

• To prevent Rabies, your best bet will to vaccinate

• Rabies is zoonotic.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis

• Will affect dogs and other mammals

• The vaccine for Leptospirosis will be an Elective Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 12 weeks, and boosting every 3-4 till the dog reaches 4-5 months. After that, you'll need a booster every year.

• Leptospirosis comes from a bacterial disease

• Transmission from Leptospirosis will be :

  • Ingestion of infected urine or rodent-contaminated garbage is the most important means of transmission, but some forms of the bacteria can penetrate damaged or thin skin, dogs swim in contaminated water may become infected through their skin

• Symptoms for Leptospirosis will be in 3 forms :

  • Form 1/Hemorrhagic (bleeding) - high fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, death.

  • Form 2/Icteric or Jaundice (liver) - vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, yellow color in mouth and whites of eyes. Severe cases, the skin will turn yellow.

  • Form 3/Renal (kidney) - kidney failure, lethargic, anorectic (unwilling to eat), vomiting, breath may have offensive odor, Ulcers developer on tongue, diarrhea, excessive drinking (polydipsia), excessively frequent urination (polyuria), red staining in urine (from blood), reluctant to move, abdominal discomfort, fever.

• To diagnose Leptospirosis, you’ll need a

  • DNA-PCR test (looks for the presence of genetic material in blood and urine)

  • MAT (microscopic agglutination test, looks for the presence of antibodies that are formed against lepto)

• A cure for Leptospirosis is antibodies (effective against acute stages), intensive care in hospital

• To prevent Leptospirosis, your best bet will be the vaccine

• Leptospirosis is zoonotic.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

Bordetella (Kennel Cough)

• Will affect dogs

• The vaccine for Bordetella will be an Elective Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 6 weeks, and booster every 6 months to a year.

• Bordetella comes from bacterial

• Transmission from Bordetella will be :

  • Airborne, direct contact

• Symptoms for Bordetella will be :

  • Honking cough, sneezing, runny eyes or nose

• To diagnose Bordetella, there is no single test, so the doctor may need to use some sort of process of elimination based on symptoms and vaccine records (if they've been vaccinated with Bordetella vaccine)

• There is no definitive cure for Bordetella, but can help the symptoms, such as

  • Antibiotics or cough suppressant

• To prevent Bordetella, your best bet will be the vaccine

• Bordetella is zoonotic.

• Respiratory disease

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

• A viral disease

• FIP is caused by an infection with a virus known as Feline Coronavirus (a common group of viruses that often infect the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) or gastrointestinal tract (intestines) in different animals)

• Antivirals can be effective in curing FIP

• Symptoms

  • Early signs - fluctuating fever, lethargy, reduced appetite

Divided into ‘Wet (effusive)’ and ‘Dry’ forms

• Wet/Effusive

  • An accumulation of fluid within the abdominal cavity and/or the chest cavity (resulting in breathing difficulties)

  • Causes damage to and inflammation of blood vessels. Which results in fluid leaking from the blood into the abdomen or chest

  • The fluid that forms typically is thick and bright yellow in color and contains a lot of protein

• Dry

  • Involves the formulation of granulomas

  • Signs will vary according to the organ affected

  • Inflammation will affect the eyes in around 30% of cases and the brain in 30% of cases, but can also affect almost any tissues in the body including the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skins

  • Wide range of signs (neurological disease)

  • Bleeding in the eyes and other vague signs of disease that may occur with lesions (an area of abnormal tissue) in the liver, kidneys, or other internal organs

• Diagnosis

  • Very difficult to diagnose and deal with because there are no clinical signs that are specific for FIP and no simple blood test to confirm a diagnosis.

  • If fluid is present in the abdomen or chest cavity, obtaining a sample of the fluid and analyzing the cell and protein content can be extremely helpful.

• Treatment

  • Antiviral drugs (used in humans can help with FIP) may be effective (expensive and requires a long course (84 days) of treatment)

• Prevention

  • Vaccine (given to kittens over 16 weeks of age), good hygiene, avoiding overcrowding, cleaning/disinfection

CIRDC (Kennel Cough)

Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex (Kennel Cough)

VIRUSES:

• Canine parainfluenza virus

• Canine adenovirus type 2

• Canine influenza virus (subtypes H3N2 and H3N8) (K9 Flu)

• Canine respiratory coronavirus

• Canine herpesvirus-1

• Canine distemper virus

BACTERIA:

• Bordetella bronchiseptica

• Mycoplasma species

• Streptococcus equis subspecies zooepidemicus

• Symptoms:

  • Common frequent, honking cough, sneezing, and a runny nose or eyes

• Treatment:

  • Most dogs with mild CIRDC will improve fairly quickly, so there's no need for diagnostic tests in those cases. The vet will do a thorough exam, and depending on the symptoms, will prescribe out medications if necessary

  • In a severe outbreak or symptoms worsening: Vet will collect swab samples from the throat, nose, and/or edges of the eyes and submit those samples for lab testing to confirm infection and identify the specific bacteria/viruses involved.

• Prevention

  • Keep vaccines current

    • Vaccinate as early as 6-8 weeks. Booster depends on lifestyle.

Canine Influenza (K9 Flu)

Canine Influenza (K9 Flu)

• Will affect dogs

• The vaccine for Canine Influenza will be an Elective Vaccine which will need to be administered starting from 12 weeks, and boosted annually (also based on lifestyle)

• Canine Influenza comes from the influenza virus

• Transmission from Canine Influenza will be :

  • Cough or respiratory droplets (sneezing, licking)

• Symptoms for Canine Influenza will be :

  • Honking cough, sneezing

  • Extreme cases - fever, decreased appetite

• To diagnose Canine Influenza, will be a swab sample

• A cure for Canine Influenza is to prescribe medication or hospitalized

• To prevent Canine Influenza, your best bet will be the vaccine

• Canine Influenza is not zoonotic.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

• Will affect cats

• There is currently no vaccine for FIV

• FIV comes from a virus

• Transmission from FIV will be :

  • Deep bites from infected cats

• Symptoms for FIV will be :

  • Weight loss, seizures, behavioral changes, neurological disorders

• To diagnose FIV, you’ll need to examine blood for certain antibodies that the immune system develops when FIV is in the body, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence (IFA) assays

• There is no definitive cure for FIV

• To prevent FIV, your best bet will be to prevent exposure from the virus

• FIV is not zoonotic.

• There should be wellness visits every 6 months

• Attacks the immune system

• No definitive cure

• The most common and consequential disease for cats
  

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

• Will affect cats

• The vaccine for Feline Leukemia will be a Core Vaccine which will need to be administered

• Kittens: The initial series of vaccines is given as early as 8 weeks old, with a second dose 3–4 weeks later.

• Adult cats: The initial series of vaccines is given as two doses, 3–4 weeks apart.

• Boosters: After the initial series, a booster is given one year later. After that, boosters are given every 1–2 years, depending on the cat's risk level:

  • Low-risk cats: Boosters are given every 2 years.

  • High-risk cats: Boosters are given every year

• Feline Leukemia comes from a virus

• Transmission from Feline Leukemia will be :

  • Direct contact close contact activities include mating, mutual grooming, and sharing of litter trays and food bowls, and bites (common in colonies where there is close contact) (not highly contagious)

• Symptoms for Feline Leukemia will be :

  • Loss of appetite, weight loss, poor coat condition, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, pale gums and other mucus membranes, gingivitis, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, eye conditions (fatal, 80-90% of infected cats will die within 3-4 years of initial diagnosis)

• To diagnose Feline Leukemia, will need a blood test

  • Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) (preferred)

  • Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Assay (IFA) (usually sent to lab after a positive ELISA test)

    • Both detect a protein component of the virus

• There is no definitive cure for Feline Leukemia

• To prevent Feline Leukemia, your best bet will be prevention from exposure, the vaccine (not 100% effective)

• Canine Influenza is not zoonotic

Feline URI (Upper Respiratory Infection)

Feline URI (Upper Respiratory Infection)

• Caused by one or more bacterial agents

• Symptoms

  • Sneezing, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the membranes lining the eyelids), discharge from nose of eyes (clear or purulent (cloudy in appearance and containing pus)), ulcers in mouth, loss of appetite (the animal may lose some of their smell, so feed a strong smelling food to help appetite), lethargy, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, blepharospasm (squinting), difficulty breathing

• Transmission

  • saliva or secretions from the nose or eyes, direct contact with another infected cat or by environmental exposure to objects that have been contaminated with infectious secretions, such as food and water bowls, litter boxes, toys, and bedding.

• Treatment

  • Meds can be prescribed based on severity

  • Can be treated at home with eye medication (if cat has no eye discharge), humidification (for cats with nasal or airway congestion), nose drops

• Diagnosis

  • If caused by a virus, it can usually be identified by collecting samples of cells and discharge from the nose, eyes, or back of the throat.

  • Long lasting/recurring symptoms may need an additional diagnostics testing, chest or skull x rays, blood tests, or bacteria culture and sensitivity testing of abnormal discharge

Parasites (Dogs and Cats)

Parasites (Dogs and Cats)

• Intestinal parasites are extremely common in both cats and dogs.

• Referred to as worms

• Puppies and kittens tend to be the biggest victims (always assume all puppies and kittens have worms when treating)

• Common types of parasites

  • Roundworms (spaghetti like appearance), tapeworms (segments look like grains of rice and can be seen on the feces or crawling around the hind end of the animal), hookworms, whipworms (more common in dogs than cats, very small and often not seen in the feces), coccidia, and giardia (microscopic parasites that cannot be seen by looking at the stool with the naked eye)

• Symptoms

  • Diarrhea sometimes with blood in it, vomiting, obstruction, decreased appetite, lethargy, weight loss/underweight, poor general appearance

• Transmission

  • Most of the parasites are spread by the animals ingestion of feces either directly or indirectly

  • Some are passed to the puppy or kitten through the mothers placenta or milk

  • Girdia can also be contracted from drinking contaminated water

  • SOME ARE ZOONOTIC

• Diagnosis

  • Stool sample check routinely (more for puppies and kittens) anytime an animal has any of the possibly related symptoms

• Prevention

  • Recommended that all puppies and kittens be routinely treated, or dewormed, with a standard deworming solution at 2,4,6, and 8 weeks of age

  • Place on a monthly heartworm preventative that include protection against several of the international parasites

Heartworm and Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm and Heartworm Prevention

• Will affect dogs (6 months to fully develop)

• The vaccine for Heartworm is neither a Core or Elective Vaccine.

  • Deworming Puppies every 2-4 weeks until 4-5 months

  • Prevention for puppies starts at 2-6 months (1 chewable tablet every month) (6 weeks - 6 months)

  • Adults 7 months and older - heartworm test needed before prevention is started

  • Yearly test there after. Can be done with a blood draw, 1-4 drops needed for in house test

  • TREATMENT ONLY IF HEARTWORM TEST IS POSITIVE

• Heartworm comes from bacteria

• Transmission from Heartworm will be :

  • Infected mosquito bites

• Symptoms for Heartworm will be :

  • a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. (can cause heart failure)

• To diagnose Heartworm, will be a blood test

• A cure for Heartworm is antibiotics

• To prevent Heartworm, your best bet will be a yearly oral prevention

• Heartworm is not zoonotic.