Disease Education
Disease Education, Testing, and Prevention
Canine Diseases
Rabies Rabies is a serious viral infection that can cause erratic behavior and aggression. Rabies can be transferred to humans. A rabies vaccination for your dog is required by law. Contact our pet clinic or veterinary hospitals for more specific information on any of these diseases. Distemper This contagious and serious viral illness has no known cure, which makes it even more vital to have a vaccine that combats it. Hepatitis This viral infection is actually caused by two related viruses, and it mainly affects the liver. Leptospirosis This bacterial infection affects a dog’s kidneys and liver. It can also infect humans, cows, dogs, pigs, and other mammals. It is a zoonotic disease. Parainfluenza This virus can cause upper respiratory infections in dogs. Parvo This is a severe and fatal virus that affects the lining of the intestinal tract. Coronavirus Similar to Parvovirus, it can be very severe; however, it has a somewhat different effect on the intestinal tract and is generally not considered fatal. It is more serious in puppies than adult dogs. Bordetella Kennel cough, the common name that is given to infectious canine tracheobronchitis, is a very contagious respiratory disease among dogs. K-9 Influenza Canine influenza is a newly emerging infectious disease commonly referred to as “Dog Flu.” Just like human flu is among humans, canine influenza is highly contagious among dogs. In fact, unless a dog has already had the illness and recovered, virtually every dog exposed to the virus will become infected. This is because the virus is relatively new (it was first reported in 2003), and dogs have no natural immunity to it. K-9 Influenza H3N8 has been clinically proven to significantly reduce the severity of the influenza and the length of time that a dog is sick. Lyme One of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world. Transmission of the disease has been reported in dogs throughout the United States but is most prevalent in the upper Midwestern states, the Atlantic seaboard, and the Pacific coastal states. View our Canine Vaccination Packages and Series on our Wellness Page
Feline Diseases
Rabies Rabies is a serious viral infection that can cause erratic behavior and aggression. Rabies can be transferred to humans. A rabies vaccination for your cat is required by law. Contact our pet clinic or veterinary hospitals for more specific information on any of these diseases. Rhinotracheitis This is an upper respiratory infection of cats causing one-half of the respiratory diseases in cats. FVR is the most important of these diseases and is found worldwide. FVR is very contagious and can cause severe disease, including death from pneumonia in young kittens. Calicivirus It is one of the most important viral causes of respiratory infections in cats. Most cats are exposed to this virus at some time in their lives. Once infected, many cats never completely rid themselves of the virus. These carrier cats either continuously or intermittently shed organisms for long periods of time, perhaps for life, and serve as a major source of infection to other cats. Panleukopenia This is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease of cats. The virus is extremely hardy, is able to survive extremes of temperature and humidity for many months, and is resistant to most available disinfectants. Chlamydia This is a bacterial infection that causes cats to suffer feline chlamydiosis, which looks like conjunctivitis and an upper respiratory infection. It is not life threatening. Feline Leukemia (FeLv) This is the leading viral killer of cats. The virus is spread from cat-to-cat through bite wounds, through casual contact with an infected cat, and from an infected mother cat to her kittens. The most at risk are outdoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats, and cats living in households with FeLV-infected cats or with cats of unknown infection status. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) Cats that carry any coronavirus are potentially at risk for developing FIP. However, cats with weak immune systems are most likely to develop the disease, including kittens, cats already infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and geriatric cats. Most cats that develop FIP are under two years of age, but cats of any age may develop the disease. A complete safety and wellness program for your cat consists of: An Felv test The use of a broad-spectrum dewormer The use of a monthly flea control product Strict upkeep of vaccinations and Immunizations Microchipping and registration of your animal View our Feline Vaccination Packages and Series on our Wellness Page
