Common diseases & illnesses
Common Diseases and Other
Illnesses by Pat
Hoctor
Feline leukemia is a fatal disease that is a form of cancer, which is caused
by a virus. It normally causes' a decrease in the number of white blood
cells and a decrease in the immune response to even the simplest infections.
It is spread from cat to cat by infected urine or mucous, eaten or inhaled.
Cats may be long term carriers, never showing any signs. They can get sick
repeatedly, losing weight and suffering mild infections, becoming lethargic
and depressed, only to get better and seem cured. However, the prognosis is
usually to parish. There are vaccines to protect against feline leukemia.
Allergies are very common and are caused by many things. It makes little
difference what causes the allergy, whether a kind of food, fleas, pollen,
or something they touch. It appears to be a skin disease. The animal
scratches it's sides or chews its feet. Assume an animals doing these things
is allergic and seek treatment.
Distemper can be contacted by both dogs and cats. However, they are two
totally different illness from two different viruses. In dogs it effects the
nervous system, causing convulsions and death. In cats it effects the white
blood cell count and intestinal tract, causing diarrhea and decreased immune
response. The secondary symptoms of dehydration and infection are usually
what cause death.
Kidney failure is often the most limiting factor of longevity in our captive
animals of today. Because of better food and medical care they will often
live much longer than those in the wild. But as kidneys fail, they lose
their ability to filter out waste. The waste then builds up in the blood
stream (uremic poisoning) and the toxins kill the animal. If found early it
can be treated, allowing the animal to live much longer. The symptoms are
often increased water consumption and urination. Often they will have a poor
appetite and decreased activity.
Kennel cough is the reaction from any of thirteen different viruses and
bacteria. You can only vaccinate for three of these thirteen. However, that
will eliminate about 90% of the exposure. But remember, a dog can still get
kennel cough from any of the remaining ten types.
Heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitus) is found in all of the lower
forty-eight states. It is transmitted by mosquitoes from infected animals to
non-infected ones. When injected into an animal the immature heartworm
migrates slowly over six months to the heart. It then enters the blood
vessels and matures into an adult. The adults reproduce babies called
microfilariae. They circulate in the blood stream to be sucked up by another
mosquito that may transfer it to another unsuspecting victim. Heartworms can
live for years, causing major damage to the heart and surrounding areas. If
untreated, the host normally dies.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterial organism borrelia burgdorferi. It
can be transmitted to almost all warm blooded animals, including humans, by
wood ticks, deer ticks, fleas, flies, and other insects. It can be
contracted in almost all areas of the United States. The symptoms are leg
lameness", paralysis, fever, and seizures. It must be diagnosed by a blood
test. Treatment for dogs is oral tetrocycline at a dose of
10 mg per pound of body weight given four times daily for two weeks followed
by amoxicillin at a dose of 5 mg per pound of body weight twice a day for
two more weeks.
Motion sickness in pets causes diarrhea and vomiting. Starting a pet with
short rides of no more than fifteen minutes and building to longer times may
help. Don't feed the animal within two hours of departure time. Reduce
vision in a crate so the animal can't see objects moving by. In severe cases
Dramanine can be given to dogs and cats. In very severe cases tranquilizers
can be prescribed by your vet!
