GIBSON VETERINARY CLINIC, LTD

Description: Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease most common in unvaccinated puppies 12 to 16 weeks old, but it can affect any dog with a poor immune status. Nearly every dog will be exposed to distemper virus in its lifetime, and when infection occurs, it is often fatal. It attacks many organs in addition to the nervous system.

Transmission: The virus is spread through coughing, sneezing, and other body secretions.

Clinical Signs: Fever, loss of appetite, diarrhea, listlessness, vomiting, slobbering, and discharge from the eyes and nose. In its final stages, the disease may cause convulsions, paralysis, and death. 

Description: Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an intestinal disease with rapid onset and varying degrees of illness. It most commonly affects puppies with mild to severe illness. The disease can cause death.

Transmission: Canine parvovirus is transmitted from one dog to another through feces or from objects contaminated by feces. It can be carried on a dog's hair and feet, as well as on contaminated cages, shoes, and other objects. Because food and water dishes, cages, bedding, litter boxes, rugs, and soil can become contaminated with the virus, the dog's environment can become a reservoir for infection.

Clinical Signs: Depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe bloody diarrhea.

Description: Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease of mammals including, dogs and humans. It can be transmitted to dogs by infected dogs, wildlife, livestock, and rodents. Leptospira bacteria most frequently affect the liver and kidneys.

Transmission: Leptospira bacteria are passed through the urine of infected animals, including dogs, wildlife, rodents, and livestock. The bacteria can enter through a break in the skin or when infected urine is ingested. Outbreaks of leptospirosis infections occur frequently after periods of heavy rain. The bacteria can be found in standing water, rivers, streams, and ponds.

Clinical Signs: Fever, weight loss, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, kidney pain, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), and increased urination.

Canine Adenovirus Type 2

(CAV-2)

Description: Canine Adenovirus Type 2 is a highly infectious respiratory disease in dogs. It causes local infections in the upper respiratory tract and may progress to lower respiratory disease in puppies or debilitated adult or aged dogs. 

Transmission: The virus is transmitted via aerosolized respiratory secretions. 

Clinical Signs: Runny nose, possible fever, and dry harsh coughing followed by retching and gagging. 

Canine Adenovirus Type 1

(Canine Hepatitis)

Description: Canine hepatitis is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs. 

Transmission: It is spread to other dogs when they come into contact with an infected dog's stool, saliva, or urine.

Clinical Signs: Lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, "tucked-up" posture, sensitivity to light, tonsillitis, bleeding gums, yellowing of the whites of the eyes (jaundice), and uncontrolled bleeding. The death rate is highest in young dogs. 

Description: Canine parainfluenza is a respiratory infection in dogs.

Transmission: It is highly contagious and is transmitted readily by aerosolized respiratory secretions. 

Clinical Signs: Infection by the parainfluenza virus produces coughing and fever. This virus is typically mild; however, secondary bacterial infection may occur and contribute to a more severe disease. 

Canine Bordetella

(Kennel Cough)

Description:  Clinical cases of Kennel Cough are usually caused by several infectious agents working together to damage and irritate the lining of the dog's trachea and upper bronchii. The damage to the tracheal lining is fairly superficial, but exposes nerve endings that become irritated simply by the passage of air over the damaged tracheal lining. Once the organisms are eliminated the tracheal lining will heal rapidly. The most common organisms associated with Canine Cough are the bacteria called Bordetella bronchiseptica and two viruses called Parainfluenza virus and Adenovirus and even an organism called Mycoplasma.

Transmission:  The causative organisms can be present in the expired air of an infected dog, much the same way that human "colds" are transmitted. The airborne organisms will be carried in the air in microscopically tiny water vapor or dust particles. The airborne organisms, if inhaled by a susceptible dog, can attach to the lining of the trachea and upper airway passages, find a warm, moist surface on which to reside and replicate, and eventually damage the cells they infect.

Clinical Signs:  Kennel Cough in dogs will stimulate a coarse, dry, hacking cough about three to seven days after the dog is initially infected. It sounds as if the dog needs to "clear it's throat" and the cough will be triggered by any extra activity or exercise. Many dogs that acquire Kennel Cough will cough every few minutes, all day long. Their general state of health and alertness will be unaffected, they usually have no rise in temperature, and do not lose their appetite. The signs of Canine Cough usually will last from 7 to 21 days and can be very annoying for the dog and the dog's owners. Life threatening cases of Kennel Cough are extremely rare and a vast majority of dogs that acquire the infection will recover on their own with no medication. Cough suppressants and occasionally antibiotics are the usual treatment selections. 

Description: Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria are transmitted when an infected tick feeds on the animal. These bacteria cause damage to many different organs including the liver, heart, nervous system, joints, and kidneys. 

Transmission: An infected tick transmits Borrelia burgdorferi while it is feeding on a dog. 

Clinical Signs: The tissue damage caused by the bacteria is responsible for the clinical signs of inappetence, depression, fever, stiffness, arthritis, shifting leg lameness, joint pain, and swelling. 

Feline Panleukopenia

Description: Panleukopenia, or feline distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease. It is predominantly a disease of young kittens, but it can affect cats of all ages. 

Transmission: Panleukopenia is transmitted through direct contact with infected cats and their feces. A cat's environment becomes a reservoir for infection because feed and water dishes, cages, bedding, litter boxes, rugs, and soil can become contaminated with the virus from their feces. The virus is also transmitted via contaminated clothing, shoes, and human hands. 

Clinical Signs: Vary from no outward signs to a rapidly fatal disease resembling acute poisoning. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, lack of appetite, depression, fatigue, and death. 

Feline Calicivirus

Description: Calicivirus affects the feline upper respiratory system and accounts for approximately 40 percent of all respiratory disease in cats. 

Transmission: Calicivirus is shed in large quantities and transmitted by direct and close contact with infected cats through secretions of the eyes, nose, and mouth. The virus can also spread via contaminated clothing.

Clinical Signs: Moderate fever, ulcers and blisters on the tongue, sneezing, runny eyes, inflammation of the membranes of the eyes, facial and limb swelling, open sores, limping, lack of appetite, and depression.  

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis

Description: Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) is a severe upper respiratory infection of cats caused by a herpes virus.

Transmission: Feline viral rhinotracheitis is transmitted through direct or close contact or short-distances from virus-shedding, sneezing cats, or through contact with contaminated dishes, bedding, cages, or clothing. 

Clinical Signs: Fever, sneezing, coughing, inflammation of the membranes of the eyes, discharge from the nose and eyes, excessive salivation, lack of appetite, and depression. These cats are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections.  

Description: Feline pneumonitis is an upper respiratory infection of cats caused by the bacteria Chlamydia psittaci. 

Transmission: The disease is transmitted by direct contact or contact with infectious discharge from the eyes, rectum, or vagina. Chlamydiosis can be airborne and easily transmitted through cat-to-cat contact.

Clinical Signs: Inflammation of the membranes of the eyes, sneezing, and discharge from the eyes and nose. Recurrence is common.  

Description: Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) causes a feline form of AIDS. A different virus causes human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human AIDS. There is no cure for FIV, and up to one in 12 cats in North America test positive for this disease. Cats from multi-cat households and those that venture outdoors are at greatest risk for FIV infection.

Transmission: A bite wound is the primary route of transmission of this virus. A pregnant female may transmit the virus to her kittens. 

Clinical Signs: There are no specific signs associated with FIV, and infected cats may appear normal. Generally, infected cats have poor body condition and persistent fevers, and are susceptible to chronic infections of the mouth, gums, eyes, urinary tract, skin, and upper respiratory system.

Description: Feline leukemia (FeLV) is a viral disease that attacks the immune system and leaves the cat vulnerable to a host of secondary infections and cancer.

Transmission: Transmission usually occurs through contact with other cats (eg, grooming, biting, and sharing food dishes and litter boxes.) Cats in a multi-cat household or cats allowed to roam outdoors are particularly at risk. The virus is shed in saliva, urine, feces, and eye secretions. It can be spread from a mother to her kittens in the uterus or through her milk. 

Clinical Signs: Anemia, inflammation of the mouth and gums, chronic respiratory disease, digestive disorders, and certain types of cancer.