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

2. 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.

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

4. Dogs

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

6. 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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Heartworms

12. 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

13. Heartworms
Diagnosis:
is made through testing by a veterinarian

14. 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

15. 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

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

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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.

26. 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

27. 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.

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

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

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

31. Cats

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

33. 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

34. 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

35. Heartworms Diagnosis: clinical signs blood tests radiographs
ultrasound

36. 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

37. 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

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

39. 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

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

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

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

46. 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

47. 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

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

49. 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

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

53. 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