"Quality Care for Your 4-Legged Friends"
3355 E. Conner St.
Noblesville, IN 46060
(317)773-3283
Preventative Health Care for your Adult Cat
The following is an explanation of all vaccinations your pet needs in order to maintain a high level of protection against cat diseases. Also included is information and descriptions of common internal and external parasites. Intestinal parasites may show no visible signs, or they can cause weakness, bloody diarrhea and sometimes death. The test for them is simple and treatment is easy. Finally, you will find information about dental care for your cat.
Diseases Vaccinated for:
Panleukopenia
• What does it do? Panleukopenia causes a deficiency in white blood cells, which in turn lower the immune response. Cats that die from the disease usually die from secondary bacterial infections.
• How is it spread? Known as distemper, this disease is highly contagious. Indirect contact is the most common means of infection, so contact with contaminated objects. Cat-to-cat contact is also a means of transmission.
• What are the signs? Depression, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
• What about treatment? As many as nine out of ten cats that get distemper die from it, so don't chance it! Young cats have a very low survival rate. Those who are infected when they are over 4 months of age must be given fluids and broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent secondary infections, and their own immune system must fight off the disease.
Return to topRhinotracheitis
• What does it do? Rhinotracheitis, or feline herpes virus, invades the lining of the nose, pharynx, throat, sinuses, windpipe and the membranes surrounding the eyes.
• How is it spread? Directly through sniffing of infected cats; indirectly through sneezing cats spreading the virus throughout the environment and coming into contact with contaminated parts of the environment.
• What are the signs? Sneezing, depression, loss of appetite, discharges from the nose and eyes.
• What about treatment? Symptoms resolve in two to three weeks after the onset of symptoms. However, about 80% of cats who contract the disease harbor it for the rest of their lives. When their immune system becomes stressed, the disease flares up again and symptoms are shown again.
Calici
• What does it do? It is a very small virus that attacks the mouth, eyes and sometimes lungs of cats.
• How is it spread? Direct contact in multi-cat homes and shelters allows repeated infection with the symptoms increasing each time; indirect contact includes equipment such as litter pans, food dishes, furnishings, clothing, etc.
• What are the signs? Vary greatly depending on the age of the animal, amount of exposure, presence of other diseases and other individual differences; most commonly cold-like symptoms such as depression, loss of appetite, fever, and runny nose.
• What about treatment? Only supportive care of the symptoms can be used because this is a virus. This supportive care would depend on the symptoms seen.
Chlamydia
• What does it do? Chlamydia is a bacterium that causes upper respiratory infections.
• How is it spread? This bacterium is spread through the air and is very contagious .
• What are the signs? Fever, runny eyes with discharge, red or swollen eyes and runny nose.
• What about treatment? High death rates are reported in kittens and geriatric cats, while otherwise healthy adult cats usually recover from the disease. Vaccinations are given to kittens to prevent infection.
Feline Leukemia
• What does it do? Feline Leukemia (FeLV) attacks a cat's immune system, lowering the number of white blood cells produced. Cats usually die from secondary bacterial infections or other diseases that they normally would be able to fight off.
• How is it spread? The main source of transmission is through cat fights . This is because large amounts of the FeLV virus are shed through saliva and infect cats through bite wounds. It is possible for the virus to be spread through other means of saliva transfer (sharing food and water dishes, grooming one another, from mother to kittens before birth), but it is rare.
• What are the signs? There is a test to check for FeLV that requires only a small amount of blood. Other than this test, only the presence of other diseases such as lymphosarcomas (cancers of the lymph tissues), anemia, abortion, arthritis and immune suppression can be signs of a leukemia infection.
• What about treatment? Cats infected with FeLV rarely live four years past infection. Today this is considered to be the leading cause of cat deaths in the United States . A vaccination is available for kittens and adult cats.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
• What does it do? Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a coronavirus that exists in two forms. The “effusive” form causes fluid to collect in the body cavities, which causes swelling in the abdomen and chest. The “dry” form of FIP does not present this way and would include some of the other symptoms, such as general illness, fever, weight loss and anorexia.
• How is it spread? Through the mouth or nose because the virus may be shed in saliva, urine and feces of infected cats. It most commonly infects cats between 6 months to 2 years old and then cats between 11 and 15 years of age.
• What are the signs? Swollen abdomen, discharge form eyes or nose, paralysis of hind legs, convulsions, personality changes, eye disease, general illness, fever, weight loss, anorexia and anemia.
• What about treatment? Treatments may ease the symptoms of FIP, but it will not reverse the course of the disease and in the end is unsuccessful.
Feline Immunofeciency Virus
• What does it do? FIV attacks the cat's immune system and eventually prevents it from fighting off other bacterial, viral and protozoan infections.
• How is it spread? It is mostly spread through bite wounds. Casual, non-aggressive contact between cats does not spread the disease.
• What are the signs? They usually do not appear until years after the infection occurred. The virus is spread through the lymph nodes, causing a increase in the number of white blood cells produced and swelling of the lymph nodes. However, unless there is a large swelling of the lymph nodes, this stage of the infection usually goes unnoticed. After infection the cat's health may decrease progressively or go through stages of illness and health. The later signs include poor coat condition; persistent fever; lack of appetite; chronic recurrent infections of the bladder, skin and upper respiratory tract; and slow but progressive weight loss. Various forms of cancer and blood diseases are more common in FIV infected cats.
• What about treatment? No treatment is currently available for FIV. If you cat has contracted FIV, please see the veterinarian for tips on how to manage his lifestyle, keep him comfortable during infection and prevent other animals from contracting the disease.
Rabies
• What does it do? The rabies virus affects the nervous tissue of all mammals, causing inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
• How is it spread? The virus is shed into the saliva of an infected animal and is then transmitted through a bite wound.
• What are the signs? Most commonly behavioral changes, such as lack of appetite, nervousness and apprehension, uncharacteristic aggressiveness and unexplained paralysis.
• What about treatment? The disease is almost always fatal. The vaccine is required by Indiana state law and should be given for your and your pet's protection.
Common Parasites:
Tapeworms
• What do they do? Tapeworms feed off the food within the small intestine. They can cause intestinal blockage, diarrhea or constipation.
• How are they transmitted? Dogs usually become infected by ingesting fleas or lice that are also infected with the immature worms. They can also become infected by ingesting animals that serve as hosts for tapeworms, such as rabbits, snakes, birds and frogs.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? The most common signs are “scooting” and passing excessive amounts of gas. Also, small ¼ inch long white, flat things attached to your pet's hair near the rectum or in the feces indicate a tapeworm infestation.
• What types of prevention or treatment are available? Treatment involves giving your dog a deworming medication (which must be repeated in one to two weeks), implementing a complete flea control program to prevent the ingestion of fleas and preventing your pet from eating raw meat or wild animals.
Roundworms
• What do they do? Roundworms bite the wall of the small intestines and feed on blood.
• How are they transmitted? Dogs become infected by walking through an area where an infected dog previously had a bowel movement, which are infested with roundworm eggs. These eggs are sticky and easily stick to the dog's hair. Then when the dog grooms itself, the eggs are swallowed.
In puppies under 5 weeks of age, the larval stage of the roundworm penetrates the small intestine and migrates through the heart and liver until it reaches the lungs. The puppy then coughs up the larva and swallows them. Then they mature into adults in the small intestine. Many of the migrating larvae do not find their way back to the small intestine and become buried in other various body tissues. If this dog is female and then later becomes pregnant, the hormonal changes within her body signals these worms to migrate through the uterus and into the milk glands. The newborn puppies are then infected with the roundworms.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? Sometimes worms will be seen in the feces; they are white, round, spaghetti-like and measure one to seven inches long. However, worms usually are not seen.
Puppies will sometimes vomit up a worm, showing you that the puppy is infected. Heavily infected puppies can be bloated, have diarrhea, constipation, vomiting or obstruction of the small intestines. Because these worms feed off blood, puppies can die from anemia. Since roundworms migrate to the lungs, large numbers of these worms can cause respiratory problems in young puppies. All puppies should have a fecal examination at 6-8 weeks of age and then four to eight weeks later. The second fecal exam allows the larva time to reach the small intestines and start producing eggs (this is what is detected in the stool).
• What type of treatment is available? Dogs with roundworms are given an oral medication, which kills the worms in the small intestine.
Hookworms
• What do they do? Adult hookworms attach to the small intestinal wall and feed on the blood of the dog.
• How are they transmitted? A dog can become infected by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated by the worm or by walking in areas where a previously infected dog has deposited its feces. The eggs of the hookworm are passed out with the feces, where they develop into larva. The larva can then burrow through the skin and footpads of dogs and migrate to the lungs. The dog coughs up the larva and swallows them. They become adults in the small intestine, where they feed and produce eggs.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? Large numbers of hookworms can cause a bloody red to black diarrhea. Hookworm eggs are identified in the stool through a fecal examination.
• What type of treatment is available? Dogs that are positive for hookworms are given an oral dewormer by the veterinarian. This treatment is repeated in two weeks. To prevent reinfection, clean your yard of feces daily and clean concrete with bleach or sodium borate.
Whipworms
• What do they do? Whipworms infest the large intestine and may hatch and mature there.
• How are they transmitted? Whipworms are most often found in adult dogs, which are infected by grooming themselves or eating food off soil contaminated with eggs. Their life cycle can be completed without ever leaving the dog's colon, unlike roundworms and hookworms.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? Dogs infected with whipworms can have bloody diarrhea with mucous, although they often do not show any signs. Fecal examinations are very important in the detection of a whipworm infection.
• What type of treatment is available? Whipworms are also treated orally, and infected dogs must have their feces rechecked four weeks and three months after the treatment because it may take up to three months for larva to reach maturity and start producing eggs.
Coccidia
• What do they do? The organisms invade the lining of the small intestine and can cause watery diarrhea that is sometimes bloody.
• How are they transmitted? Coccidia are very small single-celled organisms that are transmitted through contaminated feces.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? Diarrhea is usually the only symptom seen; a stool sample must be observed under a microscope to detect.
• What type of treatment is available? Oral medication is given daily for two to three weeks to kill the coccidian. This disease is controlled through good sanitary practices.
Ringworm
• What do they do? Ringworm is not really a worm, but a fungus that infects the skin.
• How are they transmitted? It is easily transmitted from one animal to another by close contact or from fungus within the soil. Ringworm is contagious to humans, especially small children.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? The classic sign is a circular spot where all the hair is gone. The spot rapidly enlarges and the center starts to heal. Other forms of the disease develop into a red irritated area on the skin or areas of hair loss.
• What type of treatment is available? Effective anti-fungul medication is available through the veterinarian to treat your pet.
Ear Mites
• What do they do? Ear mites are tiny, white parasites that live in the ear canals. They burrow in the ear canal and cause reddness and irritation. Severe ear infections may develop as a result of injury to the ear canal by the mites.
• How are they transmitted? They are highly contagious and frequently infest whole litters of puppies and kittens. If more than one dog or cat is present in the home and one is found to be infected, then all should be carefully examined for ear mites.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? A dark, crusty material is found in the affected ear canal. Head shaking and ear scratching are common signs.
• What type of treatment is available? Effective medication is available through the veterinarian to treat your pet. A thorough cleansing of the ears is required to wash out the dark, crusty material and allow more area for the medication to be applied to. The medication will be applied by the veterinarian, and some will be sent home with you for continued treatment thereafter.
Fleas
• What do they do? Fleas live on the skin of animals and feed on their blood. Their bites cause itching and irritation. Some animals are allergic to flea bites, so the intenstiy of the itch and irritation is even worse.
• How are they transmitted? Because fleas live on the skin, they simply jump between animals and on to furnishings in the environment. They can then jump on and infest animals that come along at a later time.
• How do I tell if my dog is infected? The most common sign of a flea infestation is incessant itching. Also, if you bathe or groom your dog, you may see small red bumps in various locations on the skin.
• What type of treatment is available? There are all types of flea treatments available on the market that work with varying dependibility. They range from shampoos to prevention to topical treatments and are available at pet stores, online and through your veterinarian.
Dental Care
- Kittens receive 26 temporary teeth at about two to three weeks of age. They develop 30 permanent teeth at about three to four months.
- Studies show that by age three, about 70 percent of cats show signs of gum disease.
- Cervical line lesions are the most common dental disease of domestic cats. The disease, which is also referred to as neck lesions, was virtually unrecognized until the mid-1970s. Recent studies show that about 28 percent of domestic cats show at least one lesion. These lesions often begin below the gum line, so they can develop undetected. Often, the first sign to the pet owner is a severely inflamed gum around a single tooth. Other signs include bad breath and tooth sensitivity. Pet owners should seek veterinary care if their cats exhibit any of these symptoms.
- What can you do to prevent dental disease?