Introduction:

We take it for granted now, but if you compare modern life to life prior to our Civil War ... probably the most important change has not been all the cars, planes, space travel, toilets, elevators, sky scrapers, phones, televisions, computers and other incredible inventions ... but our ability to protect ourselves, our children, our livestock, and our pets from the infectious diseases that used to kill millions willy nilly.

Our defenses against the suffering and ravages of infectious diseases include:

- Government, large pharma, academic, medical, agricultural, and veterinary knowledge and vigilance around the world that help eradicate or at least contain disease outbreaks.  The containment of "Mad Cow" disease is a recent example.  Because of government veterinarians, farm veterinarians, and the Center for Disease Control only a few cases were successful in entering the United States and those few cases were quickly identified, traced, and eliminated.
(click here to go to pages about the history of veterinary medicine to include the struggles against infectious diseases like anthrax, hoof in mouth, black tongue, and other major diseases.)

- Sanitation, water treatment, rodent control, sewage systems, mosquito control programs, and our strict standards on the processing, handling, and refrigeration of our wholesome food supply are all a major part of preventing epidemics of infectious diseases.  We take it all for granted.

- We have invented vaccines for many of the diseases that used to kill so many people and animals.  For some diseases we have developed or are in the process of developing things like ultra-violet lights, ionizers, and various forms of radiation that may prove useful.  Medical centers, veterinary and medical universities, and companies all over the world are busy trying to develop newer and better ways to protect us from the infectious diseases we're still vulnerable to such as HIV - AIDS, malaria, Herpes, and Leptospirosis

- We have an arsenal of antibiotics and treatment protocols ready for when these diseases get past our defenses.  Our chances of surviving these once deadly diseases are now excellent in most cases.

Despite all the amazing and wonderful advances we have made, the struggle against infectious diseases is far from over, though. 

Disease organisms keep mutating and as you know,  the world is not an orderly place; disease epidemics break out where-ever there is war, famine, lack of basic infrastructure, sewer systems, clean water, over-population, lack of rodent or mosquito control, droughts, floods, monsoons, or pollution.


Infectious diseases include diseases that spread from one creature to another caused by different types of:
Bacteria    
Virus
Parasites   
Fungal, Yeast, and other misc Organisms   

These organisms are spread in the air, through bite wounds, insects, direct contact, urine, stool or mucus, or by extra-close direct contact such as french kissing and you know what.

Most of the diseases we're going to discuss affect only cats or only dogs, but some are transferable from one species to another including HUMANS.  Click here to go to our pages about zoonotic diseases

There isn't a day that goes by in our little practice where I don't see a pet suffering from at least one of these infectious diseases:

Canine distemper (CDV) 

Canine parvo virus (CPV)

Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH)

Tracheobronchitis (CAV-2) or Kennel Cough

Leptospirosis

Canine herpes virus (CHV)

Brucellosis in Dogs

Feline leukemia

Feline panleukopenia

Feline respiratory disease complex FVR, FCV, FPN

Fip: Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Feline Aids

Ringworm

Rabies in dogs and cats

Toxic Shock Syndrome in Canines caused by Streptococcus

Tick Paralysis

Diseases people get from pets through worms

Lymes Disease ... more information coming soon

Ehrlichia ... more information coming soon

Anaplasmosis ... more information coming soon
"These organisms are spread in the air, through bite wounds, insects, direct contact, urine, stool or mucus, or by extra-close direct contact such as french kissing and you know what."

On This Page:

Introduction to infectious diseases, which roughly speaking, means diseases caused by bacteria, virus', or fungal organisms.

For many of the viral (and some of the bacterial) diseases we discuss on these pages, we have highly effective vaccines. 

Several generations of veterinarians and multiple government sponsored programs have been encouraging the populace to vaccinate their pets. 

And because of this, diseases like rabies, distemper, lepto, parvo, and leukemia are no longer common causes of death and suffering in our pets ...except in those pets not vaccinated.

For other infectious diseases discussed on these pages, there may be a vaccine available, but the vaccine may not be as effective, reliable, long lasting, or as safe as we might reasonably hope, so their use is controversial.

And for some diseases we have very little protection at all except for avoidance, parasite control, and sanitation efforts.

Here's a list of the infectious diseases I have written about; just click on the disease that interests you:

 
Rabies in dogs and cats

Canine distemper (CDV) 

Canine parvo virus (CPV)

Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH)

Tracheobronchitis (CAV-2) or Kennel Cough

Leptospirosis

Lymes Disease

Canine herpes virus (CHV) (a cause of sudden death in puppies)

Toxic Shock Syndrome in Canines caused by Streptococcus

Brucellosis in Dogs

Feline leukemia

Feline panleukopenia

Feline respiratory disease complex FVR, FCV, FPN

Fip: Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Feline Aids

Toxoplasmosis

Ringworm

 
Related Topics:


Tuberculosis, Plague, and Brucellosis. Pasteurella, Encephalitis, Samonella, e-coli, and Cryptosporidium: a brief review of these zoonotic diseases that you can get from pets

Diseases people get from pets from mosquitos, fleas, ticks, and lice
malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, plague, heartworms, Rift Valley Fever, Lymes Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Paralysis, Monkey Pox, etc

Diseases people get from pets through worms

Coonhound Paralysis (Polyradiculoneuritis

Tick Paralysis

Tetanus

Seizures and Epilepsy

Meningitis

Granulomatous meningo-
encephalomyeitis

Thankfully, a lot of the more serious and common infectious diseases of pets are prevented by vaccination

Vaccine and Life Stage recommendations for Cats and Kittens

Vaccine and Life Stage Recommendations for Dogs and Puppies

Interesting and brief history of the discovery of antibiotics

Heartworms; a parasite spread by mosquitos that causes severe heart, vascular, and respiratory disease in dogs, cats, and maybe humans.

All the important stuff I know about fleas

There is a complete directory of links at the bottom of this page


Home        How we treat different medical problems in pets; What to Expect        FoxNest Hospital       About our No Kill Shelter       
The History of Veterinary Medicine         The Human-Animal Bond    
There is a complete site map at the bottom of this page
Infectious Diseases
in Dogs & Cats
Colds, Distemper, Parvo, Lepto, Bruceellosis, Panleukopenia, Feline AIDS, Leukemia, Hepatitis, Kennel Cough, Ringworm, Rabies, FIP, Canine Herpes, Toxic Shock Syndrome, & More

By Roger Ross, DVM

I’ve written this web site mostly to share my love of my profession … taking care of the medical and behavioral problems of pets.

But I have three other desires:

To help animal lovers make sense out of the details and confusion of veterinary care

To encourage pet owners to be more responsible in the care of their pets

And I was really hoping to somehow raise money to keep our No Kill Pet Shelter running. 

Our shelter is staffed 100% by volunteers and has been successful at finding homes for 200-300 pets a year that would otherwise be euthanized. 

We take pets that are often filthy, full of parasites, suffering from diarrhea or colds or injuries. 

We clean them up, test and treat for heartworms, intestinal parasites, and leukemia. 

Our pets are socialized, vaccinated, spayed or castrated, and treated with love and compassion until we can place them in a suitable home.

Please help us. 
 

If you’re willing to help by donating any amount, simply click on the Donate Button below.








Thank you so much.  Your help is much appreciated and your donations will be used wisely, effectively, and with compassion.

Website Directory

Home    The Human-Animal Bond     The History of Veterinary Medicine    About our No Kill Shelter     The FoxNest Veterinary Hospital     


"What To Expect When You Go To The Vet"
if your pet should have a problem with ...

Abscesses, wounds, and injuries

Arthritis, Lameness, Fractures, and Ligament Injuries
To include Femoral Head Removal, Hip Dysplasia, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Panosteitis, Radiographic Demonstrations, Disc Disease, and Bone Surgery

Bladder, Urinary Tract, & Kidney Problems

Blood Diseases, Anemias etc
Strokes, Vascular Diseases, Anemias, DVT, DIC, Blood Parasites, Rat Poison, & Bleeding disorders

Cancer, Masses, Lumps and Bumps

Cardiology  Heart disease in Cats, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Valvular disease, Cardiac Insufficiency, Congestive Heart Failure, Heartworm Disease, and a little history about the milestones in treating heart disease

Cats: general information page and directory of diseases and problems specific to cats including vaccine recommendations, leukemia, feline viral infections, feline upper respiratory disease and cats that just aren't feeling well.

Dentistry and problems of the mouth and throat

Dermatology: Skin problems including allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems

Diabetes

Ear Infections and Other Ear Problems

Eye Problems  and Ophthalmic Diseases

Exotics:  Pocket Pets, Rabbits, Hamsters etc

Fleas, Ticks, and other parasite problems

Heart disease; Cardiac diseases, vascular diseases, stroke, & heartworms

Hormone Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease

Infectious Diseases  Colds, Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis, Bruceellosis, Panleukopenia, Feline AIDS, Leukemia, Hepatitis, Kennel Cough, Ringworm, Rabies, FIP, Canine Herpes, Toxic Shock Syndrome, & More

Intestinal problems: diarrhea, constipation, torsion, indigestion, and gas. Also pancreatitis, vomiting, esophagitis, colitis, parvo and other types of dysentery

Kidney Disease

Liver Diseases     

Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease

Neural Problems and Diseases: Epilepsy, Rabies, Distemper, FIP, Paralysis, Tetanus, Seizures, Disc Disease, Toxoplasmosis & others

Obesity; new information and about Pfizer's new FDA approved treatment

Pancreatitis

Parasite Problems; Fleas, Ticks, Heartworms, Intestinal Worms, Mosquitos, Lice, Mites, and other welfare recipients

Poisons  Snakes, Insects, household chemicals, plants, and foods that might poison your pet

Respiratory Diseases

Senior Pet Page: Geriatric Medicine

Skeletal-Muscular Problems Arthritis, Fractures, ACL, Ligament Injuries, Disc Disease, Pannus, and many other problems of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments

Skin Problems: allergies, rashes, bacterial infections, and itching. Hair Loss, Yeast Infections, Hormonal Problems

Surgery: Spays, Castrations, Testicle Recipes, Soft Tissue Surgery, Hard Tissue Surgery (Bones), C- Sections, Declawing, Tumor Removal and Cancer Surgery

Wounds, punctures, injuries, and abscesses

Urinary Tract Diseases and Problems


Other Topics on This Site

The Human-Animal Bond

History of Veterinary Medicine; lots of interesting stuff    

Zoonotics: Diseases, worms, and parasites people get from pets.

Lab Tests and what they tell us

Medications/Pharmacy Page

Nutrition & Diets
Includes information about Prescription diets used to treat disease, and a discussion about the pet food industry

Reproduction, breeding, & rearing information
Includes information about feline and canine heat or estrus, breeding, C-Sections, pyometra or Infected Uterus, dystocia, no milk, mastitis, & brucellosis
Also newborn care, undescended testicles, and alternative to spaying and castration

Vaccine and other preventive health recommendations

WildLife Page:  Taking care of baby bunnies, squirrels, and birds.  A very funny story about beavers, and other misc information

Our Dog Page:  a directory of problems of concern in dogs including parvovirus, distemper, canine herpes, and other diseases

Veterinary Pet Insurance


The map above is a 2009 risk asscessment map for humans getting rabies if bit by an animal.  Thanks to aggressive vaccination and stray animal control programs, if you live in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, or Australia, you might feel smuggly safe.  But look at the incident map for the same year of animals testing positive for rabies in the United States.  Most of these cases were found in bats, skunks, coons, and other species that most humans don't come into frequent contact with but your outdoor pets do.  So don't neglect your pet's vaccinations.  It's important.
The above map indicates that the number of dogs testing positive for leptospirosis... even though there may be no obvious symptoms... is increasing.

Lepto is a water loving bacterial germ spread from the urine of wildlife that then contaminates puddles, ponds, streams, and lakes where it can then infect dogs, other animals, and people.

Click here for more information about the vaccine available and this emerging disease