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, 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.
- 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 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.
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:
Lymes
"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:
Lymes Disease
Related Topics:
malaria, yellow fever, encephalitis, plague, heartworms, Rift Valley Fever, Lymes Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tick Paralysis, Monkey Pox, etc
Heartworms; a parasite spread by mosquitos that causes severe heart, vascular, and respiratory disease in dogs, cats, and maybe humans.
Other Topics On This Site:
Spays (Ovariohysterectomies) in Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets
Includes an interesting short history about a women doctor pretending to be a man performing the first modern C Section
Castration in Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets. Includes recipes for Rocky Mountain Oysters, Montana Tendergroins, and Swinging Beef. What Viagra is made from.
Denistry: why oral hygiene and health is so important and what you can do about it
Orthopedics: How I treat arthritis, pannus, hip dysplasia, and other problems of the bones and joints
Metabolic Diseases like Diabetes, Cushings Disease, Addison's Disease, and Thyroid Disease
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.
