Search Results for: dogs
Diagnostic Tests for CIRD Pathogens
Since all the respiratory viral and bacterial pathogens cause similar clinical signs, at least during the first week or two of illness, the pathogen causing the infection cannot be diagnosed based on clinical signs! Not every coughing dog with nasal discharge needs diagnostic testing to determine the cause. However, there are certain triggers signaling the Read more »
Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease
Contagious respiratory infections are the most common cause of illness in dogs in shelters. These infections represent a significant and frequent drain on shelter resources, including treatment costs, staff time, and staff morale. Holding dogs for treatment and recovery adds to the number of animal care days until adoption, which in turn impacts the housing Read more »
Canine Respiratory Pathogens and Their Properties
VIRUSES Parainfluenza virus (CPiV) Adenovirus type 2 (CAV2) Distemper virus (CDV) H3N8 canine influenza virus (H3N8 CIV) H3N2 canine influenza virus (H3N2 CIV) Respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) Pneumovirus (CnPnV) Canine herpes virus (CHV) BACTERIA Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bordetella) Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Strep zoo) Mycoplasma cynos (M. cynos) Incubation Period The incubation period for the known bacterial and viral Read more »
Clinical Features of CIRD Pathogens
All of the known canine viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens colonize and damage the mucosal epithelium of the upper respiratory tract to cause similar clinical signs: acute onset of cough, sneezing, nasal and ocular discharge (“kennel cough’). The pathogens also have the propensity to colonize the lower respiratory tract to cause pneumonia. Bordetella bronchiseptica, CAV2, Read more »
Module 4: Healthcare practices for common contagious infectious diseases
Estimated Reading and Video Viewing Time: 5.5 hrs It’s a Friday… It’s Friday morning at Gatorland Animal Services. The vet tech has just finished the Daily Medical Rounds and reports to Dr. Wright that a lot of dogs are sneezing and coughing. The tech said she saw clear nasal discharge in some dogs earlier in Read more »
Canine Heartworm Treatment in Shelters
Treatment of canine heartworm infection is a major challenge for shelters. The long treatment period coupled with the welfare concerns for increased length of stay in the shelter, the cost of daily care during the longer stay, the expense of melarsomine, and lack of a veterinarian on staff make this disease particularly challenging in shelter Read more »
Pain Management in Shelters
Dr Wright has been very busy writing SOPs for handling after-hours emergencies and common medical conditions at Gatorland Animal Services using best practice guidelines. While treating some cases, she noted there was no consistency in methods to identify and treat painful conditions. A best-practice pain management SOP is next on her list to write. Review Read more »
Later That Day….
Later that same Monday, an ACO brought in a stray adult male dog from the field. The kennel staff performing the intake procedures according to the Gatorland Animal Services SOPs reported to Dr. Wright that the dog had severe skin disease and he did not know whether to give vaccines and parasite treatments. Dr. Wright Read more »
Best Practice Treatments for Skin Bacterial Infections
What about treatment of bacterial infections of the skin, wounds, and abscesses? What are the recommended antibiotics? Which are best for use in shelters based on efficacy, cost and frequency of administration? According to the ASV Guidelines, “Antibiotic selection and dosing should be specific to the infection and animal being treated, and when possible, based Read more »
Canine Heartworm Treatment Best Practices
Depending on geographical location, canine heartworm infection is a fairly common disease in shelter dogs. This is particularly true for shelters in the southern states where the infection is most prevalent. In heartworm-endemic regions, the prevalence of infection in shelter dogs may be more than 8 times the prevalence in locally owned pet dogs. Thus, Read more »