While disease and illness is expected and even forgiven in fellow humans, we often try to close our eyes to the possibility of our pets getting sick. And if they ever fall sick, we conveniently forget that a little timely care and treatment would have saved us the problem in the first place. First of all, let’s do away with the myth that we can catch all kinds of diseases from a pet. While some diseases are communicable, most others are infectious only among pets.

Basics of cat diseases:
You can pick up fleas or ticks from a pet that is not kept clean. But diseases like cancer, diabetes and cystitis are non-communicable. Even diseases that come too close for comfort like Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus can affect cats and ONLY cats! Also, your cat’s runny nose, cold and sneezing will not get passed to you, or vice versa.

Cats have a reputation of being cleaner than most other pets. So, it’s easy to see why people tend to overlook symptoms and signs till matters get worse. Some of the most common diseases that cats ail from include:

Upper respiratory diseases: We know this as the common cold and cats are subject to different kinds of ‘cold’ viruses, just like humans. Signs include severely inflamed eyes, high fever, sneezing, snotty noses, excessive tearing, depression and difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Secondary infections like pneumonia may set in if the cat’s resistance is lowered and the disease is not treated soon.

Parasitical infections: Cats can get infected with internal and external parasites. External parasites include ticks, fleas, mites, and lice. These parasites can cause pesky itching problems which may lead to secondary infections and skin rashes. Coats, ears and eyes have to be kept clean and infected cats will have to be treated with chemicals or medicine. Among the most common internal parasites, roundworms and tapeworms cause the most harm. Diagnosis can be made by inspecting the feces. Cats have to be de-wormed periodically to keep such parasites away.

Some other common problems seen in cats are Feline Urological Syndrome (infecting the urinary system), Abscesses (caused due to trauma to the skin) and ringworm. Ringworm is contagious and can pass on to humans.

Basics of dog diseases:
Just because you are feeding him well and exercising him regularly, don’t think that your dog is immune to diseases. Dogs are vulnerable to a number of common diseases. Some varieties of dogs also carry strains of inherited disorders that will surface as they grow older. While there is nothing much you can do about inherited diseases, you can help effect speedy recovery in other cases. As always, early detection is the key to good health. Some of the common diseases in dogs are:

Diarrhea: This is more often seen in pups than adult dogs and may be triggered by stress, a sudden change in food or a viral or bacterial attack. Diarrhea is deadly because it can lead to death due to dehydration. Older dogs may suffer from bloat and occurrence increases with age.

Upper respiratory infections: Discharge from the eyes/nose, coughing or sneezing is indicative of respiratory diseases. Airborne viruses and bacteria transfer the disease which is highly contagious between dogs. “Kennel Cough’ is a respiratory disorder that can be prevented through vaccinations.

Other common ailments like rabies, distemper and parvovirus can be prevented through timely vaccinations and booster doses. Just like cats, dogs also play hosts to a number of internal and external parasites. Good grooming and proper treatment can help prevent damage. Dogs also suffer from periodontal diseases as they grow older. Proper dental hygiene is the only way to prevent this.

Pet birds also suffer from a number of diseases; the most common among these is the Proventricular Dilatation Disease also called the ‘Macaw Wasting Disease’. This causes seizures, weight loss and regurgitation. ‘Parrot Fever’ or ‘Psittacosis’ is another common bird disease which can infect people too.

Most pet owners love their pets to distraction, and when disease strikes, they feel helpless and unsure. Take your sick pet to the vet as early as possible. Always be vigilant and try to catch symptoms as soon as they appear. Since your pet cannot tell you about its headaches, tummy disorders or toothaches, you have to be extra careful.

Our pets have become family members. When they die we grieve and we look for ways to remember them.

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It is rare to see cats having diarrhea unless they are suffering from any internal digestive problem. A short episode of diarrhea is relatively harmless, it might be because he has put something in his stomach that he should not and has given him the run. Once your cat clear the unwanted food in his stomach, he should be fine.

The main reason for diarrhea happening in domestic cats is the feeding of milk by cat owners. It is not beneficial to feed your cat milk and water is in fact better for your cat’s health. If you love milk so much and have to feed your cat milk no matter what, you should “cat milk’ instead of the usual milk that human consume. This formula will not give him the run but is extra cost on your part.

If your cat suffers from a persistent diarrhea for a long period of time, he will be losing fluid fast and will lead to a huge loss in vital salts and minerals that will worsen your cat’s health. This would be a serious case and would need immediate veterinary attention.

There are many possible reasons for cat to suffer from a bad diarrhea, and it’s very important to have its cause diagnosed and treated as fast as possible. Whenever possible, you should take a sample of the diarrhea to your veterinary as it would aid him in identifying the causes and diagnosis. You must also take note of your cat diarrhea details – like the frequently and duration of diarrhea happening.

There are many reasons for diarrhea in cats and it’s important to have its cause diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. If you can, take a sample of the diarrhea with you to the veterinary surgery. This is extremely helpful in aiding diagnosis and will speed up the process so that treatment can start. You should also take details of how often your cat has diarrhea and how long he has had it.

To take proper care of a cat with diarrhea condition, you must maintain a good hygiene level and wash your hands after handling him. If the causes of diarrhea is infection, your cat should be care for in isolation and all his food, utensils and belongings including bedding, litter box and toys should be wash and disinfected thoroughly. It is also advisable to wear gloves when you handle his stool. To prevent your cat from spreading his infection, it is advisable to keep him indoor for a few days until his symptoms go away.

Cat diarrhea is not the biggest cat diseases and a correct treatment advice by your veterinary should enable you to cure your cat easily.

Moses Wright is a webmaster and he provides more information on catcustomer.com Cat Health, catcustomer.com/veterinary/ Cat Veterinary Diseases and catcustomer.com/symptoms/ Cat Illnesses Symptoms on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

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Parvo. It’s a word that strikes fear to the hearts of shelter and rescue workers.

Parvo is a disease that attacks a dog’s gastro-intestinal tract and then moves into its bone marrow. When treated at home, survival rates are less than 50%. When treated with I.V. therapy in an animal hospital, survival rates are still only 80 to 90%. Our vet called it “The Meanest Guy in Town.”

Spring is a time of high incidence…probably because it is “puppy season” and the young ones are the most susceptible. Add to that the fact that everyone wants to pet a puppy…and the disease spreads.

None of us can remove all chances that our puppies will contract this disease, but there ARE steps to take to minimize the risk.

First, make sure all of your adult dogs are vaccinated, de-wormed, and carrying a healthy weight. The de-worming is important because worms weaken the stomach lining, giving the Parvo virus an easy target. Then, be sure that all your puppies get their first shots at 6 weeks of age. Give another shot every 3 weeks…making sure that they get two after 12 weeks of age. You can take them to the vet, or you can purchase the shots at a feed store or pharmacy and give them yourself.

If you bring a new dog into your home, especially a puppy, keep it isolated from your other animals for 14 days. That is, unless you KNOW its history and know it has been vaccinated. And, since older, stronger dogs can carry the virus without becoming ill, keep your pup away from older dogs until he’s had two shots after 12 weeks of age.

A pup who looks perfectly happy one day can be deathly ill the next. At the first sign of intestinal upset, get that dog to the vet. If you catch it soon enough, you may be able to save the dog.

Protect All the Dogs you meet…

Humans often spread Parvo without even noticing. By forming some new habits…and instilling them in your children…you can help stop the spread of this dread disease.

First…Wash your hands. Before you touch a puppy… wash your hands. After you pet a dog… wash your hands. You don’t know where you might pick up this virus… it could even be sitting on the handle of a grocery store cart…left there by some other customer. So wash your hands!

One significant outbreak of Parvo traced back to kids walking home from school and petting the puppies in yards along the way. They carried the disease along their entire route from school to home.

YES…they’re adorable, and YES you like to give them attention and pet them… but by doing so could kill them. Don’t.

Next, if you happen to step in a pile… don’t just wipe your shoes. Wipe them with a mild bleach solution. If you know you’ve held a dog with Parvo, bleach your clothes as well. And if you’ve had a sick puppy in your home, you need to bleach all areas it occupied.

Vaccination is the first line of defense and careful habits is the second. Please use them both to keep your dogs alive and healthy.

CATS ARE ALSO AT RISK!

Parvo doesn’t affect cats…but there are other diseases that do. And they are just as deadly. Use the same precautions with kittens as you do with puppies… but more. Cat diseases are airborne, so don’t take your kitty visiting anywhere until he’s had all his shots.

Julia loves all animals, but has a special affinity for dogs. She helped found an animal rescue in her town and lives with 3 “rescue dogs” of her own. Or maybe she belongs to the three rescue dogs. In her spare time she volunteers to write fund raising letters for small rescues.

Visit doyoulovedogs.com doyoulovedogs.com for information about rescue, caring for your dog, how to choose a dog, dog stories, dog quotes, and more.

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If you want to enjoy the companionship of a healthy and happy cat, 1 of the most important things you can do is to safeguard its health. Vaccinations can protect your cat from many common cat diseases.

Weaned From Mother’s Immunity

When your kitten is 6 to 8 weeks old, you should begin his vaccinations. Before this time, the mother’s antibodies have been protecting him. Once he is weaned, however, he will need to develop antibodies of his own.

The Vital First Visit

The first office visit is when your veterinarian will give your kitten a complete physical examination. A fecal exam is normally done to assure that your kitten doesn’t have worms. Prior to vaccinations, your veterinarian should do a blood test to be sure the kitten is not already infected with Feline Leukemia. The vet may also test for Feline Infectious Peritonitis. These tests are quick, and your veterinarian will have preliminary results in minutes.

If your kitten is not already infected with 1 of these diseases, the vet will give your kitten his first Feline Leukemia and FIP vaccines, assuming if he is at risk for these diseases. An only cat who never leaves home may not need these vaccines, in which case your veterinarian may recommend against giving them.

Whether he leaves the house or not, your kitten should receive his first FVRCPC vaccine. This combination vaccine protects kittens from rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and chlamydia.

Follow-Up Vaccines And Worming

Within 2 to 4 weeks your kitten should visit the veterinarian again, at the age of 8 to 12 weeks. This time he will get a second round of shots for FVRCPC, Feline Leukemia, and FIP. If your kitten was wormed during his first visit, the vet will give him his second worming. If your kitten is at least 12 weeks old and spends time outdoors, he should also receive his first Rabies vaccine.

Your kitten’s third visit to the veterinarian takes place when he is 10 to 16 weeks old, when he will receive his third FVRCPC vaccine. Kittens who were too young for their first Rabies vaccine on their previous visit will receive it at this time.

The First Birthday Visit

After completing his third set of FVRCPC vaccines, your kitten will not need any more injections until he is 1 year old. At that time he will need Rabies and FVRCPC booster shots. If the Rabies shot is given to your cat within 1 year of his first Rabies vaccine, it will be good for 3 years. Your cat will need to return each year, however, for the FVRCPC vaccine. When your cat is 1 year of age, he will also receive boosters for FIP and Feline Leukemia if he received these vaccines as a kitten.

Rare Side Effects

Most of the time vaccines are quite safe, yet occasionally side effects can occur. Vaccines for Feline Leukemia can sometimes cause a form of cancer at the site of the injection. For this reason veterinarians usually do not recommend the vaccine for cats who are not at risk. A tumor can sometimes occur at the site of other vaccinations, as well. This type of tumor can often be removed before it spreads. Should you notice a lump developing at the injection site, call your veterinarian without delay. These lumps usually are a simple allergic reaction to the injection, but a lump can develop into a tumor, which, if caught early, can be successfully removed.

The risk of catching a disease without vaccinations is much higher than the risk of side effects. Just as with humans, shots are an unpleasant, but necessary part of growing up healthy.

Visit new-cat.com” target=”_blank New Cat to learn more. Copyright 2005 Ron King. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

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Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes this means a simple “kitty cold,” at other times the disease might have a more lasting or even fatal result. The following are some of the more common causes of serious illness in cats.

An upper respiratory infection (URI) is the medical term for what many cat lovers call a “kitty cold.” Indeed, the symptoms match those of a human cold, sneezing and discharge from the nose. While they seem similar, the human and cat version of this infection are different, and one species cannot be infected by the other. However, URI is highly contagious among cats. If you have a multi-cat household and notice URI symptoms, isolate the cat immediately.

The best treatment for URI is time and loving care. Use a warm, moist cloth to keep your cat’s eyes and nose free of discharge. You might need to warm her food to enhance the smell to encourage your cat to eat.

URI symptoms, which include a decreased appetite, can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Watch your cat carefully; not eating or drinking can lead to dehydration. Also, if your cat becomes extremely lethargic, it may mean the URI has turned into something more serious.

The symptoms of URI may last a few days to several weeks. Cats with URI may also be lethargic and have a decreased appetite. Monitor the cat carefully; a growing lack of appetite and fever can lead to dehydration. Not eating can lead to liver problems. Lethargy can mean a minor URI has become a more serious problem, such as pneumonia. If you notice this occurring, or if the discharge becomes very thick and yellowish-green, contact your veterinarian. Severe URIs may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Chlamydia is a type of bacteria that has many variations. Usually, each variant is species specific; feline Chlamydia is not transmitted to humans. In cats, the bacteria usually infects the eye, causing conjunctivitis. Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of Feline Chlamydia

* Anorexia (loss of appetite; may occur as the disease progresses)

* Coughing

* Difficulty breathing

* Fever (may occur as the disease progresses)

* Pneumonia (in young kittens 2 to 4 weeks old, which could be fatal)

* Runny nose (rhinitis)

* Sneezing

* Watery eyes due to conjunctivitis (either one or both eyes)

Panleukopenia is a condition in which a cat’s white blood cell count drops dramatically. Since white blood cells are vital to the cat’s defense against disease, this condition leaves cats vulnerable to deadly infections. The virus is transmitted via body secretions. Feces are particularly common transmitters. It can be carried in water or on shoes.

Panleukopenia is often referred to as a number of different terms, such as

* Panleukopenia (often shortened to “Panleuk” in verbal discussion)

* FPV (Feline Panleukopenia Virus OR Feline Parvo Virus)

* FP (Feline Panleukopenia)

* Feline Distemper

* Feline Infectious Enteritis

* Feline Infectious Gastroenteritis

* Feline Agranulocytosis

* Cat Plague

* Cat fever

* Show fever

* Psuedomembranous Enteritis

* Maladie du jeune chat

* Feline Typhus

* Feline Tyfoid

* Colibacillosis

* Agranulocytosis

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) causes a variety of diseases, one of which is leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells. Infected cats often appear healthy in the early stages of the disease. The illness may take months or years to cause death. For a long time, FeLV was the most fatal disease among cats. Today, although vaccinations are available to protect cats from this disease, it continues to be a leading cause of death, as there is no treatment.

FeLV is usually transmitted through cat fighting with each other. Because large quantities of the FeLV are shed in puncture wounds and cat saliva associated with fighting result in the injection of PeLV into other cats. Other less frequent routes of viral spread include sharing food and water bowls, cats grooming each other, and transmission from mother to kittens before birth.

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