Keeping Up With Your Pet's Health - Vaccinate With Rabies Shots

A slow, agonizing virus leading to extreme lethargy, madness, and an eventual, but certain death - doesn't sound very appealing, does it? If you do not vaccinate with rabies shots, your dog or cat faces an uncertain future. Rabies is one of the worst viruses that can affect your pet, and with no preventative measures, such as its annual rabies shots, mortality is, unfortunately, assured. When you vaccinate with rabies shots, you are choosing to extend the life of your pet, protect the community, and follow the letter of the law.

All pet owners should know that rabies is a disease that is caused by a virus that is transmitted from animal to animal and animal to human via a scratch or bite that causes a break in the skin. The virus is in the saliva of an infected animal. Because rabies is fatal to the animal or a human who contracts it, it is vitally important for pet owners to have their vet vaccinate for rabies with either a one year or three year vaccine. In certain regions and/or states with high levels of rabies reports, such as Texas, Virginia, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania (1), you must vaccinate with rabies shots at least once a year.

What Is Rabies Anyway?

The rabies virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. A huge problem in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, rabies kills more than 50,000 people and animals worldwide each year; however, most pet owners do not vaccinate for rabies in these regions. Once contracted through a bite or scratch, the virus begins attacking the peripheral nerve cells and central nervous system, which largely consists of the spinal cord and brain (2). The virus works fast, but it is a drawn-out, painful death at best.

Depending upon where the animal was bitten, it may take awhile for symptoms to show. Without any preventative rabies shots, the symptoms begin to appear and the animal normally only has a week to a week and a half to live. Contraction of the rabies virus in animals is broken down into three phases: prodromal, furious, and paralytic (3). During the prodromal phase, the dog or cat will show signs of apprehension and anxiety as well as develop a fever, although cats often exhibit more irregular behavior. The furious phase sees cats and dogs highly irritable, more vicious, and lashing out at anything that moves. The paralytic phrase can occur after either the prodromal or furious phases - breathing becomes more labored and vital organs freeze up. There have been stories of pet owners trying to dislodge a foreign object from the animal's mouth because they were unaware that the dog had contracted the rabies virus. The animal eventually lapses into respiratory failure and dies (4). When you vaccinate for rabies, you help your dog or cat avoid all of this pain and suffering, which can easily be prevented with annual rabies shots - quickly and rather inexpensively.

Practice Caution - Vaccinate for Rabies Regularly

Animals most at risk for exposure to rabies are stray dogs and cats that frequently roam in and around wooded areas that bring them in close proximity to wildlife that are the carriers of rabies. Wildlife carriers often include raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, and bats.

Pet owners should also be cautious by avoiding contact with wildlife that are normally nocturnal (active at night) and are normally fearful of and avoid contact with humans. Rabid wildlife are not fearful of humans and may aggressively attack. Be careful of leaving food outside for cats and dogs, which tends to attract wildlife and brings them up close and personal with our pets. Also, be careful about approaching cats and dogs that appear to be feral or roaming about. One bite or scratch is all it takes for exposure to rabies to occur, and if the animal that bites cannot be captured, prophylactic treatment for rabies may be necessary. Unfortunately as well, any preventative measures in the form of rabies shots are far too late to be administered at this point.

It is also vitally important to report all animal to animal and animal to human bites to the animal control agency in whichever county or area the bite occurs. Many people are reluctant to do this if the offending animal belongs to a neighbor or someone they know. However, if the vaccination history of the dog or cat that bites is not known, then the animal or person bitten is at risk for exposure. Pets should be safely confined and dogs should be on leash when off their property. Finally, once you vaccinate for rabies, make sure your pet wears its rabies tag at all times.

Neglect is Costly: Maintain Current Rabies Shots

Rabies shots for dogs and cats are required by the law for the life of the pet. Neglecting to keep you and your family, your pet, and your community safe from rabies is a costly mistake and one that should never be allowed to occur. You have the power to vaccinate your pet from this easily preventable virus. Remember, keeping up-to-date and choosing to vaccinate with rabies shots is the first line of defense to keep the public safe from this deadly disease.

Sources

1. CDC.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsrabies/Statistics/usmap.htm
2. CDC.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsrabies/TheVirus/rabvir.htm
3. PetEducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1556&aid=347
4. Ibid.

Cat Illness Symptoms - Keeping Your Kitty Healthy

Cat illness symptoms can be easy to spot, like vomiting up a hairball, or harder to determine, like when they are running a temperature. Some of the more familiar symptoms of illness are eye and ear discharge, hair loss, sneezing and coughing, and diarrhea or constipation. Hairballs are quite normal, and not usually a problem. Other signs require some attention to notice, such as loss of appetite, excessive thirst or abnormal urination, skin problems, and depression.

Cats normally alternate periods of sleeping and rest with periods of play and activity. Some cats eat whenever they are hungry if you allow them to self feed, or daily when you set down some food. A loss of appetite, of course, will be seen by their food dish remaining full, or if they turn away from it. When you clean out their litter box, you would notice any loose stools from diarrhea, and if constipated, you may notice them spending a long time in the litter box trying to defecate.

One symptom alone is not usually serious, but in combinations, cat illness symptoms may indicate real problems only a veterinarian can diagnose. If your cat is lethargic, not acting normally, there could be other causes. Combined with thirst and weight loss, it could point to chronic kidney failure. While not curable, this is controllable with diet and medication.

Cat flu, or a respiratory infection can be fought with antibiotics and care. Symptoms include what you might expect, coughing, sneezing, runny eyes, fever, heavy breathing, loss of appetite and fever. Just like in humans!

Abscess can be from an injury or cat fight, when infection sets into a wound. Symptoms will include swelling, fever, and lethargy. This is treatable with antibiotics or occasionally surgery is needed.

Combinations of cat illness symptoms can mean more serious problems like feline diabetes or distemper. The signs of feline diabetes are similar to human diabetes symptoms, increased thirst and urination. Other signs include weight loss, poor coat condition, loss of appetite, and general lack of energy. This condition can be treated, again as in human cases, with insulin injections and diet.

Other cat illnesses symptoms the vet can diagnose include feline distemper, leukemia, ringworm, urinary tract infections, worms and cat AIDS (FIV). Cat illness symptoms mirror our human symptoms, and if you take your cat in to see the veterinarian on a regular basis, just like seeing your own doctor, prevention is the best medicine.

Keeping your cat healthy is part of cat care and your responsibility as a caring cat owner. Your kitty may need special food, or medicine, and testing only a vet can provide. Most cats enjoy happy, healthy, long lives and become part of the family. And you can usually tell when your cat is not feeling right because their activity patterns will visibly change. That is the time to stop and pay attention closely, so you help your little friend through a problem time in their life. They depend on you for everything!

Keeping Your Backyard Chickens Healthy - Common Chicken Diseases To Watch For

Taking care of them can be a lot of work. They need a proper chicken coop and run so they are safe from predators. They need proper nutrition and exercise. Chickens are susceptible to disease just like any other pet. Some of these can be caused by improper care while others can develop in even the most pampered chicks. Here are some of the most common afflictions of backyard chickens.

External Parasites - Fleas, Ticks, Lice, and Mites

Parasites are pretty common among chickens. These include tiny mites, fleas, ticks, and lice. Mites can be so small they are hard to even see. Lice look similar to the head lice seen on the heads of young kids. Fleas and ticks can infest your chickens just like they do your dog or cat. These are easy to see crawling over the feathers or burrowed into the skin.

These parasites are annoying to your chickens and may even cause serious medical conditions like tick fever. At the very least they can cause itching and skin irritation. Mild infestations should be treated quickly before they get out of hand. You can buy parasite drops or sprays from the feed store that will handle most of these problems. However, if the infestation is severe you may need to get help from your veterinarian before it harms your flock.

Internal Parasites - Worms

Chickens can also get internal parasites and these are usually more dangerous to their health. These can cause pale comb, diarrhea, weight loss, and even death. If you notice these symptoms in your chicks, internal parasites could be the cause. Chickens get worms just like puppies sometimes get. To get a diagnosis, collect some feces and take it to your vet. He will be able to determine the type of parasite and prescribe the appropriate medication for treatment. When your chickens have worms, be extra meticulous about cleaning up their feces in order to prevent spreading them to other chicks in the flock. It is also a good idea to not eat any eggs that your chickens produce when they have worms.

Marek's Disease - A Deadly Viral Condition

Marek's Disease is a fairly common viral disease of chickens that is very hard to eradicate. It can live for a long time in your chicken coop and survive harsh conditions. It can be spread by you from chicken to chicken or spread through dust and feather dander.

This disease usually strikes the white blood cells of young chickens. This causes cancer to develop. You may become aware of the condition when you notice a chicken with paralyzed legs, wings, or neck. The afflicted chicken can have other symptoms as well like weight loss, breathing difficulties, and diarrhea. Marek's Disease cannot be treated or cured. Luckily your chicks can be vaccinated and spared suffering from this condition. Always vaccinate your birds or buy chicks that have already had their vaccinations.

Fowl Pox - A Common Virus

Fowl pox is another viral disease that can strike your flock of backyard chickens. They can pass this virus among themselves by fighting or pecking insects off each other. The bite or scratch allows the virus to enter the body. By the time the wound has formed a scab, the disease begins to manifest. Most of the time, chickens do recover from fowl pox. But while in a weakened state they may succumb to a secondary infection. Once a chicken has had this viral infection and recovers from it, he is immune for life.

Disease Prevention

Chickens are generally pretty hardy animals and will recover from ailments given proper care. The notable exception to that is Marek's Disease that has no cure. A lot can be done to prevent disease in your backyard chickens. Maintaining proper hygiene is very important in preventing the spread of disease. Keep your chicken coop clean and free of feces. Clean out the feces daily and clean the coop or hen house on a regular basis. Change the water and food you give your chickens daily rather than just adding to it so viruses and parasites won't be spread internally. Also, be careful when working with your flock that you do not spread disease from chicken to chicken by handling them. Marek's Disease in particular can travel on your clothing. Just like any other pet, your chickens need proper health care and you should seek advice from your vet on a regular basis.