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Infectious Disease. Animal Disease. Illness. Creekside Veterinary Clinic.

Infectious

'Why do they need these vaccines?' A common question at the vet. Here are some great resources for many infectious processes and what to be aware of, especially if your pet is not vaccinated.

Additional Learning About....

Please note: There are many different infectious medical concerns in the veterinary world. As this page has many of our common concerning disease processes for our area, click a button below to be taken directly to a specific disease process if you would like to avoid scrolling the full page.

Rabies

Signs:

  • ​Behavior changes (fearful, aggressive, attention seeking, etc.)

  • Dissociation to situations

  • Excessive drooling (however, foaming at the mouth is not a consistent/tell-tale symptom like you may have seen it is dramatized in media)

  • Ataxia (difficulty walking or controlling limb movement)

Diagnosis:

Post mortem (after death) evaluation of the brain is the only confirmatory diagnosis of Rabies.

Treatment:

If clinical signs are present, there is no treatment and the animal will likely pass from the disease within days, if not humanely euthanized sooner.

Prevention through vaccination is KEY.

Image by Jarrod Erbe

Zoonotic

Can Be Transmitted to Humans

Canine Distemper

Signs:

  • Gastrointestinal Upset (vomiting/diarrhea)​

  • Lethargy (more subdued/sleepy)

  • Lack of appetite

  • Difficulty controlling limb movement

  • Directional confusion (unable to walk a straight line)

  • *Unique symptom* : hardening of paw (and nose) pads (giving this virus the nickname 'Hard Pad Disease')

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis can be confirmed through clinical signs and laboratory testing.

Treatment:

There is no current cure for canine distemper virus. Treatment includes medical management of symptoms present. If a dog is diagnosed with this virus they must also be kept away from all other animals to prevent transmission.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Also Known As FIV

Signs:

Signs/symptoms will vary depending on their current 'stage' of the infection. Please refer to the  linked resources listed to read further on each of these stages. ​

Diagnosis:

Depending on the current stage, testing for antibodies can be completed within the clinic. If the in clinic test is positive for FIV antibodies, further testing may be recommended for confirmation of infection. If negative, but with symptoms present, additional specialized testing is available to assess for active antigen. 

Treatment:

There is no current cure for feline immunodeficiency virus. Treatment includes medical management of symptoms present. Transmission is through cat to cat contact by saliva, such as a bite. Therefore, it is recommended to keeps cats indoors and, ideally, as an only cat in the household.

Additional Information:

FIV is a large and complex disease. Please see the below links for a more comprehensive coverage of the disease process. 

Feline Leukemia Virus

Also Known As FeLV

Signs:

FeLV has the ability to affect a cat in numerous ways, such as a weakened immune system and increased risk of cancer. There are unfortunately, not direct signs or symptoms related to Feline Leukemia Virus. This virus is often discovered through routine lab work testing or as the primary cause to a secondary infection or disease process.​

Diagnosis:

Depending on the infection type, testing for antibodies can be completed within the clinic. If negative, but there is concern of exposure, retesting a few months after the initial test will likely be recommended.

Treatment:

There is no current cure for feline leukemia virus. Treatment includes medical management of symptoms present. Transmission is through cat to cat contact by bodily fluids, including saliva, urine, feces, blood or even milk (from mother cat to kitten). Therefore, it is recommended to keeps all (but especially positive) cats indoors to prevent transmission. Additionally, positive cats should be the only cat in the household.

Additional Information:

FeLV is a large and complex disease. Please see the below links for a more comprehensive coverage of the disease process. 

Leptospirosis

Signs:

  • Lethargy (more subdued/sleepy)

  • Lack of Appetite

  • Fever

  • Yellowing of skin and or whites of eyes (Jaundice)

  • Joint pain

  • Changes to urination quantity (amount) or frequency

Diagnosis:

Different testing is available to diagnose leptospirosis commonly by urine or blood. Depending on how far the disease has progressed, additional testing may be recommended to check organ function (primarily liver and kidneys). 

Treatment:

An antibiotic treatment will be necessary to treat diagnosed leptospirosis as prescribed by your veterinarian. Additionally, depending on the severity of symptoms and affect it has had to organ function, supportive therapies for secondary incidence may be necessary.

Image by Jarrod Erbe

Zoonotic

Can Be Transmitted to Humans

Kennel Cough

Also Known As Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRDC)

Signs:

  • Coughing (most often described as 'honking', 'retching' or 'dry')​

  • Lack of appetite

  • Increased eye or nasal discharge

  • Fever

Diagnosis:

Due to the variety of specific infectious cause and a combination of virus' and bacteria (Bordetella, Parainfluenza, etc.) that may be affecting your pet, diagnosis is often not by laboratory testing. Physical exam and history are the greatest indicators of a likely infection. If symptoms persistent more than 7-10 days or progress to a point of great discomfort for the pet, fluid swabs can be taken and evaluated for a specific cause to determine appropriate treatment course.

Treatment:

Often treatment is management of secondary symptoms. Antibiotics are prescribed on a case by case basis and may not be needed for all cases. Most infections are due to a bacterial component of the disease complex. Rest, to prevent further irritation to the throat from leashes or running, is the most critical part of recovery.

Canine Parvovirus

Also Known As Parvo or CPV

Signs:

  • Decreased activity​

  • Lack of Appetite

  • Vomiting/Diarrhea (may be blood tinged depending on severity of infection)

  • Bloated and/or tender abdomen

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis can be confirmed either by fecal testing in clinic or sent out for evaluation at the laboratory.

Treatment:

Treatment includes medical management of symptoms. Due to the severity of vomiting/diarrhea that can occur, this often means an overnight stay in a 24 hour facility for monitoring and intravenous fluids. Other medical interventions may be indicated depending on what symptoms your pet is experiencing.

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