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Common Health Issues in Dogs & Cats Below are a few of the common issues that shelters and rescue organizations deal with frequently, including fleas, ticks, ear mites, upper respiratory infections, kennel cough, ringworm, intestinal worms, coccidia, giardia, heartworm and anxiety. These are all common issues that are easily treatable and cured!
Fleas & Ticks These external parasites are not only common in rescue pets, but they can infest any animal (that has not been given preventative). Fleas are small, flat, brownish-colored pests that will feed off of the animal’s blood. The bites cause itching, and in some extreme cases, flea-bite-dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to the toxins the flea leaves behind in its bite. Ticks are small, oval, dark colored arachnids that bury their heads into your pet’s skin and engorge themselves on its blood. Ticks can carry diseases, such as lyme disease. Both these pests need to be eradicated for the health of the animal, and can be done so with simple flea and tick treatments. Symptoms: Dogs and cats will exhibit excessive scratching, licking, head shaking or biting of skin. Fleas and ticks may be visible in their fur, especially if combed with a find tooth comb, or sores or bald spots may develop from scratching and licking. Treatment: The most common treatment for all external parasites are topical ointments such as Frontline, Revolution, Pet Armor Plus etc. Oral medication, such as Capstar, can be given to kill fleas.
Ear Mites Otodectes cynotis mites, most commonly called ear mites, are a common and relatively mild external parasite infection. Complications may arise when an animal has an immune hypersensitivity reaction that results in intense irritation of the external ear. Symptoms: Itching of the ears, head and neck; frequent shaking the head; thick red-brown or black crusts in the outer ear; coffee ground like bumps in the ear canal; abrasiona and scratches on the back side of the ears; crusting and scale on the neck. Treatment: The ears need to be thoroughly cleaned first. Use an ear cleaner specifically designed for dogs and cats to gently clean away any debris. Ear drops, such as Tresaderm or Ivermectin, which can be prescribed by your vet, is a very effective and simple way to treat ear mites.
Upper Respiratory Infections (URI) A cat’s upper respiratory tract – the nose, throat and sinus area – is susceptible to infections caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. Feline calicivirus and feline herpesvirus account for 80-90% of all contagious upper respiratory problems. These viruses can be transmitted from cat to cat through sneezing, coughing, or while grooming or sharing food and water bowls. Once infected, cats can become carriers for life, although they may not show any clinical signs at all. Cats can develop bacterial infections secondary to these common viral infections. Cats who have recovered from URI can become carriers, and may experience recurrences when stressed. Certain breeds, like Persians and other flat-faced breeds have a predisposition to develop URIs due to their facial structure. Symptoms: Runny nose or eyes; clear to colored nasal discharge; sneezing; congested breathing; gagging; drooling; open-mouth breathing. Cats may also appear lethargic, have a fever, or loss of appetite. Treatment: Minimize stress. Some cats can recover from mild URI’s without medication. An immune system booster, such as Lysine, can be given to help the cat fight off the cold. For more severe URI’s, an oral medication, such as Clavamox, is typically prescribed. Eye ointment, such as Terramycin, is very effective for clearing up goopy eyes. With or without medication, it is important to wipe the cats eyes and mouth and ensure they are warm, and eating and drinking well. Left untreated, a severe URIs can progress to pneumonia, so it is important to see a veterinarian if your cats symptoms are getting worse. Vaccinations also protect against certain viruses that cause upper respiratory infections.
Kennel Cough Kennel cough is a contagious viral infection that affects a dog’s respiratory system. It affects the trachea and bronchial tubes, with a honking persistent cough, followed by the occasion retching. Symptoms: a strong cough that may have a honking sound; fever; lethargy; sneezing; runny nose; loss of appetite. Treatment: Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat kennel cough and to prevent it from turning into pneumonia. The bordetella vaccination can protect against this virus as well.
Ringworm Ringworm is a very common skin issue seen most often in kittens or young cats. Despite its name, ringworm is not a worm, it’s actually a fungus. The name comes from a ring-shaped rash seen on humans, but for cats, it may only look like a dry patch of missing hair. Although ringworm is a nuisance, it is not considered dangerous, and it is very treatable. Symptoms: Skin lesions that most often appear on the head, ears or forelimbs, or at the base of the tail. It can cause flaky bald patches that sometimes look red in the center. Causes: The fungus travels as spores and can be transmitted through direct contact or contact with a contaminated environment. The tricky part about ringworm is that a cat can be exposed to the spores at a shelter, and the spores can live on their fur for weeks or even months without causing a problem; and then if that cat gets a scape on its skin, or if their immune system becomes compromised (such as coming down with an upper respiratory infection), the fungus can then take hold. Most healthy adult animals do not contract ringworm. It is seen much more commonly in kittens due to their undeveloped immune systems. Treatments: although most cats will recover from ringworm without medication within 3 months, it is highly advised that you treat it right away to prevent it from spreading to others. It can spread to any mammal, including humans. In humans, it’s commonly referred to as “athlete’s foot” or “jock-itch”. It is advised to quarantine the cat and to wash your hands after you touch your cat. Oral medication from your vet (Terbinafine) works best to cure the cat of ringworm. Topical medication is also helpful, especially Tolnaftate antifungal cream, which is sold over the counter. Lime dip is also effective at killing ringworm spores. It is a good idea to periodically clean the lesion to get the flakes off, since that is the part that is contagious. Use gloves if possible or wash your hands afterwards. If you do happen to contract ringworm, don’t panic. Over the counter antifungal creams, such as Lotrimin, work well. It is also important to do your best to clean the environment. Wash the animals bedding and toys and crate. Disinfect surfaces wherever possible, and vacuum regularly to rid the house of infected hairs.
Intestinal Worms Intestinal worms can attack the digestive system of both cats and dogs. Internal parasites are primarily transmitted through fecal contact, mother’s milk, or the eating of an infected animal (such as a mouse or flea). Roundworms are white in color and resemble spaghetti. They can grow up to 3-4 inches long. They are transmitted from mother’s milk or ingesting feces. Hookworms are much smaller, less than an inch long. They feed on the animals blood and can cause life-threatening anemia, especially in kittens and puppies. Tapeworms are long, flat, segmented parasites that range from 4-28 inches long. You may notice rice-like segments in the animals feces. They acquire tapeworms by ingesting an intermediate host, such as a flea or rodent. Whipworms are more often found in dogs and can be picked up from the soil. Symptoms: Diarrhea; scooting their rear ends across the ground; visible worms, worm segments or eggs; bloody stool; bloating or round potbellied appearance to abdomen; weight loss; vomiting; anemia. Treatment: Most animals are given dewormers at shelters and rescues, but it is still important to bring a stool sample to your vet to make sure they do not need another dose. Due to the lifecycle of many intestinal parasites, deworming is recommended to be repeated every few weeks to completely resolve the problem. Most parasites can be treated with an oral de-worming medication. It is important to pair the type of parasite with the appropriate medication.
Coccidia Coccidia are a group of single-celled parasites called protozoa that live within cells of the intestinal lining. Most cats will come into contact with coccidia sometime in their life. The majority of adult cats are immune to the infectious disease. Kittens under 6 months of age and cats suffering from conditions that hinder their immune system may contract coccidiosis. It is typically spread through fecal matter or through the ingestion of an intermediate host such as rats, mice or birds. About one third of all cats in the US already have coccidia, but most infected cats never develop symptoms. Asymptomatic cats are not generally thought to be in peril from the parasite, unless their immune systems are compromised on other ways (including stress). If so, they may begin to show signs of coccidiosis. Very young, very old, sick, or stressed cats are the most susceptible, but all cats who carry the parasite are contagious. Most coccidia species are very host specific, meaning species that live in cats cannot live in dogs or humans, and vice versa. One exception is toxoplasma, which can be dangerous to pregnant women. However, most cases of toxoplasmosis in humans occur from contaminated meat or water, or contaminated soil, as opposed to coming into contact with a cat’s feces. Transmission can be prevented by practicing good hygiene and properly disposing of cat feces. Symptoms: Some animals may not show any clinical signs. Others may have watery mucus-based diarrhea; bloody diarrhea; inability to control defecation; fever; vomiting; weigh loss. Treatment: Coccidia is diagnosed by performing a microscopic examination of a stool sample. Typically, an oral medication, such as Albon or Ponazuril, is prescribed. Most coccidia need at least 24 hours outside of a host to infect another animal, so removing feces from the litter daily can prevent spreading the parasite to other cats, or re-infecting your cat. In extreme cases, especially in kittens, if the coccidia infection is left untreated, it could be fatal.
Giardia Giardia is a single-celled parasite that inhabits the intestines of mammals and birds. A dog or cat can get giardia by drinking water what has been contaminated by feces or by eating something that has been contaminated by feces, like grass. Giardia in humans is commonly transmitted through drinking water, contaminated food, or soil, not by our pets. Symptoms: Many dogs and cats infected with giardia remain asymptomatic. When clinical signs occur, it can be diarrhea; weight loss; vomiting; dehydration; poor coat appearance; lethargy. Treatment: Oral medication, such as Metronidazole, is commonly prescribed to effectively treat giardia. Failure to diagnose and treat can lead to severe weight loss and dehydration.
Heartworm A heartworm is a variety of parasitic roundworms. They infest muscles, blood vessels, the pulmonary artery, and heart. They are 9-12 inches long, look like spaghetti and can live inside your dog for 5-7 years. Dogs get heartworms through the bite of an infected mosquito. Infected dogs cannot pass heartworms to other dogs since these parasites need a mosquito to develop into the “infective stage.” Mosquitos serve as the intermediate host where larvae mature as well as the vector that transports parasites to dogs, cats, ferrets and other mammals. When an infected mosquito bites a dog, the larvae continue their progression into adulthood over 6 months, infecting areas in and around the dog’s heart and lungs. For this reason, puppies under 6 months of age do not need to be tested for heart worm but should be put on preventative as soon as age appropriate. Heartworm disease can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms: It can be difficult to determine whether a dog has adult heartworms by observation. A persistent cough- particularly during exercise – is a classic sign. Also lack of energy after exercise; lethargy; changes in appetite; weight loss; breathing difficulty; asthmatic symptoms; fainting or collapsing. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your vet, who will administer a blood test to make an accurate diagnosis. Treatment: It is possible to cure a dog of an infestation of adult heartworms, but the process is time-consuming, expensive, and can be hard on your pet. Heartworm prevention in dogs is key. Since it isn’t possible to protect your dog from ever getting bitten by a mosquito, the best solution is to prevent potential heartworm larvae from completing their life cycle in your pet’s body. Such prevention is simple and inexpensive. Monthly or semi-annual treatments of prescription oral pills aimed at killing heartworms at the larval stages help prevent heartworms from infecting dogs.
Anxiety Some animals experience a great deal of trauma and stress from being removed or abandoned, living in a shelter situation, being transported, and changing houses. The strange new people, noise and smells can all contribute to fear and anxiety in dogs and cats. These animals have no clue what has happened to the people they once knew, or perhaps, the only home they knew. It’s no wonder why they are on high alert and stressed. Most rescued pets will suffer from a degree of anxiety when you first bring them home. Be gentle, kind and patient and low your new furry friend to adjust to its surroundings. Pay attention to any signs of stress like cowering, hiding, hissing, or diarrhea. If your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, give them their own area to call their own to relax in before you give them free run of your home. Most often, anxiety will fade away over time once your cat or dog gets used to you and its new situation. In more severe cases, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed by your veterinarian.
Delaware Pet Rescue provides our cats and dogs with monthly flea/tick preventative, ear mite preventative, dewormers, vaccinations and heartworm testing/preventative. Our adoptable animals are examined by a vet, and we do our very best to ensure they are healthy prior to adoption!
Sources: http://animalslife.net/blog/common-problems-found-in-rescue-pets/ https://www.petcarerx.com/article/top-7-adopted-cat-health-problems/783 |
