The Pet Arthritis Center
Arthritis & Glucosamine Information Center
Thousands of visitors a day trust the Arthritis & Glucosamine Information Center
to provide timely information on joint pain and arthritis. If you or
a loved one has a question about anything related to joint health,
you owe it to yourself to explore this helpful, free resource today.
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Horse Strangles: Every Owner’s Nightmare
Jeffrey Rolo, AlphaHorse
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Strangles: Insidious, Infectious, & Inconvenient
Claudia True, DVM, “The Peppy Pets” Newsletter
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Lyme Disease - General Information and FAQ
Lloyd E. Miller, DVM
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‘Mad Pet’ Disease: Mad Cow Disease is Killing
Europe’s Pets
Ann N. Martin, Earth Island Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3,
courtesy of Organic Consumers Association
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Pets With Diabetes
Pets With Diabetes
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Prairie Dog Diseases
AnimalHospitals-USA
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The Role of Stress in Fish Disease,
SRAC Publication No. 474
R. W. Rottmann, R. Francis-Floyd & R. Durborow,
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center (SRAC)
(Adobe PDF file)
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INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND DISEASE-SPREADING PARASITES (Southwestern U.S.)
Robert A. Gruda, DVM, Seasonal Concerns, PETroglyphs
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Pets are our companions and our friends. They give a great deal to
us and ask little in return — just the love of a caring master
who will shelter and protect them, as we do our children. It can be
doubly tragic when a pet falls ill, not only because they are in
distress, but because they cannot verbally communicate to us what is
wrong or where it hurts.
Pet owners can prevent or mitigate the effects of pet and animal
diseases by insuring that their pets are provided with proper living
conditions, nutrition and exercise. Learning how to interpret your
pet’s behaviors may alert you to a problem, since behavioral
changes such as increased timidity or anxiety, lethargy, uncharacteristic
aggressiveness, excessive licking or chewing of body parts, or loss of
appetite often occur when a pet becomes ill. Note, however, that such
behaviors by themselves do not necessarily indicate the presence of pet
illness or disease.
Talking to other pet owners, especially those having pets similar to your own,
is a good way to learn about your pet’s health and potential health
problems or risks as well as what to expect if your pet does get
sick. A comprehensive reference book for your type of animal is a handy
item to have around the house. Knowing your pet and how it behaves
is by far the best way to determine whether your pet is feeling
frisky or is under the weather.
If you are unsure whether your pet has a health problem, seek the advice of
your veterinarian. If you know your pet is suffering illness,
a visit to the vet should be scheduled as soon as possible, since some
animal diseases and medical conditions can become life threatening very
quickly.
The best way to combat animal diseases is to be proactive, making sure your
pet is properly vaccinated and gets his or her required booster shots.
Vaccination is now available for most but not all common dog and
cat diseases, some of which are potentially fatal. Dogs frequently come in
contact with other canines during walks with their owners; a casual
nose touch may be all that is necessary to spread a debilitating canine
disease. An unvaccinated indoor cat may be at risk, even if it does not
come into direct contact with an infected cat, from secondary contact and
because some feline diseases are airborne. Also, indoor cats often
temporarily escape; a brief encounter while outdoors, or
walking through an area where an infected animal has been, may be all that
is necessary to infect your precious family member. Get those shots!
Most feline diseases are not transmissible to dogs. Most canine diseases are
not transmissible to cats. Most animal diseases are not transmissible to
humans. Most does not mean all; some very serious
diseases (which are also very rare in domesticated animals) are
transmissible. Always use common sense and proper hygiene, such as
washing your hands after cleaning cages or litter pan. Parasitic
diseases and fungal infections are most easily transmitted between species.
So before you let your dog kiss you, ask yourself, “Where has that
tongue been?” On the other hand, don’t get freaked if the
neighbor’s dog licks your child’s face.
Authored by Kenneth L. Anderson.
Original article published 31 August 2003, updated 14 February
2006.
Follow links to the right to learn more about animal diseases and pet diseases. Ten Spider Pets is dedicated to
providing information and resources that can help you protect your
pet’s well-being and health to maximize his or her longevity and
quality of life. Check out other topics in our
Pet Care & Pet Health section to
learn more about how to care for pets and animals. If you desire to
become a pet owner, investigate
Pet
Adoption & Rescue. If you already own a pet, you may be
especially interested in
Pet
Health Care Products and
Pet
Products & Supplies.
At the left margin, Related Links address topics of interest
pertaining to pets and companion animals. View the
Pet Care & Pet Health SiteMap
for a complete list of pet care and pet health topics.
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