Canine Health Flashcards
2 Major Areas
Prevention (most of our focus)
* Biosecurity
* Quarantine
* Nutrition
* Sanitation
* Parasite Prevention
* Dental Care
* Vaccination
Treatment
Quarantine
Really a part of biosecurity
Not easy to do in most household situations
Introducing new animals:
* Quarantining new dogs can protect current animals from diseases new dogs might have
* Good to check vaccination history of dogs (both new and old)
* Vaccinate ahead of time if possible
Nutrition
Good quality feed is important
Most commercial diets are acceptable (make sure they are AAFCO certified)
Obesity is a BIG problem:
* Precursor to many ailments
* Must resist urge to overfeed
Nutrition: Pups
Should have colostrum (in first 24-48 hours)
Colostrum contains immunoglobulins (Ig) (maternal antibodies)
* Passive immunity
* Ig titers will be important for vaccination strategy
Don’t give calcium supplements (especially to large breed pups) - shouldn’t need supplements bc you should be feeding a good diet
* Can mess up ratio of calcium, phosphorus, vit D and cause problems
Sanitation
- Equipment: bowls, brushes - easily cleaned
- Kennels: Wire or concrete floors, if possible (easily cleaned)
- Outdoor yards (exercise areas) can be a problem
Disinfectants
* Chlorine bleach (cheap, available, effective safe) - must get rid of organic matter first (dirt, feces)
* Fomite - inanimate item that can transmit disease
* Vector - living organism that transmits disease
Dental Care
Good to brush dog’s teeth
Some dental toys available, too
Studies show increase in lifespan
Vaccination
Active immunity
DHLP-P, rabies
Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus
Often vaccinate pups multiple times (at least 3 times)
* 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 weeks for example
Why do we vaccinate so often? (red - green - blue)
Titer - measure of # of antibodies dog has
* Titer must be above the unsafe line bc otherwise dog will probably get sick
* If Titer is above the green, dog is so safe that the body won’t even recognize the virus (hyperimmunity)
* When pup is born, titer immediately goes way up to blue because of the colostrum
* If you vaccinate right away, it won’t work bc maternal antibodies will wipe out vaccine
* Titer starts to go down after colostrum wears out, so while it is going down, should vaccinate while titer is in the green
* All pups are different - so vaccinate multiple times bc one of them should be in the window
Puppy Shots
- Different from vaccinations
- Not overly common
- May be given to pups with special risk or highly stressed pups
- Contains immunoglobulins (antiserum)
- NOT active immunity - for pups who didn’t get colostrum, etc
Viral Diseases
- Distemper
- Hepatitis (affects liver)
- Parvovirus
- Coronavirus
- Rabies
- Para-influenza (part of Kennel Cough disease)
- Kennel Cough
Distemper
Pretty deadly
Annual booster vaccinations - becoming less common
Hepatitis (affects liver)
Usually affects young and old
Parvovirus
Fever, bloody diarrhea, dehydration
Highly contagious
Coronavirus
Similar to parvovirus
Less damaging to intestine
Bloody diarrhea
Para-influenza (part of Kennel Cough disease)
Usually combined with bacteria
Dry, hacking cough, gagging
