companion animal

Question 1

feline behaviors

Answer 1

• solitary predatory hunters ➞ carnivores

  * eat alone

• territorial ➞ need own space & access to resources
• live in groups
• form strong social attachments with familiar people & conspecifics (usually close kin)
• scratching ➞ scent distribution & claw maintenance
• stretching
• perching ➞ visualize envir & feel safe/secure
• climbing
• hiding
• hunting
• playing

Question 2

feline diseases

Answer 2

1. Feline idiopathic cystitis
2. Feline panleukopenia
3. obesity

Question 3

Feline idiopathic cystitis

Answer 3

Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) ➞ inflammation of the bladder
* Who – adult & senior cats
* Major Risk Factor: Stress –stress plays an important role
* Prevention/management:

  * Encouraging increased water intake & thus frequent urination = urine that is more dilute is less irritating to cells lining the bladder
  * feed diet formulated to reduce urinary tract disease
  * maintain consistent home environment and try to reduce stressors/changes

Question 4

Feline panleukopenia

Answer 4

feline parvo

• Who: Kittens are most severely affected, unvaccinated adult cats also susceptible

  * Mostly seen in animal shelters, boarding facilities, and unvaccinated community cat colonies 

• Agent: Feline parvovirus. (Gastro-intestinal disease)
• Major risk factors

  * Keeping unvaccinated/unknown vaccination status cats/kittens together
  * Letting unvaccinated cats/kittens outside (exposed to infected cats/kittens).

• Prevention/management:

  * Vaccines offer the best protection
  * Health management plan in shelters/kennels, etc - don’t let unvaccinated cats in contact with others, isolate

Question 5

Obesity

Answer 5

• Who: mostly adult &senior cats
• Agent: no pathogen
• Major risk factors:

  * free-feeding 
  * lack of exercise/low activity levels 
  * boredom/little mental stimulation
  * indoor-only cats

• Prevention/management:

  * weight-reduction program (weight control food)  ➞ want slow weight loss though controlled feeding multiple times a day
  * Ensure good activity levels - play time, cardio, leash walks, etc
  * Food puzzles ➞ work for their food!

Question 6

canine biology

Answer 6

• spay/neuter 6 - 9 months of age (sexual maturity; depends on the breed)
• good vision

  * see in blues & yellows 
  * low-light
  * red = gray

• excellent hearing

  * good range of sounds ➞ high frequencies
  * can hear up to 80ft away

• olfactory communication

  * paired vomeronasal organ detects/processes odors (flehmen response)
  			
            ⇾ teeth chattering to smell / detect / investigate
  * sebaceous scent glands ➞ pheromones

Question 7

canine behavior

Answer 7

• highly social

  * live in groups
  * form strong social attachments with familiar people, and conspecifics 

• carnivores
• territorial
• play and exercise
• social environment
• cognitive stimulation

Question 8

caninee diseases

Answer 8

1. canine parvovirus
2. hypothyroidism
3. osteoarthritis

Question 9

canine parvovirus

Answer 9

• Who: unvaccinated dogs and puppies, but can infect all dogs
• Agent: Highly contagious gastro-intestinal virus: Canine parvovirus 2
• Major risk factors:

  * unvaccinated dogs/puppies kept together
  * use caution when bringing pets to places where young puppies congregate (e.g. pet shops, parks, puppy classes, obedience classes, doggy daycare, kennels, and grooming establishments)
  * letting your puppy or adult dog to come into contact with the fecal waste of other dogs while walking or playing outdoors

• Prevention/management: Vaccination and good hygiene are critical components of prevention

  * Puppies should receive canine parvovirus vaccine

Question 10

Hypothyroidism

Answer 10

hormone imbalance in dogs and is usually caused by inflammation or shrinkage of the thyroid gland

• Who: Adult dogs 4–10 years old

  * Usually affects mid- to large-size breeds and is rare in toy and miniature breeds
  * Some breeds carry higher risks such as golden retrievers

• Agent: No agent

  * Hypothyroidism develops from an underactive thyroid condition 
  * relatively common endocrine disorder in dogs

• Major risk factors: Certain breeds and intact male dogs have a greater risk
• Prevention/management: no prevention, but routine veterinary visits can catch it early

  * Medication can manage the disease effectively as long as the owner can give the medication to the pet

Question 11

Osteoarthritis

Answer 11

• Who: mature and senior dogs, & larger breeds more at risk
• Agent: None, reduces mobility and causes pain
• Major risk factors:

  * obesity
  * lack of exercise
  * can be related to genetics and aging

• Prevention/management:

  * Diet and weight control
  * reduce high impact activities 
  * encourage low- impact activities to help improve/maintain joint mobility
  * Rehabilitation such as therapeutic exercises (i.e., swimming, underwater treadmill), can help improve join mobility
  * Pain control important
  * Joint supplements may help