companion animal health and disease Flashcards
Cat behavior
- partially domesticated >10,000 years ago
- live in groups, solitary predatory hunters, carnivores, territorial
- form strong social attachments w/ familiar people and conspecifics (usually close kin)
- species specific behaviors: scratching to deposit scent, maintaining claws, stretching
- perching, climbing, hiding, hunting
cat biology
- spay/neuter after 4 months (sexual maturity)
- excellent vision (blue & green), far sighted
- excellent hearing: large range of sounds (high and low frequencies)
- olfactory communication
- vomeronasal organ detects/processes odors (flehmen response)
- sebaceous scent glands: pheromones
dog behavior
- domesticated > 20,000 yars ago from grey wolves
- highly social, live in groups, carnivores, territorial
- form strong social attachments w/ familiar people & conspecifics
- important behavioral needs
- play & exercise
- social environment
- cognitive stimulation
dog biology
- spay/neuter 6-9 months or when it reaches sexual maturity depending on breed
- good vision (blue & yellow), low light
- excellent hearing: good range of sounds (high frequencies)
- olfactory communication
- paired vomeronasal organ detects/processes odors (flehmen response)
- sebaceous scent glands: pheromones
Diseases
Feline idiopathic cystitis
who
- adult & senior cats
agent
- no agent, feline lower urinary tract disease w/ unknown cause
major risk factor
- stress
prevention/management
- encouraging increased water intake => frequent urination = urine that is more dilute is less irritating to cells lining bladder
- feed diet formulated to reduce urinary tract disease
- maintain consistent home environment and try to reduce stressors/changes
feline panleukopenia
who
- kittens most severely affected
- unvaccinated adult cats also susceptible
agent
- feline parvovirus (GI disease)
major risk factors
- keeping unvaccinated/unknown vaccination status of cats/kittens together
- letting unvaccinated cats/kittens outside (exposed to infected cats/kittens)
prevention/management
- vaccines offer best protection
- health management plan in shelters/kennels etc.
- don’t let unvaccinated cats in contact w/ others, isolate
Cat obesity
who
- mostly adult & senior cats
agent
- none
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 through controlled feeding multiple times a day
- ensure good activity levels: play time, catio, leash walks, etc.
- food puzzles: work for their food
Dog parvovirus
Who
- unvaccinated dogs and puppies, but can infect all dogs
Agent
- highly contagious GI virus
Major risk factors
- unvaccinated dogs/puppies kept together
- use caution when bringing pets to places where young puppies congregate
- let puppy/adult dog to come into contact w/ fecal waste of other dogs while walking or playing outdoors
prevention/management
- vaccination & good hygiene are critical
- puppies should receive canine parvo vaccine
Dog hypothyroidism
who
- adult dogs 4-10 yrs
- usually affects mid-large size breeds and is rare in toy & minis
- some breeds carry higher risks like goldens
agent
- none
- develops fr. underactive thyroid condition & relatively common edocrine disorder in dogs
major risk factors
- certain breeds and intact male dogs
prevention/management
- no prevention
- routine vet visits can catch early
- medication can manage disease effectively as long as owner can give medication to pet
Dog osteoarthritis
who
- mature & senior dogs
- larger breeds
agent
- none, reduces mobility & causes pain
major risk factors
- obesity, lack of exercise, can be related to genetics & aging
prevention/management
- diet and weight control
- reduce high impact activities and encourage low impact activities to help improve/maintain join mobility
- rehabilitation like therapeutic exercises can help improve joint mobility
- pain control
- joint supplements
