Health

Question 1

What is Rabies?

Answer 1

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that invades the central nervous system.

Signs include headache, anxiety, hallucinations, excessive drooling, fear of water, paralysis, and death.

Transmission is through the bite of a rabid animal.

Treatment within hours of infection is essential, otherwise, death is highly likely.

Question 2

What is Heartworm

Answer 2

Worms lodge in the right side of the heart and the pulmonary arteries (that send blood to the lungs), though they can travel through the rest of the body and sometimes invade the liver and kidneys.

The worms can grow to 14 inches long and, if clumped together, block and injure organs.

A new heartworm infection often causes no symptoms, though dogs in later stages of the disease may cough, become lethargic, lose their appetite or have difficulty breathing.

Infected dogs may tire after exercise .

Transmission is by mosquitoes.

Question 3

What gutworms should be treated against?

Answer 3

Roundworm
Hookworm
Whipworms
Tapeworm

Question 4

Signs of worms

Answer 4

Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Weight loss
Vomiting
Poor coat appearance
Pot-bellied appearance
Lethargy
Dehydration
Deficiencies in nutrition and anemia
Intestinal blockage or pneumonia
Blood in stool (either bright red or darker purple
Bottom scooting

Question 5

How is roundworm transmitted

Answer 5

Often from mother, but second strain can be transmitted via rodent , rabbit or bird droppings.

It is zoonotic

Question 6

How is tapeworm transmitted

Answer 6

By the consumption of infected fleas, or by eating an animal infected by fleas.

Latches onto the stomach lining and dogs will often scoot their bottom.

Environmental cleaning is required to remove infestation

All animals in home should be treated .

Question 7

Provide info on hookworm

Answer 7

Transmission is via bitches milk, or from environmental ingestion. Can remain infectious in soil for months

Often will cause anaemia

Zoonotic

Question 8

Provide info on whipworm

Answer 8

Transmitted from infected material such as soil, food, water, animal flesh, or faeces

Severe symptoms include anaemia, severe weight loss, inflammation, diarrhoea,

Lives in the caecum ( beginning of the large intestine ) and colon, passing into the dogs faeces.

Eggs can survive in warm, moist environments for up to 5 years

Question 9

Ringworm

Answer 9

Highly contagious fungal infection , spread by touching an infected animal or skin to skin contact

May appear as darkening of the skin, peeling, red rashes, scaly patches , hair loss, itchy skin

Treatment is anti fungal medications

Question 10

Gastric torsion

Answer 10

Is when the stomach fills with gas and twists. It is common in deep chested breeds

Symptoms include 
anxiety ( pacing, unable to settle, attempting to vomit )
Problem breathing
Saliva 
Gut bloating 

Immediate vet treatment must be sort

Question 11

What is the American Vac Schedule

Answer 11

6 - 8 weeks = Distemper and Parvovirus
10-12 weeks = DHPP
16-18 weeks = DHPP + Rabies
12- 16 months DHPP + Rabies

Question 12

When is the booster for DHPP

Answer 12

1-2 years

Question 13

When is the booster for rabies

Answer 13

1-3 years by law

Question 14

What four diseases are covered by DHPP vaccine

Answer 14

Distemper
Hepatitis / Adenovirus 2
Parvovirus
Parainfluenza

Question 15

Explain Distemper

Answer 15

Is a virus that affects the nervous , gastrointestinal and respiratory system

Spread via coughing and sneezing

Symptoms include eye and nasal discharge, fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting

Severe signs muscle twitches, paralysis, head tilt

Question 16

Explain Hepatitis / Adenovirus 2

Answer 16

Is a virus, spread by the ingestion of urine , faeces or saliva from infected dogs. Can shed for up to 6 months

Signs are 104 f fever, drop in white blood cells, deficiency in blood clotting, congestion of mucous membranes , severe depression

Can cause long term damage to kidney and clouding of the eye cornea

Question 17

What is parvo

Answer 17

It attacks the gastrointestinal track and suppresses the immune system, making the infected more vulnerable to other diseases

Highly contagious, can be picked up from other dogs, environment , contact with infected dog to uninfected,

Signs include vomiting and diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever

Question 18

Describe Parainfluenza

Answer 18

It is a respiratory virus
Transmitted through contact with infected dogs, their bowls, bedding, coughing, sneezing

Signs include dry hacking cough, fever, runny nose, sneezing, eye inflammation, depression, lethargy, loss of appetite

Can cause kennel cough

Question 19

What is Leptospirosis

Answer 19

Is an infectious disease that severely affects the kidney and liver , as the bacteria multiplies in the blood stream and then the tissues.

Transmission is via direct contact with the urine of an infected animal

Signs are jaundice, yellowing of skin, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever

Question 20

Describe Lyme disease

Answer 20

Is contracted from black legged ticks.

Signs include lameness, fever, swollen lymph nodes

Treatment is antibiotics

Question 21

What is CCOC

Answer 21

Canine Coronavirus

Question 22

Describe canine coronavirus

Answer 22

Is an infectious intestinal infection

Transmitted by oral contact with infected faecal matter, contaminated food bowls, or direct contact with infected dog.

Signs are diarrhoea, lethargy, decreased appetite, loose stool with fetid odour and orange tint, potentially with blood or mucous.