diseases and immunization recommendations

Dog

Cat

Distemper


Vaccination is highly recommended.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral infection. Young and old dogs are particularly affected. The development of the disease is very different, most suffer lasting damages (for example dental enamel defects in young dogs and corneal changes) or even fatal illness. The diseased dog shows initially high fever, loss of appetite and fatigue. Infected animals excrete the virus with all body fluids.

Canine distemper symptoms show in four different complexes. They can occur individually, but also in combination:

  • pulmonary form: simple cough, clear to purulent nasal and eye discharge, to pneumonia.
  • intestines shape: more or less severe diarrhea and vomiting.
  • nerves form: paralysis, movement disorders, balance problems, head tilt, seizures or behavioral changes.
  • skin form: most likely at a later stage of the disease. Bales can be hard and flat (hard-ball disease) or in the phase of the dentition, the permanent teeth have an abnormal formation of enamel and yellow ("distemper teeth").

Parvovirosis


Vaccination is highly recommended

Parvovirosis is triggered by a virus. The virus is excreted in the feces in the environment and can remain viable in the environment for several months.

Two forms are distinguished:

  • gastro-intestinal form: fever and fatigue, followed by massive vomiting and severe, often bloody diarrhea
  • cardio-pulmonary form : affects particularly young dogs. Many of the affected puppies die, because of a severe inflammation of the heart muscle, causing heart failure with dyspnea.

Leptospirosis


Vaccination is highly recommended

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria and is transferable to the Human. The disease is dangerous and can be fatal.

The bacteria called Leptospira are transmitted mainly through the urine of infected rodents (e.g. rats, mice) or other dogs. The main source of infections are stagnant water bodies that are contaminated with infected urine. Dogs drinking from these water sources may be infected.

Infected dogs can excrete leptospires in their urine in irregular intervals for months and years. Leptospirosis breaks out one to two weeks after infection. The disease begins with sudden weakness, vomiting and fever. Other signs include breathing difficulties, increased thirst and increased urination. Later, you may experience muscle pain and jaundice. Leptospirosis can damage kidneys and liver and can be fatal.

Infectious hepatitis


A vaccination is recommended for breeding females

The infectious liver inflammation of the dog is caused by a virus. In some cases, the hepatitis is mild. In puppies however, it usually develops to a serious illness and is often fatal.

A few days after infection the dog has fever, is tired, loses appetite and the thirst has increased. In the further course of the disease it comes to eyes- and nasal discharge, as well as vomiting.

The dog has diarrhea and abdominal pain and the disease can result in liver or kidney damage. Not infrequently, consequential damages are severe organ damage, especially if a chronic hepatitis exists, or a corneal opacity in the eye and subsequent blindness.

Kennel cough


In most kennels, this vaccination is mandatory

The kennel cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease and is caused by viruses and bacteria. The infection is transmitted by tiny contaminated droplets from a exhaling or coughing sick dog. The infection is not confined to kennel dogs!

Typical signs of kennel cough are a dry and "barking" cough that sounds deep and like “something is stuck in the throat”. The cough occurs in paroxysms and can be fierce. The cough is very unpleasant, painful and can last for weeks. As a complication a pneumonia may result.

Affected dogs usually recover completely when treated in time.

Babesiosis or Piroplasmosis


A vaccination is recommended for dogs who stay in tick areas “contaminated with Babesia during the holidays

Babesiosis is caused by unicellular parasites ("Babesia"). The parasite multiplies in the red blood cells of the dog and destroys them. Babesiosis is a serious disease that can lead to death. The disease is transmitted by a bite of the brown dog tick. Ticks live in the undergrowth, scrub and tall grasses at the forest edge or in the garden. In spring and autumn, the risk of infection is at its highest. Initial symptoms of babesiosis can be observed two days to two months after the infection.

The most common symptoms are sudden high fever, apathy, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms are followed by an anemia one or two days later. The reduction of the red blood cell can lead to a brownish discoloration of the urine or to a yellowing of the mucous membrane. The risk of a kidney failure is a feared threat.

In the area of Basel, there is no proven record of babesiosis, however there is a report from the area of Kembs (F, Alsace) in the North of Basel. Depending on the country and the region Babesiosis is widespread and therefore it is often seen here as a “travel sickness".

Rabies


Vaccination is currently not necessary in Switzerland. Once the dog is taken abroad (also near the border!), the vaccination is mandatory.

The rabies virus belongs to those diseases that are very dangerous and incurable for humans and animals. Infected animals transmit the rabies virus in their saliva, usually through a bite. After a bite, the virus migrates along the nerve pathways to the brain. Until the infected dog suffers from rabies, it may take two to four weeks, in rare cases even longer.

The disease can occur in two forms:

  • behavior change: Wild animals are tame or overcome their fear of water. Others are shy or hide ("silent" anger).
  • arousal change: aggressiveness, bite out of rage, frenzy ("mad" anger).).

The sickness leads to progressive paralysis of various muscles. Often, the animal cannot swallow and drink anymore, it drools and eventually suffocates, because the breathing muscles get paralyzed

Borreliose


A vaccine is available, but definitely for the majority of our dogs does not make sense. You must be critically analyzed and can be recommended all the pros and cons in individual cases only after thorough discussion

Lyme disease is caused by bacteria from the group of the Borrelia. Up to 50% of the ticks of the genus common wood tick, Ixodes ricinus, are infected. Especially in dogs this disease is currently known as "over-diagnosed" and most studies have only been able to prove short-time symptoms such as enlarged lymph nodes, arthritis and polyarthritis.

The pathogens multiply in the gut of the tick. When an infected tick bites a dog and start to suck blood, the bacteria move to the bite site, which takes several hours.

Ticks live in the undergrowth, scrub and tall grasses in the garden. In spring and autumn, the risk of infection is greatest. Search ticks on your dog after every walk. Remove the tick immediately - preferably with specialized tick tweezers.

Herpes infection


A vaccination is recommended for breeding bitches

The herpes infection of the dog is caused by a virus. Newborn, weak and young puppies can die from it. The infection of the mother dog can cause sterility, birth defects, premature or stillborn. The mother dog may also infect their young during the birth.

The first signs of Herpesvirose are diarrhea and vomiting. A little later the puppies kick and whine and rapidly lose weight. Sometimes additionally breathing difficulties or skin and mucosal bleeding can occur.

Puppies that survive the infection carry the herpes virus for life. In the course of its life, the infected dog can excrete the virus intermittently. This happens especially in stressful situations, with the result that the affected dog is again infectious.

text and immunization recommendations by Dr. med. vet. Markus Moser, translated by Valentin Moser.

The texts were written and translated at utmost care. We can't guarantee however the correctness, completeness and quality of the content

visit us on kleintierpraxis-baselwest.ch

Cat flu


Vaccination is highly recommended.

Cat flu is caused by various viruses and bacteria. Infected cats pass the disease on by droplets of nasal secretions, tears or saliva. Infected cats can be infectious for weeks or even months. A person can transmit the disease indirectly as a "smear infection", so indoor cats are at risk as well.

The cat flu breaks out within 1-5 days. The first signs are watery eyes, clear, watery nasal discharge, sneezing, fever and poor appetite. The cat sneezes frequently and the tonsils and lymph nodes in the neck may swell. The discharge can be purulent and in the nose, tongue, gums and throat painful ulcers can develop. Further complications can be very diverse.

Distemper


Vaccination is highly recommended.

The feline distemper is a highly contagious viral infection. It can be fatal for young cats. Infected cats excrete the virus mainly with their faeces. The pathogen is highly resistant, it can survive for more than a year. The virus can also stick to shoes and clothes, thus entrained and therefore also indoor cats are at risk. By unvaccinated pregnant cats even their young in the womb are at risk, causing irreparable damage to the brain.

The first signs are loss of appetite and sudden motion discomfort, as well as fever, vomiting and watery-bloody diarrhea. The feline distemper proceeds particularly in young animals very quickly and often fatal.

Feline leukemia


Vaccination is highly recommended for outdoor access.

The feline leukemia is triggered by the feline leukemia virus, FeLV. Whether the cat is infected is not visible externally. Even a seemingly perfectly healthy cat can carry the virus. Until the outbreak of the disease several years can pass. During this period the infected cat spreads the virus millions of times, especially with the saliva and other bodily excretions.

When the disease breaks out, symptoms are very diverse and may include: listlessness, fever, sudden weight loss, pale mucous membranes by anemia, digestive disturbances, and gingivitis. Malignant tumors can occur in the chest cavity, liver, kidney and intestines. Pregnant females show miscarriage or pass on the virus to their puppies.

If the disease breaks out, it usually ends in death. The virus can be detected using a special test

Rabies


Vaccination is currently not necessary in Switzerland. Once the cat is taken abroad (also near the border!), The vaccination is mandatory.

The rabies virus belongs to those diseases that are very dangerous and incurable for humans and animals. Infected animals transmit the rabies virus in their saliva, usually through a bite. After a bite, the virus migrates along the nerve pathways to the brain. Until the infected dog suffers from rabies, it may take two to four weeks, in rare cases even longer.

The disease can occur in two forms:

  • behavior change: Wild animals are tame or overcome their fear of water. Others are shy or hide ("silent" anger).
  • arousal change: aggressiveness, bite out of rage, frenzy ("mad" anger).)

The sickness leads to progressive paralysis of various muscles. Often, the animal cannot swallow and drink anymore, it drools and eventually suffocates, because the breathing muscles get paralyzed.

FIP


Eine Impfung ist möglich und wird je nach Situation empfohlen.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal infection. Recent findings suggest that the malicious FIP virus (FIPV) that causes the disease is a result of a mutation of the feline coronavirus (FCoV) in the cat itself. FCoV is transmitted with the saliva or feces (food bowls and litter boxes) and by direct contact. In most cats, the virus is eliminated by the immune system after a certain time or at least reduced.

The FCoV is a very common virus. 50% of all cats in Switzerland are seropositive for FCoV, 80% of all cats in larger cat communities (e.g. in animal shelters). Why the FCoV spontaneously mutates from the FCoV virus to the malicious FIPV is still not resolved, it is only proved that concurrent illnesses and other stress factors contribute to it. FIPV is hardly transmitted from cat to cat, and therefore FIP is currently known as not "contagious"!

A cat suffering from FIP shows in the first stage of the disease symptoms like fever, poor appetite, fatigue, and mild respiratory symptoms, followed by weight loss and, by puppies, bad development. Because organs are affected differently by this virus in each case, the disease patterns are very different. Basically there are two forms observed:

  • Wet form: Ascites is typical. The cat is emaciated all over its body, in contrary to its thick abdomen, filled with fluid.
  • Dry form: It is rather the chronic form of FIP. The internal organs of the cat, such as the liver, kidneys and spleen are inflamed. Many cats develop jaundice over time. Eye changes as well as disorders of the central nervous system are possible.

The diagnosis is often extremely difficult and ca usually not be confirmed until the longer course of disease. The so-called FIP titer test only shows if the cat has had contact with the FCoV, but says nothing about a possible development of FIP!

FIV


A vaccination in Switzerland is not yet possible

Feline immunodeficiency virus infection (FIV), also called "cat AIDS", is caused by a relative of the human AIDS and damages the immune system of the cat. Infected cats pass on the virus mainly with biting their healthy counterparts. Affected animals may survive for years, excreting viruses. After the infection of the cat, the virus replicates in the white blood cells.

General discomfort, gum inflammation, cold, poorly healing skin lesions, enlarged lymph nodes, fever and diarrhea can be symptoms of FIV. With progressive disease the number of white blood cells decreases, resulting in a weaker immune system in general and a greater risk to suffer from other infectious diseases.

The symptoms of FIV infection are similar to those of a feline leukemia. The virus can be detected with a specific test.

text and immunization recommendations by Dr. med. vet. Markus Moser, translated by Valentin Moser.

The texts were written and translated at utmost care. We can't guarantee however the correctness, completeness and quality of the content

visit us on kleintierpraxis-baselwest.ch