rabies.
Cats are victims of rabies more than any other domestic pet in the United States. Know the signs -- and learn how to protect your pet. In popular culture, a dog foaming at the mouth often depicts rabies. But this image does not reflect which domestic animals are most at risk: cats. Obviously, any pet that is not vaccinated against the virus is at a higher risk for infection. But because cats are often allowed to roam outdoors, they are more likely to encounter an infected wild animal, or an infected stray dog or cat. Feral cat colonies remain a reservoir host for the rabies virus, despite widespread vaccination programs, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ...
MikeLove, Flickr Rabies is a rare but fatal condition for household dogs (rarer still in cats) and also poses a grave threat to humans. As part of a Paw Nation series providing background about the medical problems your pet may suffer, we spoke to Dr. Cynthia Leveille-Webster, professor of veterinary medicine at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, for insight into this condition. What are the signs that my pet has rabies? Symptoms in dogs range from acting abnormally or disoriented, to increased salivation, to seizures. But here's the danger from rabies: A dog can be infected and go months without a clinical sign and yet can infect other animals and humans. That's ...
MonkeyMagic1975, Flickr Do your cats live outside? Or come in and out of the house? If your cat does spend a lot of time exploring the great outdoors, there are some concerns and dangers you should be aware of. A sad statistic is that the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is half as long as an indoor cat's. In fact, according to PetPlace.com, it may be more like one-third: 5 years. The purpose of this post, however, isn't to shame you into locking your cats inside. Instead, we want to arm you with the information you need to keep your outdoor (or indoor/outdoor) cat safe in the great big world. To help us with this, we've enlisted the help of former American Veterinary Medical Association ...
Trish Hamme, Flickr Pet vaccination can be a confusing subject for even the most conscientious pet owner. Should you vaccinate your cat? How can shots protect your kitty's health? To get the expert scoop on the subject, Paw Nation spoke with veterinarians Kristen Nelson, author of "Coated with Fur: A Vet's Life," and Christine Bellezza, co-director of the Feline Health Center at Cornell University. When and why should pet owners vaccinate their cats? The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends that kittens start getting their shots at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, the time when the immunity they received from their mothers starts to wane. "It's important to vaccinate ...