Rabies
- Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the brain and is with rare exception always fatal. The virus is transmittable to people through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. The main carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Strict laws have been passed requiring the rabies vaccine in all dogs and cats.
FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), a herpes virus, affects the upper air passages and lungs. Most cats survive but become chronic carriers. Symptoms include fever, sneezing, coughing, appetite loss, eye discharge, and nasal discharge.
- Calicivirus causes upper respiratory symptoms mainly involving the lungs and oral cavity. It often occurs concurrently with FVR.
- Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) is caused by a parvovirus closely related to the canine parvovirus. It causes fever, depression, anorxia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Panleukopenia has a high mortality rate.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
- Feline Leukemia is caused by an oncornavirus. The virus is shed in body excretions, primarily saliva. Cats can carry the disease for many years. Death can occur from anemia, infectious disease from the virus’ immunosuppressive effects, or from lymphoma - a cancer which can be induced by the virus.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
- Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is an oncornavirus shed in body excretions, primarily saliva. The virus can cause severe immunosuppression. Death can occur due from inability to combat opportunistic infections.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
- FIP is caused by a coronavirus which causes vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels). The disease manifests in two forms: wet and dry, depending on which blood vessels are affected. Symptoms of the wet form include fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen. The dry form affects the kidneys, lymph nodes, eyes, and central nervous system. Treatment is difficult and cats with clinical signs invariably succumb to the disease.
Pneumonitis (Chlamydia)
- Primarily causes conjunctivitis and ocular discharge. It can cause mild lethargy, sneezing, nasal discharge, and pneumonia. It can cause conjunctivitis in humans.