Canine coronavirus

Canine coronavirus is a virus of the family Coronaviridae that causes a highly contagious intestinal disease worldwide in dogs. It was discovered in 1971 in Germany during an outbreak in sentry dogs.

Pathology

The virus invades and replicates in the villi of the small intestine. Intestinal disease may be related to virus-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death) of cells of the epithelial mucosa of the small intestine.^[2] Canine coronavirus was originally thought to cause serious gastrointestinal disease, but now most cases are considered to be very mild or without symptoms.^[3] A more serious complication of canine coronavirus occurs when the dog is also infected with canine parvovirus. Coronavirus infection of the intestinal villi makes the cells more susceptible to parvovirus infection. This causes a much more severe disease than either virus can separately.^[4]However, fatal intestinal disease associated with canine coronavirus without the presence of canine parvovirus is still occasionally reported. This may be related to the high mutation rate of RNA positive stranded viruses, of which canine coronavirus is one.

Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and control

The incubation period is only one to three days.^[4] The disease is highly contagious and is spread through the feces of infected dogs, who usually shed the virus for six to nine days, but sometimes for six months following infection.^[3] Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and anorexia. Diagnosis is through detection of virus particles in the feces. Treatment usually only requires medication for diarrhea, but more severely affected dogs may require intravenous fluids for dehydration. Fatalities are rare. The virus is destroyed by most available disinfectants. There is a vaccine available, and it is usually given to puppies, who are more susceptible to canine coronavirus, and to dogs that have a high risk of exposure, such as show dogs.

Canine respiratory coronavirus

Recently, a second type of canine coronavirus (Group II) has been shown to cause respiratory disease in dogs.^[7] Known as canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) and found to be similar to strain OC43 of bovine and human coronaviruses, it was first isolated in the United Kingdom in 2003 from lung samples of dogs^[8] and has since been found on the European mainland^[9] and in Japan.^[10] A serological study in 2006 has also shown antibodies to CRCoV to be present in dogs in Canada and the United States.^[11] However, a retrospective study in Saskatchewan found that CRCoV may have been present there as far back as 1996.

Kennel cough

Kennel cough or tracheobronchitis is a highly contagious canine illness characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory system. It can be caused by viral infections such as canine distemper, canine adenovirus, canine parainfluenza virus, or canine respiratory coronavirus, or bacterial infections such as Bordetella bronchiseptica.^[1] It is so named because the infection can spread quickly among dogs, such as in the close quarters of a kennel.

Infection

Both viral and bacterial causes of kennel cough are spread through the air by infected dogs sneezing and coughing. It can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces and through direct contact. It is highly contagious, even days or weeks after symptoms disappear. Symptoms begin usually 3 to 5 days after exposure.^[1] The disease can progress to pneumonia.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include a harsh, dry hacking/coughing, retching, sneezing, snorting or gagging in response to light pressing of the trachea or after excitement or exercise. The presence of a fever varies from case to case. The disease can last initially from 10-20 days and can rebreak when the dog is put into a stressful situation which puts stress on the dog's immune system. Diagnosis is made by seeing these symptoms, having a history of exposure is also helpful but not always found as kennel cough is easily spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as the ground, toys, sidewalks, dog parks

Treatment and prevention

Antibiotics are given to treat any bacterial infection present. Cough suppressants are used if the cough is not productive (nothing is being coughed up). The prognosis is good. Prevention is by vaccinating for canine adenovirus, distemper, parainfluenza, andBordetella. In kennels, the best prevention is to keep all the cages disinfected. Most kennels will not board dogs without proof of vaccination.

Note: You guys can go up to ya vet and request for a vaccination against Kennel Cough =). Notes from wiki

Heartworm

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis, which lives in the right side of the heart and the adjacent blood vessels. Its presence in these blood vessels causes cardiovascular weakness, compromised lung incapacity, and eventual death. Heartworm disease occurs primarily in dogs but can occur in cats and other animals on rare occasions.

Heartworm is transmitted from dog to dog (and cat to cat) by mosquitoes. Over 70 species of mosquitoes have already been implicated. Transmission of the parasite occurs as follows: when a mosquito draws blood from a dog or cat infected with heartworm, it takes with it a number of small immature worms called microfilariae. Once inside the mosquito, the microfilariae develop into larvae. Later, when the mosquito bites a new victim, the larvae are injected and that dog or cat becomes infected.

It takes about six and a half to seven months for the larvae to mature and start producing thousands of new microfilariae inside the circulatory system. The adult worms end up occupying the right chamber of the heart and the pulmonary arteries, while the microscopic microfilariae circulate throughout the bloodstream.

All these worms within the blood vessels produce an increased workload on the heart, along with restricted blood flow to the lungs, kidneys, and liver, eventually causing multiple organ failure. At first, pets may exhibit a chronic cough and reduced exercise tolerance, followed by sudden collapse and death.

Once infected, one pet can easily become a "carrier" or reservoir of infection for an entire neighbourhood. Sometimes, a dog or cat may have heartworm disease but show no symptoms. By the time symptoms do occur, the disease is well advanced.

What are the signs of Heartworm Disease?
When a dog is infected with heartworm, it can suffer one or more of the following symptoms:
1. Coughing: can be occasional or severe
2. Exercise intolerance
3. Weight loss
4. Fluid retention in the abdomen
5. Breathing difficulties
6. Deaths in severe cases


Prevention is preferred to treatment. While there are effective treatments available, most veterinarians prefer to promote prevention of heartworm disease. Oral and topical medications that are administered monthly and have shown to be highly effective in preventing heartworm disease are available from your veterinarian.

How do I know if my dog has heartworms?
If you have a medium to large sized dog and it spends most of its time outdoors, it is strongly recommended that you put your dog on HEARTWORM PREVENTION. This is usually a monthly prevention (either topical application or oral medication) for the rest of its life. However, before you start any form of heartworm prevention, you must bring your dog to the veterinarian for a blood test which will confirm if your dog has heartworms or not. It is important to pursue the blood test before any heartworm prevention is initiated.

Can I start the heartworm prevention without blood tests?
Yes. Only if your dog is between 3-6 months, you can start the heartworm prevention without any blood tests. But if you dog is older than 6 months, it is important and essential to test for heartworms. You CANNOT start any form of prevention without a blood test. This is because, if your dog is positive for heartworm, it is necessary to treat the disease first before embarking in any form of prevention.

Starting heartworm prevention regime
As long as your dog is between 3 - 6 months of age, you can start the prevention now. But if your dog is already older than 6 months, then you have to bring it to your veterinarian today and he/she will explain to you the tests required and the types of prevention that is most suited for your dog.

Alternatively, You may starts your dog on revolution too.

Pet Shop Grading System

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) licenses the keeping and display for sale of pets to safeguard the welfare of animals.

All pet shops are required to have a pet shop licence and to comply with licence conditions. In spite of this, and despite strict enforcement of the licence conditions, AVA continues to get complaints against pet shops. Many complaints relate to pet operator’s poor knowledge and giving incorrect pet care advice to customers, poor customer service and poor business ethics.

To raise the standards of animal welfare and professionalism of pet shops, AVA will grade pet shops according to their compliance with licence conditions and their adoption of best practices. The grading will give the public better assurance that the pet shop they patronise is of a good standard. The grading will also promote responsible pet ownership through better customer education and information dissemination.

Allocation of grades

For a start, AVA will grade pet shops selling dogs, cats and small mammals by 31st March 2007. All shops will start with a clean slate. Offences committed prior to 31st March 2007 will not be factored into the grading:

Grades will be allocated according to a Combined Percentage Score (CPS) achieved. The formula for calculating the CPS is as follows:

CPS = (% score for compliance with licence conditions x 80%) + (% score for adoption of best practices x 20%)

Compliance with licence conditions will have 80% weightage while adoption of best practices will have 20% weightage in the CPS.

Grades will be allocated as follows:

Grade A: CPS = or > 90%

Grade B: CPS 70 – 89%

Grade C: CPS 50 – 69%

Grade D: CPS < style="font-style: italic;">Example One

Score for licence condition compliance = 90%

Score for adoption of best practices = 20%

CPS = (0.9 x 80) + (0.2 x 20) = 76

Shop’s grade = B

Example Two

Score for licence condition compliance = 100%

Score for adoption of best practices = 50%

CPS = (1.0 x 80) + (0.5 x 20) = 90

Shop’s grade = A

Real-time grading

The grade will be reviewed at licence renewal or when the shop is compounded for an offence. When a shop is compounded for an offence, it may or may not be downgraded. This will depend on whether the CPS changes, which will depend on the number of offences and whether the offence is major or minor. Pet shop licence conditions are grouped into three categories as follows:

1. Housing & Environment

2. Management & Healthcare

3. Regulatory Requirements

Any breach of licence conditions listed under “Housing & Environment” and “Management & Healthcare” will have an immediate and direct impact on animal welfare. As such, any breach of these conditions will be considered a major offence. On the other hand, a breach of a condition listed under “Regulatory Requirements” will not have a significant impact on animal welfare and will be considered a minor offence. 10 CPS points will be deducted for a major offence while 5 CPS points will be deducted for a minor offence.

Below are examples of how the grade may or may not be affected by action taken for an offence committed by the shop.

Example One

A Grade A pet shop has a CPS of 95. If it is compounded for a minor offence, its CPS will drop to 90 but it will not be downgraded. If it is compounded for a major offence, its CPS will drop to 85 and it will be downgraded to B.

Example Two

A Grade B pet shop has a CPS of 85. If it is compounded for a major offence and a minor offence, it will lose 15 CPS points, giving it 70 CPS points. It will remain as a grade B pet shop. However, if it is compounded for two major offences, it will lose 20 CPS points, giving it 65 CPS points. It will thus be downgraded to a C.

3

After a shop is downgraded, it can request re-grading one month after the downgrade. This is to encourage downgraded pet shops to take immediate steps to improve.

Implications of a lower grade

Routine inspections of lower grade pet shops will be conducted more times per year. Therefore a Grade A pet shop will be inspected once a year (at renewal) and a Grade B shop two times a year, whereas a Grade C shop will be inspected three times a year and a Grade D shop more than three times a year. Besides having to be inspected more times a year, the licensee and shop staff of Grade D pet shops will be required to attend remedial training. A pet shop that is consistently graded D may also not have its licence renewed.

Automatic D Grade

Pet shops that have been prosecuted and convicted under Animals & Birds Act 2002, Animals and Birds (Pet Shop and Exhibition) Rules 2004, Wild Animals & Birds Act or Endangered Species Act will be automatically graded D.

Publication of pet shop grades

Pet shop grades will be put up at AVA’s website at www.ava.gov.sg. The pet shops will also be required to display their grade in their shop premises. Any queries can be directed to

6471 7198 or E-mail to ava_cawc@ava.gov.sg.

click here

Link to the official letter

PET SHOP GRADES

I dig this information from the AVA website! Do take a look before You buy! ^^

AVA website
PET SHOP GRADES
Grades updated 28th August 2008*





Rex

Dog Licensing

Under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules, all dogs above 3 months of age must be licensed for rabies control.

The licence fees for dogs other than in dog farms are as follows:

• For a dog below 5 months of age: S$14.00 per annum
• For a sterilised dog: S$14.00 per annum
• For a non-sterilised dog: S$70 per annum
• For a fourth or subsequent dog: S$175 per annum

It is mandatory to register

click here

Read-up page for Dog Licensing

Oh ya, You require a SINGPASS to register for Singapore citizen and Singapore PR

Click here for foreigners registering for their dogs

No. I'm not working for AVA. I just thought this might be helpful to You guys ^^ Oh ya, I just found out something...

Question: Do You guys know why only dogs are required to be licensed? -
Answer: Cause cats rarely carry rabies here

Snakebites: Reducing Your Risk

How can I avoid snakebites?
Snakes are most active in the spring, early summer and fall. Most snakebites occur between April and October, when weather is warm and outdoor activities are popular. Although most snakes are not poisonous, there are several kinds of snakes in the United States that are. These include rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes. Each year, approximately 8,000 venomous snakebites occur in the United States. Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of snakebite:

* Regularly trim hedges, keep your lawn mowed and remove brush from your yard and any nearby vacant lots. This will reduce the number of places where snakes like to live.
* Don't allow children to play in vacant, weed-infested lots.
* Always use tongs when moving firewood, brush or lumber. This will safely expose any snakes that may be hidden underneath.
* When moving through areas with tall grass and weeds, always poke at the ground ahead of you with a long stick or pole to scare any snakes away.
* Wear loose, long pants and tall boots when working or walking in areas where snakes are likely to be.
* Never handle snakes, even dead ones. If you see a snake, slowly back away from it.
* Always sleep on a cot when camping in snake-infested areas.
* Be aware of snakes if you are swimming or wading in rivers, lakes or other water such as flooding.
* Learn to identify poisonous snakes and avoid them.


What are the signs of a snakebite?
You may not always know you were bitten by a snake, especially if you were bitten in water or tall grass. Signs and symptoms of a snakebite may include the following:

* Two puncture marks at the wound
* Redness or swelling around the wound
* Severe pain
* Nausea and vomiting
* Labored breathing
* Fever-like symptoms such as sweating
* Numbness or tingling
* Blurred vision
* Diarrhea
* Fainting
* Convulsions
* Rapid pulse


What should I do if I get a snakebite?
A bite from a poisonous snake is a medical emergency. If you or someone else gets bitten by a snake, get help immediately.



What to do if you get bitten by a snake:

* Remain calm and call for help.
* If you are alone, try to get to the nearest hospital as soon as you can.
* Restrict movement as much as possible and try to keep the wound below the level of your heart. This will reduce the spread of venom.
* Take off any jewelry or tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
* Try to remember what the snake looked like: its color, shape and markings. This will help with your treatment.
* Cover the bite with a clean, dry bandage.




What NOT to do if you get bitten by a snake:

* Never apply ice to the snakebite or soak the wound in water.
* Never cut the place that has been bitten.
* Never try to suck the venom out of the snakebite.
* Never apply a tourniquet or try to stop blood flow to or from the snakebite.
* Never try to pick up or trap the snake.
* Do not drink alcohol to relieve the pain of a snakebite.
* Do not drink caffeinated beverages such as coffee or colas after you’ve been bitten by a snake.

Courtesy by familydoctor.org, USA