In the last few months, several animals in the Carolinas have tested positive for rabies, and a number of people and pets have been exposed to the virus. These are a few of the recent rabies cases and some statistics:

• In Matthews, a bat tested positive in September; 1 person and a pet were exposed.
• In Charlotte, a bat tested positive in September, and a dog was exposed.
• In Laurens County, South Carolina, 6 people were exposed to rabies from a stray cat in November.
• In 2025, as of November 25 (the date of this post), 9 animals have tested positive in Mecklenburg County, 5 have tested positive in Cabarrus, and 17 have tested positive in Gaston.
• Raccoons are by far the most common rabies carriers in the Carolinas. The other common carrier species are skunks, foxes, bats, and cats.
• Feral cat colonies and unvaccinated stray cats pose a rabies risk to humans. Twenty-two cats have tested positive in North Carolina so far in 2025.
• Any mammal can be infected with rabies. Two cows have tested positive in North Carolina so far this year (they were in Davie and Durham counties).
• Worldwide, rabies kills tens of thousands of people every year. Almost all of these human cases are caused by rabies in dogs. But in the United States, dog rabies is very rare, and so are human deaths. Why? Because starting in the mid-20th century, most dogs in the United States have been vaccinated for rabies.
• Restating for emphasis: Mandatory rabies vaccination for pets is the reason very few people die of rabies in the United States.

 
Rabies is a deadly viral disease that causes encephalitis, or brain inflammation. It is not curable but is very easy to prevent with the rabies vaccine. The virus is spread through saliva or nervous system tissue of infected animals. The virus is usually transmitted through a bite, scratch, or contact of infected saliva with broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes or mouth).
 
Infected animals can transmit rabies before they show any signs of infection. This is one reason stray cats and feral cat colonies are a special risk for people. People are more likely to come in contact with stray cats than with wildlife. People who handle infected kittens and adult cats can be exposed to rabies without realizing the animal is carrying the virus.
 
In North Carolina and South Carolina, rabies vaccination is mandated by law for all pet dogs, cats, and ferrets older than 4 months. An animal’s rabies vaccination status (current, overdue, or not documented) affects what happens to that animal if it’s exposed to rabies or bites someone, so don’t let your pets’ rabies vaccines expire. Local animal control officials decide whether an animal will be quarantined at home, quarantined at a facility, or euthanized for rabies testing, and that decision is based partly on rabies vaccination status.
 
Take these steps to protect your pets and yourself from rabies:

• Keep your dogs, cats, and ferrets up to date on rabies vaccination. This includes pets that live completely indoors!
• Stay away from wildlife, especially common rabies carrier species: raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.
• If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, wash the area with soap and water and seek medical care right away. Rabies in humans can be prevented with prompt care.
• If the animal that bit you dies or is killed, don’t destroy or dispose of the body. Call Animal Control for pickup so the animal can be tested for rabies, if appropriate.
• Bat bites are hard to see, so any presence of a bat in the house is considered a possible rabies exposure. If a bat gets into your home (or tent or anywhere people have been sleeping), don’t touch the bat and don’t release it outdoors. Secure the bat in a room and call Animal Control to capture it for testing.
• If your pet is bitten by any animal, seek veterinary care without delay.

 
Sources

• Positive results by county and source. NC Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed November 25, 2025. https://celr.dph.ncdhhs.gov/rabies
• Rabid animals confirmed in multiple counties; six people and eleven pets exposed. News release. SC Department of Public Health. November 21, 2025. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://dph.sc.gov/news/rabid-animals-confirmed-multiple-counties-six-people-and-eleven-pets-exposed
• Rabies. World Health Organization. June 5, 2024. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
• Rabies notification. News release. Town of Matthews, North Carolina. September 3, 2025. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.matthewsnc.gov/newsview.aspx?nid=7113
• Ruder M. 8th positive rabies case confirmed in Mecklenburg County. WCCB Charlotte. September 25, 2025. Accessed November 23, 2025. https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2025/09/25/8th-positive-rabies-case-confirmed-in-mecklenburg-county/

 
Image source: https://pixabay.com/photos/raccoon-animal-mammal-nature-fur-3538081/

Photos of rabbits with horn-like growths popped up on the internet last month after people spotted the rabbits in northern Colorado. The growths are caused by infection with a papillomavirus, in the same family as the viruses that cause warts and cervical cancer in humans. The virus infecting these rabbits isn’t contagious to other species and usually causes wild rabbits less trouble than you would think.
 
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, also called Shope papillomavirus (for the person who first described it), is not a new virus. It’s been identified in museum specimens dating from the early 1900s. Infection is most common in cottontails and other wild rabbits in the midwestern United States. We could speculate that the long skin growths inspired the myth of the jackalope, the fabled jackrabbit with deer antlers on its head.
 
In most wild rabbits, the growths are benign and eventually fall off on their own. Unless the growths interfere with eating and drinking, they don’t usually cause a problem. Infection in domestic rabbits is rare but potentially much more serious. In domestic rabbits, the growths are more likely to become malignant cancers than they are in wild rabbits.
 
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus is spread by flea, tick, and mosquito bites. The skin growths are in areas most often bitten by insects, which is why most are on the face and head. Because domestic rabbits are at risk of cancer, pet rabbits should be kept indoors in areas of the country where the virus is spreading, especially in the summer and fall when insects are most active.
 
Rabbit papillomavirus infects only rabbits. Humans, dogs, cats, and other species are not at risk from this particular rabbit virus. Humans and other species have their own papillomaviruses, all of which are typically species specific (they aren’t contagious to other species).

​Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name for hundreds of related viruses that cause various kinds of growths in people. Some of these growths, like common skin warts and plantar warts, are benign. Others, like genital, cervical, anal, and oral lesions, can become malignant cancers. HPV infection is a common sexually transmitted disease in humans.
 
Scientists are very interested in finding out why some virus-related growths are benign but others turn into cancer, a process called malignant transformation. One of the best ways to study malignant transformation in humans is to study similar viruses that cause similar cancers in other animals. And it happens that cottontail rabbit papillomavirus was the first papillomavirus identified and the first shown to cause cancer in a mammal. This is why the virus is also named after Richard Shope, the cancer researcher who discovered it.
 
So the next time you see a social media photo of a Frankenstein bunny, just think “Oh look, a valuable animal model of malignant transformation that helps us diagnose, prevent, and treat HPV and cancer in people.”

Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wd45/364229280, CC BY 2.0

Cats are at risk of severe illness and death if they are infected with bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus, type H5N1). The H5N1 influenza virus has been spreading worldwide for the past few years. An outbreak among poultry and dairy cattle in the United States has caused the deaths of millions of domestic poultry and led to recalls of raw meat–based pet diets and raw milk. Cats that have died from H5N1 infection in the United States have been infected by eating raw meat products or by drinking raw milk.
 
Avian influenza viruses start in migratory waterfowl like ducks and geese, who spread these viruses without getting sick themselves. Influenza viruses typically spread next to domestic poultry: chickens and turkeys. Mutations let influenza viruses jump to new species, including mammalian species like cows, pigs, cats, and humans. The H5N1 virus has spread to all of these species (1 person infected by contact with birds has died, but at this time transmission to humans is rare).
 
Cats are at higher risk than dogs of becoming seriously ill if they are infected with H5N1 virus. All felines—domestic cats and big cats—are at risk. So far, H5N1 infections have been confirmed in indoor cats, barn cats, wild cats like bobcats and mountain lions, and captive big cats like tigers.
 
How Cats Are Infected
Cats are infected with H5N1 flu virus in these ways:

• Eating raw or undercooked meat, including raw pet diets
• Drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk, cream, or other dairy products
• Being exposed to infected wild birds, poultry, or other animals
• Being exposed to people or clothing/shoes of people who work on affected farms

 
Raw Diets Carrying the Most Risk
Raw diets containing poultry—chicken, turkey, or duck—are the biggest risk. Because H5N1 virus has also infected dairy cows, it’s possible (but less likely) for raw diets containing beef to be contaminated if these products contain meat from dairy cows.
 
Frozen and freeze-dried poultry products are also a risk. Freezing and freeze drying are unlikely to kill influenza viruses because these methods are used to preserve viruses for research purposes, according to Dr Scott Weese, a zoonotic disease expert at the University of Guelph.
 
High-pressure pasteurization (as opposed to high-heat cooking) is used for some commercial raw diets, but this method doesn’t always inactivate pathogens. High-pressure pasteurized diets have been recalled because of Salmonella contamination, and some could be contaminated with influenza virus.
 
For more information about raw diets and the H5N1 virus, see Dr Weese’s article on the Worms and Germs website: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/2025/01/articles/animals/cats/h5n1-influenza-raw-diets-and-petsan-overview/
 
Signs of Infection in Cats
Cats infected with H5N1 influenza virus show respiratory signs similar to flu in humans. They can also develop neurologic signs that mimic rabies and other nervous system disorders. These are some of the signs in cats:

• Loss of energy and appetite
• Discharge from nose and/or eyes
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Wobbly gait
• Circling
• Tremors or seizures
• Death

 
Diagnosis and Treatment
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a reportable disease, so veterinarians collaborate with public health officials to test cats suspected of having H5N1 infection. The diagnostic tests chosen depend on the cat’s clinical signs. If the signs are compatible with rabies, the cat might have to be euthanized for rabies testing (always keep your pets’ rabies vaccinations up to date to reduce this risk).
 
Treatment is mostly supportive care. Antiviral medications to treat H5N1 infection have not been tested in many cats yet. The prognosis for cats that are sick with H5N1 influenza is poor.
 
How to Keep Cats and People Safe
At this time, the H5N1 virus has not been shown to spread from cats to humans or from humans to other humans. Still, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends taking these precautions:

• Don’t feed cats dairy or meat products that have not been thoroughly cooked or heat pasteurized.
• Keep cats indoors to prevent exposure to wild birds.
• Keep cats away from poultry and livestock in areas with H5N1 outbreaks.
• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds.
• Wash your hands after handling your cat and after handling poultry or wild birds.
• If you come in contact with a sick or dead animal that might carry the H5N1 virus, change your clothes and shoes and wash your hands before handling your cat.

 
If you think your cat might have H5N1 influenza, take these steps:

• Call your veterinary clinic before taking your cat in so they can take precautions to protect staff members and other animals.
• Limit your cat’s contact with people with weakened immune systems.
• Use hand hygiene and other usual measures to protect yourself from influenza.
• Watch for signs of illness in family members and other animals that have been exposed to your cat; report human illness to public health officials.

 
For More Information

• Avian influenza A (H5N1) in cats, American Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-health/avian-influenza/avian-influenza-h5n1-cats
• Articles tagged “avian influenza” on the Worms and Germs website: https://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/tags/avian-influenza/

 
Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/49446130417/

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease that until recently was untreatable and almost always fatal in cats. An effective antiviral drug emerged a few years ago but was legally unavailable in the United States. Some cat owners bought the drug at high cost on the international black market, but this product was unregulated, untested, and possibly unsafe.
 
A compounded version of this antiviral drug, GS-441524, is now available in the United States by veterinary prescription. This means that FIP has become a treatable disease instead of a near-certain death warrant for cats.
 
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t officially approved the compounded product for use in cats. However, the FDA announced that because no approved drug is available, it won’t enforce drug approval requirements when a veterinarian prescribes this product for an individual cat.[1]
 
Signs and Diagnosis of FIP
The virus that causes FIP is a coronavirus. Feline coronavirus infection is very common in cats. The virus typically lives in the intestines without causing much trouble. In some cats, feline coronavirus mutates into a disease-causing strain that spreads through the body. This disease is FIP.
 
The signs of FIP depend on whether a cat has the “wet” form (with fluid accumulation in the chest and abdomen) or the “dry” form (with inflammatory masses and other changes in the eyes, nervous system, kidneys, liver, or other organs). Some of the signs are swollen belly, decreased appetite, decreased energy, weight loss, fever, labored breathing, blindness, and seizures.
 
Because the signs of FIP are nonspecific and because so many cats have been infected with feline coronavirus, diagnosis is not simple. The diagnosis is often presumptive, meaning that it’s not confirmed by definite tests but is suspected on the basis of clinical signs and the results of blood and urine tests, imaging studies, fluid analysis, and biopsy.
 
Treatment
GS-441524 is a metabolite of remdesivir. Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in humans, but it’s not licensed for use in animals. Veterinarians can treat animals off label with drugs licensed for humans, so remdesivir is technically a treatment option for cats but it’s hard for veterinarians to access.
 
Unlike remdesivir (an injectable product), compounded GS-441524 is a tuna-flavored tablet. It’s already being used to treat cats in Australia and the United Kingdom. The dose depends on the cat’s clinical signs, and the current recommendation is to continue treatment for 12 weeks.
 
Reported survival rates for cats treated with GS-441524 range from 81% to 100%.[2] Without this treatment—or a similar antiviral drug if one becomes available—the prognosis is grim.
 
References
1. FDA announces position on use of compounded GS-441524 to treat FIP. US Food and Drug Administration. May 10, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-announces-position-use-compounded-gs-441524-treat-fip
2. Tasker S, Addie DD, Egberink H, et al. Feline infectious peritonitis: European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases guidelines. Viruses. 2023;15(9):1847. doi:10.3390/v15091847
 
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/gray-tabby-kitten-leaning-on-white-wall-VwqecUsYKvs

Have you ever heard that pregnant people shouldn’t handle a cat’s litter box? This is because of the risk of toxoplasmosis. World Zoonoses Day, July 6, is a great time to talk about how this disease passes from animals to people and whether pregnant people really do get a 9-month pass on cleaning the litter box.
 
Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted from nonhuman animals to humans. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common foodborne illnesses in people.
 
The people who should be most cautious about T gondii infection are those with compromised immune systems and those who are pregnant.
 
Toxoplasmosis in People
People With Healthy Immune Systems
People with healthy immune systems usually have no signs of T gondii infection and don’t know they’ve been infected. For those who develop signs, most have swollen lymph nodes or flu-like symptoms that get better on their own within a few weeks. Much less commonly, the infection can affect the eyes and cause vision loss.
 
Whether or not the initial infection causes any signs of illness, the parasites remain in the body in a dormant state. The infected person develops immunity to T gondii. However, if the person’s immune system becomes compromised (because of chemotherapy, organ transplantation, or AIDS, for example), the T gondii organisms are reactivated and cause illness.
 
People With Weakened Immune Systems
In people with compromised immunity, toxoplasmosis affects the brain, eyes, lungs, and other organs. Either a new infection or a reactivated infection can cause seizures, confusion, and coordination problems.
 
Fetuses Infected Before Birth
A fetus won’t become infected if the mother was infected with T gondii before getting pregnant. In this case the mother already has immunity and won’t pass the infection to the unborn child (as long as she has a healthy immune system).
 
If a mother is infected for the first time during or immediately before pregnancy, the fetus can be infected too because the mother doesn’t yet have immunity. Most people don’t know if they’ve been infected with T gondii in the past, so it’s safest for all pregnant people to take precautions to avoid infection.
 
The consequences of infection in an unborn child can be severe. The pregnancy might end in miscarriage or stillbirth, or the fetus might develop anatomic abnormalities. More commonly, infected infants have no signs of infection when they’re born. These individuals can develop vision loss or neurologic problems years later.
 
How People Are Infected

• Foodborne transmission: eating undercooked meat or shellfish; drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized goat milk
• Zoonotic transmission from cat feces: swallowing the parasite after handling cat litter and not washing hands; consuming produce contaminated with cat feces (for example, eating unwashed vegetables from a garden that a cat has used as a latrine)
• Transmission from newly infected mother to fetus
• Blood or organ donation from infected donor (rare)

 
Toxoplasmosis in Cats
Domestic cats and other felines are the only species that spread T gondii into the environment. Cats become infected after eating birds or rodents that have T gondii cysts in their bodies. Infected cats then shed T gondii oocysts (eggs) in the stool. The oocysts are not infective to other animals right away. After at least 1 day, the oocysts mature to a stage that can infect other animals. Infective oocysts can survive in the environment for years.
 
Most infected cats don’t have any signs of illness. Cats with compromised immune systems can develop disease similar to that of humans with compromised immune systems.
 
Identifying cats infected with T gondii is tricky. Cats shed oocysts in the stool for only a short time, so fecal tests aren’t reliable for diagnosing infection in cats. However, if a fecal test happens to show oocysts that look similar to T gondii, the cat’s owners should take precautions with the cat’s stool for a few weeks. A blood test showing that a cat has T gondii antibodies doesn’t tell us whether that cat is likely to start shedding oocysts that could put the family at risk.
 
Precautions
The CDC recommends these precautions to avoid toxoplasmosis:

• Cook meat and fish to an internal temperature high enough to kill T gondii organisms.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables.
• Don’t eat raw or undercooked shellfish or drink unpasteurized goat milk.
• Follow hand and kitchen hygiene precautions (wash with soap and water).
• Wear gloves when gardening; wash hands after handling soil that a cat might have defecated in.
• Cover outdoor sandboxes so cats don’t use them as giant litter boxes.
• Don’t feed cats raw or undercooked meat.
• Scoop the cat litter box daily; it takes more than 1 day for oocysts in the stool to become infective.
• See this CDC page for more: https://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/prevention/index.html

 
Pregnant people should also take these precautions:

• Have someone else clean the litter box if possible. If you need to handle the litter, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands afterward.
• Keep cats indoors to prevent them from hunting animals that might be carrying T gondii cysts.
• Don’t handle stray cats or kittens while you’re pregnant.
• Don’t get a new cat while you’re pregnant.

 
For More Information

• Toxoplasma gondii, Companion Animal Parasite Council website: https://capcvet.org/guidelines/toxoplasma-gondii/
• Toxoplasmosis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: https://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/about/index.html

 
Image source: https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/toxoplasmosis/index.html

All dogs are at risk for leptospirosis and should be vaccinated for it every year, according to updated recommendations from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM).
 
Leptospirosis is caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. The infection spreads from animals to humans, so leptospirosis is a public health hazard. Leptospirosis is a serious disease that damages the kidneys and other organs.
 
The leptospirosis vaccine for dogs has previously been considered a lifestyle vaccine, given to dogs with certain risk factors but not necessarily to all dogs. Information about how the disease spreads has improved over the years, so the ACVIM now says that all dogs, regardless of their lifestyle and location, should receive the vaccine.
 
Transmission
Leptospira spread mainly through urine. Many wild and domestic animal species carry the bacteria and deposit them in the environment. Rats and other rodents are the most common carriers.
 
Leptospira grow best in water and wet soil. Dogs with access to bodies of water, especially in warm climates, are at higher risk than others. However, the infection can also spread by direct contact (for example, when dogs hunt rodents) and in other ways, so outbreaks have happened among people and dogs living in urban areas and in drier and colder climates.
 
Cats seem to be resistant to leptospirosis, and cases in cats are extremely rare. However, cats might be able to spread the bacteria to other animals.
 
Disease
Leptospirosis affects many organ systems. These are some of the most serious problems it causes:

• Kidney injury
• Liver damage
• Bleeding in the lungs
• Inflammation of the lungs, heart, pancreas, and eyes
• Impaired blood clotting

 
These are some of the signs of infection:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Painful abdomen
• Increased thirst and urine volume
• Jaundice
• Labored breathing
• Blood in urine, vomit, or stool
• Red eyes

 
Diagnosis and Treatment
Leptospira can be hard to detect with laboratory tests. Definite diagnosis might require multiple blood and urine tests to isolate bacterial DNA and measure antibody titers. Dogs with suspected leptospirosis also receive baseline bloodwork, urinalysis, and chest radiographs.
 
Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics. Additional treatments depend on the individual patient’s course of illness and the organ systems affected. Some dogs with kidney injury caused by leptospirosis need dialysis.
 
The risk of a person contracting leptospirosis directly from an infected dog is low because dogs don’t shed many Leptospira organisms in their urine. However, people caring for a dog with leptospirosis need to take precautions like avoiding contact with the urine, wearing protective clothing, and washing hands.
 
Vaccination
The doctors at Mallard Creek recommend that all dogs receive a leptospirosis vaccine starting at 9 weeks of age. Dogs need a booster vaccine 3 to 4 weeks later and then once a year.
 
Leptospirosis vaccines are not all the same. Leptospira have many different variations, or serovars, and vaccines target only specific serovars. However, some don’t cover the serovars currently causing disease in dogs in the United States. Your veterinarian can advise you on the best vaccination plan for your own dog.
 
Source
Sykes JE, Francey T, Schuller S, Stoddard RA, Cowgill LD, Moore GE. Updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2023;37(6):1966-1982. doi:10.1111/jvim.16903
 
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-dog-running-through-a-field-of-yellow-flowers-SEGsw2Kmd08

Cases of infectious respiratory disease in dogs have received media attention in the last couple of weeks. We don’t yet know what’s causing these illnesses or whether the reported cases are true outbreaks. However, there is no doubt that dogs can be exposed to a variety of infectious organisms, mostly affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal (digestive) systems, when they’re around other dogs.
 
Take steps to reduce your dog’s risk if your dog goes to group settings like these:

• Dog daycare
• Boarding facilities
• Dog parks
• Training and puppy socialization classes
• Dog-friendly restaurant patios
• Dog-friendly festivals and other community events
• Dog shows
• Dog sporting events, field trials, and so forth

 
Dogs in animal shelters are at especially high risk because incoming animals are likely to be carrying infections, overcrowding is common, and stress can blunt the immune response.
 
Infectious disease agents—viruses, bacteria, parasites, and so forth—are spread in 5 main ways: by direct contact, through the air, by mouth, by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, and other animals), and on objects (water bowls, shoes, etc). Dogs in group settings can be exposed through any of these routes.
 
Infectious Respiratory Disease
Canine infectious respiratory disease complex, also called kennel cough, is caused by a wide range of viruses and bacteria, like canine parainfluenza virus, canine influenza virus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. These infectious agents are carried in respiratory secretions and transmitted by direct contact with an infected dog, through the air, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Most dogs have mild illness and recover, but some develop pneumonia. Vaccines are available for some of the agents that cause respiratory disease.
 
Infectious Gastrointestinal Disease
Canine parvovirus is highly contagious among dogs. Infection is often fatal but can be prevented with vaccination. A number of other viruses, bacteria, and protozoa that cause gastrointestinal disease are contagious among dogs. These agents are shed in feces, so transmission is generally by direct contact, by mouth, or on contaminated objects. Symptoms are related to the digestive tract: vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and so forth.
 
Raw meat is a source of bacterial infection (E coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, etc). Dogs that eat raw meat can shed these bacteria in their feces without showing any symptoms, and other dogs that have contact with the feces can become infected.
 
Parasites
Intestinal parasites—most often hookworms and roundworms—are common in dogs that aren’t receiving regular parasite prevention medication. These worms are contagious to other dogs (and people) through feces.
 
External parasites like fleas and ticks are vectors that spread infectious diseases to dogs and people. Some of these diseases, like bartonellosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease, can be quite serious. Dogs can also catch fleas and mange mites directly from other dogs.
 
How to Reduce Your Dog’s Risk

• Have your dog vaccinated according to your veterinarian’s recommendations.
• Use year-round parasite prevention for your dog.
• Don’t take a coughing or sick dog to places where dogs gather.
• Pick up and throw away your dog’s stool.
• If you see reports of canine respiratory disease in your area, consider avoiding dog gatherings and ask your veterinarian about vaccines for respiratory diseases.
• If your dog has an illness or takes a medication that suppresses the immune response, ask your veterinarian if dog gatherings are safe for your dog.
• For puppies whose vaccinations are not yet complete: Socialization is very important. Let your puppy meet other dogs in places that require vaccines or where you know the dogs are vaccinated (puppy classes, friends’ houses, etc). Avoid places that have dogs of unknown vaccine status (dog parks, shops, etc). Keep your puppy away from other dogs’ stool.
• Don’t feed your dog raw meat.

 
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/black-and-tan-german-shepherd-and-brown-and-black-german-shepherd-mix-dogs-on-brown-field-Z-lEcNOfWMI

Cat scratch disease in humans is caused by infection with Bartonella henselae bacteria, which are transmitted by cat fleas. This potentially serious infection is an important reason to use flea control products for all cats all year round.
 
Transmission
Bartonella species are spread by arthropods such as fleas, lice, and sand flies. People can be infected by several species of Bartonella. In the United States, B henselae is the most common cause of disease in humans.
 
Cat fleas shed B henselae in their feces. Cats that harbor fleas carry these bacteria on their claws, on their skin, and in their mouths. Humans are usually infected by cat scratches contaminated with flea feces. People can also be infected by being bitten or having an open wound licked by a cat carrying B henselae.
 
Dogs can also carry B henselae, but they typically have a lower bacterial load than cats. Whether dogs can transmit the infection to humans is not known.
 
Infection in Humans
In humans, B henselae infection can cause fever and swollen lymph nodes. More rarely, it causes inflammation of the heart valves, brain, bone, joints, eyes, or other organs. People with compromised immunity, such as those with HIV infection, are more likely than others to develop serious illness from B henselae infection.
 
Infection in Cats
Cats very commonly carry B henselae. Up to 40% of shelter cats in some geographic locations have B henselae in their bloodstream. Kittens tend to carry more bacteria than adult cats.
 
Cats carrying B henselae usually have no symptoms. Because these bacteria are well adapted to living in cats’ bodies, they very rarely make cats sick. However, some cats develop fever, vomiting, eye inflammation, or swollen lymph nodes.
 
Bartonella infection can be difficult to diagnose in cats. No antibiotic has been shown to completely eliminate the bacteria from carrier cats, and prolonged antibiotic treatment can cause the bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance. For these reasons, testing and treatment are recommended only for cats that have signs of illness caused by Bartonella infection.
 
Prevention
Because flea control prevents B henselae transmission among cats, the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that all cats receive flea prevention products year round.
 
The CDC recommends these steps to prevent B henselae infection in people:

• Avoid being scratched, bitten, or licked by cats, especially stray cats and kittens. The risk is highest for people with compromised immunity.
• Wash cat scratch wounds with soap and water.
• People with compromised immunity should wash their hands after handling cats.
• Use flea control products that your veterinarian recommends for your cat.
• Keep cats indoors to reduce the chance of flea exposure.
• People with compromised immunity can keep their cats and do not need to have healthy cats tested or treated for Bartonella.
• People with compromised immunity should avoid adopting cats younger than 1 year, stray cats, sick cats, and cats with fleas.

Sources

• Bartonella henselae infection or cat scratch disease (CSD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed January 10, 2022. Accessed July 6, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/bartonella/bartonella-henselae/index.html

• Lappin MR, Elston T, Evans L, et al. 2019 AAFP feline zoonoses guidelines. J Feline Med Surg. 2019;21(11):1008-1021. doi:10.1177/1098612X19880436

Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/CEx86maLUSc

An outbreak of a highly infectious cough has recently been affecting dogs in the Charlotte area. The disease spreads quickly wherever dogs gather: boarding kennels, dog day cares, dog parks, and so forth. Dogs with no symptoms can spread the infection to other dogs.
 
Most dogs have mild illness and recover at home, but some dogs develop pneumonia and need to be hospitalized. Dogs with pneumonia are at risk of dying.
 
These are some of the signs of mild illness:

• Cough (any type: soft, moist, dry, or hacking like a goose honk or a hairball being hacked up)
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Runny eyes

 
Call your veterinarian if your dog has any of the following signs:

• Mild signs that last longer than a few days

• Cough becoming more frequent, more pronounced, or more productive (moist)
• Cough affecting ability to sleep
• Decreased energy
• Decreased appetite

 
Take your dog to an emergency clinic right away if your dog has signs of trouble breathing:

• Continuous rapid breathing or panting
• Exaggerated chest movements while breathing
• Using muscles of the abdomen while breathing
• Holding head with neck extended forward or chin lifted up
• Puffing out the cheeks while breathing
• Purple or blue gums or tongue (in a dog whose gums and tongue are normally pink)
• Collapse

 
Causes
Many viruses and bacteria cause canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC), sometimes called kennel cough. Dogs are often infected with more than 1 agent at the same time.
 
These are some of the agents that cause CIRDC:

• Viruses: canine distemper virus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine adenovirus type 2, canine herpesvirus type 1, canine respiratory coronavirus, canine influenza virus (H3N2 and H3N8 subtypes)
• Bacteria: Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma species, Streptococcus equi subsp zooepidemicus

 
Core vaccines (standard for all dogs) give protection against some but not all of the viral agents. Noncore vaccines (optional lifestyle vaccines) are available for canine influenza virus and Bordetella. Vaccines don’t completely prevent CIRDC, but fully vaccinated dogs tend to have shorter and less severe illness. Vaccines also help limit spread of the disease.
 
Transmission and Risk Factors
The infectious agents spread through respiratory droplets and secretions. Some of the agents stay in the environment and continue to infect dogs for weeks. Dogs are infected by direct contact with an infected dog, by inhaling respiratory droplets, or by licking contaminated objects like bowls, bedding, toys, floors, walls, or people’s hands or clothes.
 
Because CIRDC can spread silently (by dogs with no symptoms) and some of the agents persist in the environment for a long time, outbreaks can be hard to control.
 
Any dog that has contact with other dogs or spends time in areas where dogs gather can be infected. Most dogs develop only mild illness and recover within a couple of weeks. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with impaired immune function are at higher risk of pneumonia.
 
Some of the agents that cause CIRDC can also infect cats. The only CIRDC agent known to infect humans is Bordetella, but transmission to people is very rare. Canine influenza is not contagious to people.
 
Diagnosis and Treatment
The decision to pursue diagnostic tests depends on the individual dog. Dogs with mild illness need physical examination but often don’t undergo other tests if they have symptoms that suggest CIRDC, have been around other dogs (especially in an area with an outbreak of respiratory disease), and are feeling well otherwise. Additional diagnostic tests can include chest radiographs, bloodwork, tests for specific infectious agents, and tests to rule out other causes of coughing.
 
Treatment can range from just resting at home to being hospitalized for intensive care, depending on the severity of illness. Antibiotics don’t kill viruses, but because CIRDC often involves a combination of organisms, dogs suspected to have a viral respiratory disease (like influenza) might receive an antibiotic as a precaution against bacterial infection.
 
Prevention
These are some tips to help keep your dog safe from infectious respiratory disease:

• Keep your dog’s vaccinations current and talk to your veterinarian about noncore vaccines (canine influenza and Bordetella).
• Keep your dog away from water bowls, toys, and other objects that have been used by dogs that don’t live in your household.
• If your dog has any signs of respiratory disease, keep your dog at home: no day care, dog parks, trips to the pet store, group training, etc.
• During an outbreak, keep your dog home and away from non-household dogs, even if none of the dogs seem sick.
• Plan ahead for holiday travel during an outbreak. Instead of taking your dog to a boarding kennel, you might need to take your dog with you or find someone (friend, family member, pet sitter) to take care of your dog at home.
• Don’t put a mask on your dog.

 
For more information

• Canine infectious respiratory disease complex (AVMA): https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/canine-infectious-respiratory-disease-complex-kennel-cough
• Canine influenza: pet owners’ guide (AVMA): https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/canine-influenza-pet-owners-guide

 
Image source: https://pixy.org/4653483/

Canine parvovirus is highly contagious among dogs. Infection causes severe illness and is often fatal in dogs that do not receive intensive treatment.
 
Risk Factors
Parvovirus infection is most common in puppies that have not yet completed their initial vaccination series and in adult dogs that are not fully vaccinated against parvovirus. A recent outbreak of parvovirus in Michigan highlighted how quickly the virus can spread, especially in dogs in group housing like animal shelters. All dogs are at risk of infection, but whether a dog becomes ill depends on the dog’s level of immunity to the virus.
 
Transmission
Canine parvovirus type 2 (the version responsible for illness) infects domestic dogs and some wild animals, such as foxes, coyotes, wolves, and raccoons. The virus is shed in feces and resists drying, heat, and cold, so it stays in the environment for a long time.
 
Dogs are infected by ingesting even a tiny amount of feces that contains parvovirus. Dogs can be infected by contact with an infected dog or with contaminated feces, surfaces, or objects. People who have handled infected dogs or contaminated objects can carry the virus on their hands or clothes and infect other dogs. Wild animals might be a source of environmental spread of parvovirus. Animals that have no symptoms can be carriers.
 
Effects on the Body and Signs of Infection
Canine parvovirus targets the lining of the small intestine, bone marrow, heart, and other organs. Destruction of the intestinal lining causes vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, loss of barrier protection against bacteria, and inability to absorb nutrients. Some infected animals develop intussusception, a potentially life-threatening condition in which a section of intestine folds into itself like a telescope. White blood cells (part of the immune system) are produced in the bone marrow, so infected animals have low white blood cell counts and impaired immune function. Because of decreased intestinal barrier protection and immune function, infected animals are at risk of septic shock caused by bacterial infection. Young puppies sometimes develop myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle.
 
These are some of the signs of parvovirus infection:

• Low appetite
• Low energy
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea, usually bloody and severe
• Painful belly

 
Death can occur within 3 days after symptoms begin.
 
Diagnosis
Parvovirus infection is often suspected on the basis of the patient’s symptoms, age, and vaccination history. Tests of fecal samples confirm the infection. A rapid test at a veterinary clinic is convenient but sometimes returns a false result, which can delay the diagnosis (this was the case with the outbreak in Michigan). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at a diagnostic laboratory is accurate but takes longer. A blood test showing a low white blood cell count supports a diagnosis of parvovirus, especially in a sick puppy still awaiting a PCR test result.
 
Dogs with parvovirus infection usually also receive other tests, such as x-ray imaging or ultrasound of the belly.
 
Treatment
For most dogs with parvovirus infection, the best chance for recovery is hospitalization for intensive care very soon after symptoms start. No antiviral drug that kills parvovirus is currently available, so treatment consists of measures to reverse dehydration, minimize vomiting and diarrhea, prevent bacterial infection, reduce pain, and restore nutrition. Intensive care for parvovirus infection can be expensive.
 
Prognosis
Most dogs that receive prompt intensive treatment in the hospital survive. Most dogs that are not treated die. For dogs whose owners can’t afford hospitalization, the success of outpatient treatment depends on the individual dog (illness severity and immune status), type of treatment, and ability of the owners to provide care at home.
 
Prevention
The parvovirus vaccine is effective and is one of the core vaccines recommended for all dogs. This vaccine is part of the initial series of puppy vaccines. Puppies need to receive the entire initial vaccine series to have the best chance of being protected. The current recommendation is for puppies to be vaccinated every 2 to 4 weeks from the ages of about 6 weeks to at least 16 weeks. The vaccine is given again 1 year later and then every 3 years throughout the dog’s life. Some dogs never mount an immune response to vaccination (this is not common). Vaccinating all dogs helps keep puppies and vulnerable adult dogs safe.
 
Limiting a puppy’s exposure to other dogs and to places where other dogs gather reduces the risk of infection. However, this approach can hinder a puppy’s social and emotional development. In general, puppy classes and establishments that have protocols to reduce disease transmission (like requiring vaccines, proper disinfection and hygiene, and isolation of sick dogs) are relatively safe, especially when weighed against the risk of behavior problems in puppies that are not socialized. Exposure to dogs of unknown vaccination and health status, as in dog parks, is riskier. Ask your veterinarian about safe activities for your puppy, and keep your puppy away from sick dogs and other dogs’ feces.
 
For More Information

• American Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/canine-parvovirus
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/baker-institute/our-research/canine-parvovirus

 
Public domain photo by C. E. Price