Socializing young kittens and puppies means giving them positive experiences with things they’ll encounter throughout their lives. Building positive associations early in life helps animals feel comfortable with new people and new situations. Animals that are well socialized when they’re young are less likely to develop fear-based behavior problems (like aggression) that could put them at risk of being sent to a shelter or euthanized later on.
 
Sensitive Period for Socialization
For kittens, the window of opportunity for socialization is very early: from 3 weeks to about 7 to 9 weeks of age.[1,2] The sensitive period is the time when a young kitten’s brain is most receptive to socialization. During these early weeks, a kitten is exploring and learning, developing neurological pathways that will help the kitten learn in the future. After the sensitive period, brain development shifts; kittens don’t make positive associations as quickly or easily and they’re more likely to be afraid of new things. This is why it’s so difficult, if not impossible, to convert a semi-feral adult cat into a cat that can be happy living as a house pet.
 
You will have noticed that the sensitive socialization period for kittens is nearly closed by the time they’re typically adopted or purchased. Socialization needs to start with the person caring for the mother cat and newborns. When you adopt or buy a kitten, continue providing socialization (at the kitten’s comfort level and pace) to reinforce what the kitten has already learned.
 
The socialization process should always be positive. Don’t force kittens to interact with strangers or other animals if they’re shy, and don’t push them to be near things that scare them. Let them choose whether to interact. Give them room to walk away and let them hide if they want to. Use positive reinforcement (food or play) to encourage them to interact and build their confidence.
 
The following suggestions are adapted from the American Veterinary Medical Association.[1] For more tips, check out the First Year of Life page on the Cat Friendly Homes website: https://catfriendly.com/life-stages/first-year-life/
 
Socializing Kittens Before Weaning

• Kittens need to interact with members of their own species. For orphaned kittens, provide interaction with other kittens and cats as much as possible.
• Have more than 1 person handle the kittens.
• Handle each kitten individually, away from the mama cat and the litter, every day.
• Provide exposure to a variety of surfaces, textures, and objects to play with.

 
Socializing Kittens 8 to 12 Weeks Old

• Provide toys with various textures, scents, and sounds.
• Give the kitten gentle, positive exposure to a variety of people of different ages, sizes, and genders; with beards, wearing hats, wearing face coverings, carrying umbrellas, and so forth.
• Provide supervised interaction with other animals, especially species that might become pets in the kitten’s home.
• Playing with other kittens and cats (belonging to family members/friends or in a kitten class) is very useful. Kittens this age are not yet fully vaccinated, so the other kittens and cats should be vaccinated as appropriate for their age and free of parasites.
• Start crate training: leave the crate out all the time with the door open and put toys and food inside. Let the kitten explore the crate and start going into the crate on her own.
• Once the kitten is comfortable with the crate, start taking the kitten on short car rides that end with something fun, like a play session. (Don’t pull out the crate and go for a car ride only when the trip is going to end with shots at the veterinary clinic.)
• Handle all parts of the kitten’s body and hold him in different positions—always gently and never in a way that frightens the kitten.

 
Older Kittens and Newly Adopted Adult Cats

• Don’t assume that an older kitten or cat had early socialization. Instead, watch the cat for signs of stress or fear to assess her comfort level with different situations and people.
• Take time to build trust with the cat so he will feel secure in his new home. Don’t force interactions and don’t scold the cat; use lots of positive reinforcement like treats.
• Provide the same kinds of enrichment and exposure as with younger kittens (including crate training), but realize that an older kitten or an adult cat might need much longer to become accustomed to new things.
• Seek the advice of a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist if the cat has fear or aggression that does not improve with time.

 
References
1. Welfare implications of socialization of puppies and kittens. American Veterinary Medical Association. June 9, 2015. Accessed July 8, 2022. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/literature-reviews/welfare-implications-socialization-puppies-and-kittens
2. Todd Z. The sensitive period for socialization in puppies and kittens. Companion Animal Psychology. July 26, 2017. Accessed July 8, 2022. https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2017/07/the-sensitive-period-for-socialization.html
 
Photo by Haley Owens on Unsplash

Whipworms are intestinal parasites that are relatively common in dogs and can cause serious illness. Some (not all) monthly heartworm preventives prevent whipworm infection.
 
Canine whipworms are small worms about 2 to 3 inches long that live in the cecum, a pouchlike structure attached to the large intestine. The whipworm that infects dogs, Trichuris vulpis, does not infect humans. (Another species of whipworm can infect people.) Whipworms are very rare in cats in North America.
 
According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), almost 50,000 dogs in the United States tested positive for whipworms in 2019. About 2500 of these dogs were in North Carolina, putting North Carolina in the CAPC high-risk category for whipworms.[1]
 
Transmission
Dogs are infected with whipworms when they swallow whipworm eggs in the environment—for example, by licking dirt from their feet.[2] The eggs hatch in the dog’s intestines and grow to adult worms in the cecum. About 2.5 to 3 months after the dog is infected, the adult worms begin producing eggs that pass out of the body in the feces.
 
Whipworm eggs in the environment take about 2 to 3 weeks (or longer) to develop into a stage that can infect dogs. This means that dogs are infected by swallowing contaminated substances, not by eating fresh dog poop. Whipworm eggs in the environment are resistant to temperature changes and sunlight and are able to infect dogs for years.[3]
 
Symptoms
Symptoms of whipworm infection depend partly on the number of worms present and can include the following:

• No symptoms
• Soft stool
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• Bloody diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Dehydration
• Anemia (pale gums)

 
Diagnosis
Whipworm infection can be a little tricky to diagnose. Typical fecal analysis at a veterinary clinic involves looking for worm eggs in a stool sample under a microscope. However, because whipworms don’t produce eggs for the first few months after infection and they don’t produce eggs all of the time, stool analysis with a microscope can miss the infection. Sending a fecal sample to a diagnostic laboratory for a whipworm antigen test can increase the chance of finding the infection.
 
Treatment and Prevention
Antiparasitic drugs to treat whipworm infection are typically given in at least 2 doses spaced a few weeks apart. Monthly heartworm preventives that contain milbemycin (given by mouth) or moxidectin (applied to the skin) will treat and prevent whipworm infection.[3] Other heartworm preventives available at the time of writing (May 2020) are not effective against whipworms.
 
It’s not possible to completely eliminate whipworm eggs that are already in the environment. The CAPC recommends reducing dogs’ risk by removing dog feces from the environment and regularly testing dogs for whipworms.
 
References
1. Parasite prevalence map: 2019, whipworm, dog, United States. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Accessed May 20, 2020. https://capcvet.org/maps/#2019/all/whipworm/dog/united-states/
2. Brooks W. Whipworm infection in dogs and cats. Veterinary Partner. Published May 8, 2004. Updated July 18, 2018. Accessed May 20, 2020. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/doc/?id=4952061&pid=19239
3. Trichuris vulpis. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Updated October 1, 2016. Accessed May 20, 2020. https://capcvet.org/guidelines/trichuris-vulpis/
 
Image: photomicrograph of Trichuris vulpis egg, 400× magnification. Credit: CDC/Dr Mae Melvin.

Roundworms are some of the most common internal parasites in dogs and cats. They can also infect humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 13.9% of people in the United States have antibodies to roundworms, meaning they have been exposed to the parasite at some point in their lives.
 
How dogs and cats are infected
Almost all puppies are born with roundworms. The type of roundworm that most often infects dogs, Toxocara canis, transfers from a mother dog to unborn pups through the placenta. T canis can also pass to puppies through the mother’s milk. Infected animals excrete roundworm eggs in their stool, so dogs can be infected by eating feces or swallowing roundworm eggs in the environment. Dogs can also become infected by eating a small animal (like a rodent) that is carrying roundworms.
 
The most common roundworm in cats is Toxocara cati. Cats and kittens are usually infected by swallowing roundworm eggs in the environment or by eating an infected animal. T cati does not pass to unborn kittens through the mother’s placenta.
 
Ingested T canis and T cati eggs hatch into larvae in the intestines. The larvae migrate through body tissues to the lungs, are coughed up and swallowed, grow into adult worms in the intestines, and begin producing eggs that pass into the environment through the feces.
 
Roundworm larvae can remain dormant in body tissues of adult animals instead of maturing in the intestines. These arrested-development larvae can’t be detected by fecal tests for worm eggs because they don’t produce eggs. Dormant larvae in a pregnant dog can become active and move through the placenta to the pups. In other words, a female dog with a negative test for roundworms can pass roundworms to her puppies anyway.
 
Signs of infection
Infected animals often have no symptoms at all. Dogs and cats (especially puppies and kittens) with lots of roundworms may develop a potbelly, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or dull coat. Heavily infected animals sometimes vomit worms, which look a bit like spaghetti noodles, or pass worms in the stool.
 
Treatment and prevention in pets
Young puppies and kittens should receive multiple doses of deworming medication. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends deworming puppies and kittens every 2 weeks starting at age 2 weeks for pups and 3 weeks for kittens, continuing until they are about 2 months old, and then beginning monthly parasite preventives. Many heartworm preventives also prevent roundworm infection.
 
To reduce the chance your pets will be infected, remove feces from the environment and try to keep them from eating rodents or other wild animals. Have your veterinarian regularly test your pets for parasites, and give them parasite preventives all year round.
 
Infection in humans
People can be infected by T canis or T cati if they ingest contaminated dirt or feces. Toxocara eggs can survive in the soil for years. Children and people who own dogs or cats have an increased risk of infection, says the CDC.
 
Many people with Toxocara infection don’t develop serious disease and have no symptoms. But T canis and T cati larvae can migrate through the bodies of humans, as they do in dogs and cats. Larvae that migrate to internal organs (such as the liver) damage these tissues, a disease process called visceral larval migrans or visceral toxocariasis. Symptoms depend on the organs affected. Sometimes larvae migrate to the eye, causing a disease known as ocular larval migrans or ocular toxocariasis. People with this condition may develop retinal inflammation and vision loss.
 
Prevention in humans
The CDC recommends these steps to prevent toxocariasis:

• Consult your veterinarian for a plan to keep your pets free of parasites.
• Practice good hand hygiene: wash your hands with soap and water after handling animals or their feces, after being outdoors, and before touching food.
• Keep children away from areas contaminated with animal feces.
• Teach children to wash their hands and to not eat dirt.
• Keep your pets’ environment clean; bury feces or bag it and throw it in the garbage.

 
For more information
Ascarid (Companion Animal Parasite Council)
Cat Owners: Roundworms and Dog Owners: Roundworms (Pets and Parasites)
Toxocariasis FAQs (CDC)
 
Photo by Berkay Gumustekin

Both indoor and outdoor cats need vaccines. Vaccination protects cats against infectious diseases that cause serious illness or death. This article describes the vaccines that veterinarians commonly recommend for cats.
 
One factor that affects vaccination protocols for cats—but not dogs—is the risk of injection-site sarcomas. Some cats develop these malignant tumors at the injection sites of vaccines or other substances. These cancers are uncommon (estimated to occur in 1 to 10 of every 10,000 cats vaccinated) but can be devastating. Although the vast majority of cats do not develop injection-site sarcomas, feline vaccination protocols are designed to balance the tumor risk with the need to keep cats protected from infectious disease. Recommendations include giving cats only the vaccines that are necessary, vaccinating cats no more often than necessary, and using vaccine formulations that are less likely to cause sarcomas.
 
Rabies virus
Rabies vaccination is mandated by law for dogs and cats in the United States. In North Carolina, all cats, dogs, and ferrets aged 16 weeks and older must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccination laws are one reason this fatal disease is very rare in humans in the United States. Around the world, rabies kills tens of thousands of people every year.
 
Cats in North Carolina can and do get rabies. In 2017, cats were 1 of the 5 most common species to test positive for rabies in this state (after raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats). The total number is low, but the risk is real.
 
Cats that live 100% indoors need rabies vaccines too. Cats sometimes escape outside. And sometimes the unexpected happens, like a bat getting into the house. The presence of a bat indoors is considered a rabies exposure unless the bat is caught and tests negative. A cat that is exposed to rabies but does not have a current rabies vaccination is subject to quarantine for up to 6 months. Also, a cat that bites a person must be quarantined for 10 days; cats without current rabies vaccinations typically spend this quarantine at a facility instead of at home. For more information, see the post about NC rabies laws.
 
In North Carolina, the first rabies vaccine a cat receives lasts for 1 year, and subsequent vaccines can legally be given every 3 years (as long as the vaccine is labeled for 3-year use). If your veterinarian recommends giving your cat a rabies vaccine every year instead of every 3 years, it’s probably because the clinic uses a feline rabies vaccine that is designed to reduce the sarcoma risk and is labeled for 1-year use. Most 3-year rabies vaccines on the market are killed-virus vaccines that contain adjuvants, substances that enhance the immune response. Killed, adjuvanted rabies vaccines have been associated with injection-site sarcomas in cats. A different type of rabies vaccine, a recombinant vaccine, does not contain adjuvants. The most common version of the recombinant rabies vaccine is a 1-year vaccine. Ask your veterinarian which type of rabies vaccine the clinic uses for cats.
 
Feline herpesvirus 1 (rhinotracheitis), calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus
Vaccines for feline herpesvirus 1, calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus are often included in a single combination vaccine. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends that all cats be vaccinated against these viruses as kittens (in a series of boosters), again 1 year later, and then every 3 years. In past decades, cats received these vaccines every year, but annual vaccination is no longer considered necessary.
 
Feline herpesvirus 1 and calicivirus are 2 of the main causes of feline respiratory disease complex. This illness spreads easily from cat to cat. People can also carry the infectious agents on their clothing, which is how indoor cats can be infected. Infection causes sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes, conjunctivitis (pinkeye), fever, mouth ulcers, and eye ulcers. Some combination vaccines also cover Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) bacteria, which cause conjunctivitis in cats.
 
Feline panleukopenia virus is very contagious among cats, and infection can be fatal. The virus is similar to canine parvovirus. Like parvovirus, it destroys cells lining the intestine and impairs immune function. In kittens, it can also damage the part of the brain that regulates coordination and balance.
 
Feline leukemia virus
Feline leukemia virus is a retrovirus that suppresses immune function and causes cancer. Because the virus impairs immunity, infected cats develop a wide variety of medical problems. Most infected cats die within 3 years of diagnosis. There is currently no cure.
 
Vaccines against feline leukemia virus have been associated with injection-site sarcomas. For this reason, the decision to vaccinate an adult cat usually depends on the cat’s lifestyle and risk factors. However, the AAFP recommends vaccinating all kittens against feline leukemia virus. A nonadjuvanted recombinant vaccine is available.

Photo by Sticker Mule on Unsplash

Dogs often receive vaccines during their veterinary wellness visits. But what are all of those shots for? This article describes the diseases that canine vaccines help prevent.
 
Vaccines save lives and are safe, but your dog might not need every vaccine available. Vaccination is a medical procedure, and the choice of vaccines to use is specific to each dog. Talk to your veterinarian about your dog’s risk factors. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) lifestyle-based vaccine calculator is a good starting point.
 
Canine vaccines fall into 2 categories: core vaccines, which are recommended for all dogs, and noncore vaccines, which are recommended for dogs whose lifestyle and environment put them at risk of infection.
 
Core vaccines
Rabies
Rabies vaccination is mandated by law in the United States. In North Carolina, all dogs, cats, and ferrets older than 4 months must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of infected mammals. After an incubation period that can last up to several months, the virus attacks the brain. Infection is almost always fatal once symptoms begin.
 
The rabies vaccine is an example of an animal vaccine that also protects human health. Read more about rabies in the blog post about NC rabies laws.
 
Canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus 2, and parvovirus
Vaccines against canine distemper virus, adenovirus 2, and parvovirus are included in a single combination vaccine.
 
Canine distemper virus infection causes fever and respiratory symptoms (runny nose and coughing) before it proceeds to the nervous system, resulting in seizures and possibly death. Dogs that survive the initial infection can have nervous system abnormalities for the rest of their lives.
 
Canine adenovirus 1 causes infectious canine hepatitis, a potentially fatal liver disease that also affects blood clotting ability. The vaccine against adenovirus 1 can have unwanted effects, so the currently recommended vaccine targets canine adenovirus 2, a variant that causes respiratory illness. The adenovirus 2 vaccine protects against both virus variants.
 
Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal infection spread through the feces of infected animals. Puppies and incompletely vaccinated dogs are most likely to be infected. Parvovirus causes severe intestinal disease (diarrhea and vomiting) and disrupts immune function.
 
Antibody tests (vaccine titers) are available for canine distemper virus, adenovirus 2, and parvovirus and may be an alternative to vaccination for some dogs.
 
Noncore vaccines
Bordetella bronchiseptica and canine parainfluenza virus
Infectious tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. Bordetella bronchiseptica (a bacterium), canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus, and canine adenovirus 2 are some of the organisms that cause kennel cough. Kennel cough is usually mild, but some dogs develop more serious illness. Kennel cough vaccines target Bordetella and sometimes parainfluenza virus. Parainfluenza virus vaccine is also included in some combination distemper/parvovirus vaccines.
 
Leptospira
Leptospirosis is caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria. This infection is zoonotic: it can spread between animals and humans. Leptospira are carried by many animal species, including wildlife and farm animals, and are usually transmitted through urine. Animals become infected through any contact with infected urine, including exposure to contaminated water or soil. Leptospirosis ranges from mild illness to kidney failure, liver failure, and death.
 
Canine influenza virus
Like kennel cough, canine influenza is a very contagious respiratory illness. Most dogs develop the mild form of flu, but the disease progresses to pneumonia in some dogs and can be fatal. Two strains of influenza virus are known to cause canine flu. AAHA recommends vaccinating at-risk dogs against both strains.
 
Borrelia burgdorferi
The bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi is responsible for Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease that causes fever and lameness in many animal species, including dogs and humans. North Carolina is currently on the border of one of the geographic areas with a high risk for Lyme disease.
 
For more information
Canine vaccination guidelines (AAHA)
Vaccinations (American Veterinary Medical Association)
 
Photo by Jay Wennington

Zoonotic diseases, or zoonoses, are infections spread from animals to people (and vice versa). Many zoonotic diseases are transmitted by insects, wildlife, and livestock, and some are carried by pets.
 
Controlling zoonotic disease is a cornerstone of One Health, the concept that human health, animal health, and the environment are all linked. July 6 is World Zoonoses Day and is also the anniversary of the day Louis Pasteur administered the first successful rabies vaccination to a person (July 6, 1885).
 
How to reduce your risk
Preventive care for pets helps keep everyone in the family safe. The chance of contracting a zoonotic disease from a dog or cat is low if you take proper precautions. Zoonotic infections are also spread by contaminated food, insects, ticks, farm animals, birds, reptiles, and rodents. Young children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems are at higher risk than others.
 
These measures can lower your risk:

• Wash your hands after being around animals or handling their food. Soap and water are best; use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Keep your pets' vaccinations up to date.
  
• Give your pets parasite preventives all year round and have them tested regularly for parasites. (This is why your veterinarian’s office asks for your pet’s stool sample.)
• Do not feed pets raw eggs or raw meat diets.
• Handle food safely to prevent food poisoning.
• Protect yourself against insect and tick bites.

 
Find out more at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
 
Zoonoses in companion animals
Many zoonotic diseases have been identified, and the CDC estimates that 75% of emerging infectious diseases originated in animals (often insects). Some of the most common zoonotic diseases in companion animals are listed below.
 
Bacteria

• Salmonellosis can be transmitted through contaminated food. Outbreaks have also been linked to reptiles, poultry, and pet food. Salmonellosis is the reason small turtles cannot be sold as pets in the United States.
• Listeria and Escherichia coli can also contaminate food. One study showed high levels of bacterial contamination in frozen raw diets for pets. Others have shown that dogs fed raw diets have increased risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and of shedding disease-causing bacteria into the environment.
• Bartonella species cause cat scratch disease and other (sometimes severe) diseases in humans. The type that causes cat scratch disease is transmitted to cats by fleas and is usually spread to people through cat bites or scratches, possibly when the wounds are contaminated with flea excrement.

 
Parasites

• Intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms are common in dogs and cats, especially puppies and kittens. They are spread to people by fecal-oral contact—that is, by ingestion of feces. Children are at risk if they eat contaminated dirt or put their hands in their mouths after handling infected animals. Hookworms can also be transmitted through contact of bare skin with contaminated soil. Puppies and kittens typically receive deworming medication during their first veterinary visits, and many heartworm preventives also control these intestinal parasites.
  
• Scabies, a type of mange, is caused by an external parasite that can also cause skin disease in humans.
• Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite transmitted by ingestion of undercooked meat or cat feces. It can also be transmitted to an unborn child if a woman becomes infected while pregnant. Pregnant women do not need to give up their cats, but it’s wise to take precautions during pregnancy to reduce the risk.

 
Other infectious agents

• Rabies is a viral disease that kills an estimated 59,000 people every year worldwide. It is transmitted through the bites of infected mammals. Nearly all of these human deaths are caused by dog bites. In the United States, where rabies vaccination for dogs and cats is mandated by law, rabies in humans is rare and is almost always caused by exposure to wild animals.
  
• Ringworm is a fungal skin infection that is spread by direct contact. People and animals can give ringworm to each other.

 
For more information:
Zoonotic diseases (CDC)
Zoonotic diseases and pets FAQ (American Veterinary Medical Association)
 
Photo by Lydia Torrey

Hookworms are common in dogs and cats, especially young animals in warm climates. These parasites are also zoonotic: hookworms that infect dogs and cats can also infect people.
 
What are hookworms?
Hookworms are small parasitic worms that live in the intestines of host animals. Different hookworm species have different preferred hosts. Hookworm larvae can also infect other animals—accidental hosts—that they happen to come in contact with. The symptoms of infection depend on whether the infected animal is a preferred host or an accidental host.
 
Adult hookworms in the intestines lay eggs that are passed out of the body through feces. Once in the environment, the eggs hatch into larvae. Larvae enter a new host’s body by penetrating the skin. Preferred hosts can also be infected by swallowing hookworm larvae, such as by eating contaminated dirt. Puppies can be infected through their mother’s milk.
 
In preferred hosts, hookworm larvae migrate to the intestines, where they grow into adult worms that reproduce and lay eggs. In accidental hosts, hookworm larvae cause a local reaction where they have penetrated the skin, but they do not mature and reproduce.
 
Hookworm infection in dogs and cats
The hookworm species that most often infect dogs and cats are Ancylostoma caninum, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, and Ancylostoma braziliense. These worms attach to the lining of the intestines and feed on blood. Infection can cause anemia from blood loss, which can be fatal in young puppies and kittens carrying large numbers of worms.
 
Symptoms of hookworm infection in dogs and cats depend on the number of worms and the age, size, and overall health of the infected animal.

• Animals with mild infections usually have no symptoms at all.
• Young animals with heavy worm burdens can have pale gums, weakness, failure to thrive, weight loss, diarrhea, black stool (from intestinal bleeding), or sudden death.

 
A number of effective, safe medications are available to treat hookworm infections in dogs and cats. Young animals with severe anemia may need blood transfusions.
 
Hookworm infection in people
Humans can be infected by dog and cat hookworms if they come in contact with larvae in the environment—for example, by walking barefoot on sand or soil contaminated with hookworm larvae. The larvae burrow into the skin, causing an itchy skin reaction called cutaneous larva migrans. The larvae live only a few weeks in humans, so the symptoms may resolve on their own (contact your health care provider if you have more questions).
 
Humans are the preferred hosts for 2 hookworm species: Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus. These hookworms are a major source of human disease worldwide and were once common in the southeastern United States.
 
Preventing hookworms
Because dog and cat hookworms cause serious disease in animals and are also a health risk for people, preventing hookworm infections in our pets is important for both animal and human health.
 
The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends the following for dogs and cats:

• Have fecal samples tested regularly at the veterinary clinic.
• Deworm puppies and kittens multiple times.
• Deworm pregnant and nursing dogs.
• Use monthly parasite preventives. (Many heartworm preventives also control hookworms; check the label or ask your veterinarian.)
• Keep the environment and litter boxes clean.

 
The CDC recommends these steps to prevent zoonotic hookworm infections in people:

• Wear shoes and protect skin from contact with sand or soil, especially when visiting beaches in tropical or subtropical areas.
• Deworm dogs and cats regularly to reduce environmental contamination.
• Remove animal feces from the environment.

 
For more information
Hookworms (PDF from Worms & Germs Blog)
Hookworms – Dog Owners and Cat Owners (Companion Animal Parasite Council)
Zoonotic hookworm FAQs (CDC)
 
Photo by Andrew Pons

Part 1 of this 2-part series covered the reasons we have rabies laws. This article briefly summarizes North Carolina rabies regulations and describes what to do if you find a bat in the house, your pet is bitten, or your pet has had contact with a wild animal.
 
This article includes changes to NC rabies regulations that go into effect on October 1, 2017, and recommendations from Jose Pena, epidemiology specialist with Mecklenburg County Public Health (via telephone interview).
 
North Carolina rabies regulations
1. Dogs, cats, and ferrets over 4 months of age must be vaccinated against rabies. The earliest the vaccine can be given is 3 months (12 weeks) of age.
 
2. Dogs and cats receive a rabies booster vaccine 1 year after the first vaccine and every 3 years thereafter, if the vaccine is licensed for 3-year use. (Mallard Creek Animal Hospital uses a nonadjuvanted vaccine with a 1-year license for most cats.)
 
3. Dogs and cats are considered immunized 28 days after the first rabies vaccine.
 
4. If a pet bites a person, the bite must be reported to Animal Control and the pet must be quarantined for 10 days. Animal Control decides the quarantine location. Animals with a current rabies vaccination and no bite history may be quarantined at the owner's home. Animals with an expired or no rabies vaccination or (in some cases) a history of biting or scratching are quarantined at a shelter or veterinary facility.
 
5. All potential exposures should be reported to Animal Control. The local health director determines whether rabies exposure is likely.
 
Exposure to rabies doesn’t necessarily mean a bite wound. Any type of contact with a wild animal, especially rabies vector species like bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes, can constitute exposure. Unvaccinated cats and dogs can also carry rabies. The presence of a bat in the house is usually considered exposure because bat bites are hard to see and it’s often impossible to know how long the bat has been indoors.
 
6. If a dog, cat, or ferret is exposed to rabies:

• The animal must receive a rabies booster vaccine within 96 hours of the exposure. The only exceptions are animals too young to receive the vaccine and those that are euthanized.
• Animals with a current rabies vaccine:
  • Report exposure to Animal Control.
  • Administer rabies booster within 96 hours.
  • No quarantine is needed.
• Animals with an expired rabies vaccine:
  • Report exposure to Animal Control.
  • Administer rabies booster within 96 hours.
  • A 45-day home quarantine may be allowed at the health director’s discretion.
• Animals with no previous rabies vaccine or first vaccination fewer than 28 days before exposure:
  • Report exposure to Animal Control.
  • Option 1 is euthanasia.
  • Option 2, at the health director’s discretion and if the owner chooses, is a 6-month quarantine at a veterinary facility (not at owner’s home).
    • Administer rabies vaccine within 96 hours.
    • Giving the rabies vaccine within 96 hours might reduce the quarantine time to 4 months. This reduced quarantine time does not apply to puppies and kittens too young to vaccinate.
• Dogs and cats that have probably been vaccinated but have no documentation:
  • Report exposure to Animal Control.
  • The health director may allow blood tests for rabies antibodies. The first sample is obtained before the rabies booster is administered; the second is obtained 5 to 7 days later.
  • Administer rabies vaccine within 96 hours of exposure.
  • The animal remains in quarantine at a veterinary facility while awaiting test results.

 
What you should do
1. Keep your pets’ vaccinations current. This includes indoor-only cats!
 
2. If your pet bites someone, don’t avoid the consequences; just accept the 10-day quarantine.
 
3. If a bat is in your house:

• Trap the bat in a room: close the door and block the gap beneath the door with a towel. Do not handle the bat. If you can’t close the bat in a room, have someone keep an eye on it so Animal Control officers can find it. Don’t let the bat fly outside.
• Call Animal Control (dial 311 Monday through Friday, 911 after hours and on weekends).
• If the bat tests negative for rabies, you will not need to have rabies vaccinations yourself and your pet will not face a quarantine (even if it is not vaccinated).

 
4. If your pet is bitten by an unknown animal, a wild animal, or a dog or cat with unknown vaccination status:

• Your pet may have saliva on its fur, which poses a potential risk to people. Handle your pet with gloves and limit its contact with people until it is treated.
• Bring your pet to the clinic as soon as possible for medical treatment and a rabies booster.

 
5. If you you notice a wild animal acting strangely or you have found a dead wild animal:

• Contact Animal Control (dial 311 Monday through Friday, 911 after hours and on weekends).
• If the animal is alive, tell the Animal Control officers its last known location.
• If the animal is dead, avoid direct contact. Use a shovel or wear gloves if you must pick it up. If you have direct contact, wash your hands well with soap and water. Save the body for Animal Control to test.
• If your pet has been in contact with the animal, it may need a rabies booster vaccination within 96 hours, depending on the animal and the circumstances.

 
6. To avoid attracting wild animals, feed your pets indoors and don’t leave food outside.
 
 
For more information
Rabies control and prevention in North Carolina: NC Health and Human Services website
Protect yourself from rabies: Mecklenburg Government website
 
September 28, 2017
Photo by Inge Wallumrød

You may have read a recent news report of a Mecklenburg County puppy quarantined for 6 months after possible exposure to a bat. Did you wonder why the quarantine was so long?

This is the first of 2 posts about rabies laws in North Carolina. This article covers background information about rabies: the reasons for the laws. The second article will discuss NC rabies regulations and what they mean for your pets (preview: vaccinate your indoor cats).

Why rabies vaccination is mandated by law
Rabies is caused by a virus transmitted between animals and people. It is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented with vaccination.

Rabies kills an estimated 59,000 people worldwide every year. Nearly all of these deaths are caused by exposure to rabid domestic dogs. Most deaths occur in areas of Asia and Africa where access to vaccination is limited.

Compare that statistic with the current situation in the United States. In this country rabies kills only 1 or 2 people annually, the dog variant of the rabies virus has been eliminated, and the rabies reservoir species are wild animals. Before rabies control programs were introduced, more than 100 people in the United States died from rabies each year.

The conclusion is simple: rabies control programs save lives.

Rabies in North Carolina
Rabies is still a real risk in the United States. Thousands of wild animals (most often bats, raccoons, and skunks) test positive for rabies each year. The most commonly infected domestic animals are cats, followed by cows and dogs.

In 2016, 251 animals tested positive for rabies in North Carolina. In Mecklenburg County, 19 animals tested positive, the highest number of any NC county. Nine animals tested positive in Cabarrus County. Nearly half of the rabies-positive animals in North Carolina in 2016 were raccoons. The others, in descending order, were foxes, skunks, bats, cats, cows, dogs, beavers (Mecklenburg had 1 of the 2 rabid beavers in the state), and a deer. Other fascinating (to me) rabies statistics are available on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website.

The path of rabies infection
Rabies is transmitted through saliva and nervous tissue, such as brain. It usually enters the body through a bite wound but can also enter through broken skin or mucous membranes (nose, mouth, or eyes).

After rabies virus enters the body, it travels through the nerves to the brain. This process can take several months. During this incubation period, the exposed animal has no symptoms of infection.

Once the virus reaches the brain, it multiplies and moves to the salivary glands. At this point the animal can transmit rabies to another animal. Virus multiplication in the brain causes brain inflammation, leading to signs of rabies. Death occurs within about 7 days.

Rabies virus tests in animals are performed on brain tissue. For this reason, rabies testing in animals requires euthanasia.

To sum up: An animal exposed to rabies might not show signs of infection for many months and cannot be tested for rabies while it is alive. An animal that is capable of transmitting rabies will show signs of infection within a few days and will be dead within about a week.

September 15, 2017
Photo by Inge Wallumrød