This widespread viral infection is named after the Hungarian veterinary pathologist Aladar Aujeszky, who first described the disease in 1902. It is caused by the porcine herpesvirus and can affect dogs and cats, as well as cattle, sheep, and goats, and is almost always fatal. The disease, also known as pseudorabies, cannot be transmitted to humans. According to current legislation, pseudorabies is a notifiable animal disease and is controlled by the state.
The main hosts of the pathogen are pigs and rats. Pigs infect each other through direct contact via droplet infection. The most common sources of infection for dogs and cats are raw or undercooked pork and hunting waste. The animals ingest the virus with the infected meat, which then enters the digestive tract where it can multiply. It then spreads throughout the entire organism via the bloodstream. Further multiplication takes place in the brain, leading to inflammation of the brain and spinal cord with destruction of the nerve tissue.
In pigs, the disease is only life-threatening for suckling piglets. These usually die without showing any symptoms. Piglets over ten weeks old show muscle twitching, movement and behavioral disorders. Older pigs, on the other hand, are the main virus carriers and mainly show respiratory symptoms and miscarriages.
In all other mammals, the disease is always fatal. The first symptoms appear within three to four days after infection (incubation period). Affected cats are noticeable due to extreme vocalizations, restlessness, excessive salivation, and in some cases vomiting. As the disease progresses, muscle twitching, extreme itching, aggression, movement disorders, and convulsions appear throughout the body, which is why the name pseudorabies was coined. The animal usually dies 12 to 48 hours after the first symptoms appear.
If you observe or have observed any of the symptoms described above in your animal, please consult a veterinarian immediately, even if the animal has already died, as even a suspected case of pseudorabies must be reported to the official veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will make a preliminary diagnosis based on the characteristic symptoms in conjunction with your preliminary report. If you know what your cat has eaten or what possible carriers it has come into contact with, an examination of the carrier or the meat can provide evidence. Otherwise, direct detection of the virus is only possible in a dead animal. Antibodies can only be detected in the blood four to five days after infection. As the animals usually die before this time, this test is not practical.
According to current knowledge, there is no treatment available for dogs and cats. Once the disease has broken out, it always leads to death within 12 to 48 hours in these animals. Dogs or cats presented to a veterinarian with clear, severe symptoms of pseudorabies should be euthanized to spare them further suffering.
Pseudorabies is a notifiable animal disease that is controlled by the government in Germany and many other countries. Regular blood tests and necessary quarantines are carried out on pig farms. To prevent the spread of pseudorabies, it may also be necessary to kill animals as a precautionary measure. This is referred to as culling.
In heavily infected areas, pigs can be vaccinated. However, this does not protect against infection, only against the symptoms, so that farmers do not suffer any losses. Infected pigs still represent a source of infection, which is why vaccination is prohibited in Aujeszky's disease-free countries (Germany has been considered free of Aujeszky's disease in domestic pigs since 2003). There is no vaccine for dogs and cats.
However, compliance with certain measures can reduce the risk of infection for dogs and cats. Since pigs are the main carriers and excreters of the virus, dogs and cats should not be kept together with them. Furthermore, when feeding pork, care should be taken to ensure that it is always cooked thoroughly, as heat reliably kills the pathogen.
It is natural for your horse to occasionally shake its head to ward off insects or because it is excited or tense. However, involuntary, persistent head tossing without any apparent cause is no longer natural. It is characteristic of headshaking syndrome. Unlike cribbing or weaving, headshaking syndrome is usually not a behavioral disorder, but a neurological condition that should be investigated by a veterinarian.
Since the urethra narrows significantly towards the tip of the penis in male cats, it can very easily become blocked, a condition known as urethral obstruction. Affected animals are suddenly unable to urinate, resulting in painful and life-threatening urinary retention in the bladder. This is always a medical emergency that requires immediate veterinary treatment. Indoor cats are primarily affected, while outdoor cats are much less likely to develop the condition.
It can be so much fun to spend hours grooming our horse. Cleaning the tail, oiling the hooves, and so on... Many four-legged friends also enjoy a day of beauty. Of course, there is a wide range of products you can try out on your horse. There are entire beauty ranges for animals, and you can actually spend a lot of money in equestrian shops. But there are cheaper options. The simplest items from the drugstore can be wonderfully repurposed as horse care products. The same goes for equipment for ground work, fear training, or just for playing with your horse.
The British Shorthair is one of the most popular cat breeds in Europe. With its sturdy build, thick coat, and calm nature, the British Shorthair has a special charm. It is considered well-balanced, uncomplicated, reserved, and self-confident: an ideal cat for people with a more relaxed lifestyle.
Does your cat suddenly seem unwell and lethargic? Or is it behaving differently than usual, perhaps avoiding being stroked? You should pay close attention to any unusual behavior. Keep a close eye on your cat's health and take it for regular check-ups at your veterinary practice.
Whether human or pet, preventive check-ups are important. Prevention is the best medicine, because when detected early, diseases can often be cured quickly. So be attentive, take your dog to your veterinarian for preventive check-ups, and keep a close eye on your dog's health yourself.
Arthroscopy, also known as joint endoscopy, involves examining a joint from the inside. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment method used in orthopedics that does not require large incisions in the skin (i.e., it is minimally invasive).
Dermatophilosis, not to be confused with dermatomycosis caused by fungi, is a bacterial skin disease in horses. It occurs mainly in the wet and cold season in horses that are kept in open stables or spend a lot of time in pastures, which is why it is also colloquially referred to as rain eczema.
If your cat has a runny nose and is breathing noisily, there may be a harmless cause. However, sometimes this can also be a sign of an illness that requires urgent treatment
The first few weeks with a puppy are exciting—not just for you, but also for your young dog. Soon, the moment will come when you discover the world outside your home together for the first time. There are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your first walk is a pleasant and safe experience for both of you.
In animals, assisted dying, the so-called euthanasia, is permitted under certain circumstances regulated by animal welfare laws. If suffering can no longer be alleviated, painless euthanasia can be a relief for your animal. But when is the right time, and how does euthanasia work?
There are many different arguments for different types of dog food. What is best for which dog and how feeding can be integrated into the daily routine of those caring for them varies according to individual needs. Below you will find some recommendations and ideas on this topic.
