Immune deficiency syndrome, colloquially known as "feline AIDS," is an infectious disease caused by a virus that weakens the immune system and causes serious secondary diseases. The virus is similar to HIV but is not dangerous to humans.
This disease is caused by the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). It occurs worldwide and affects all types of cats of all ages. The disease most commonly breaks out in animals aged five years and older. The virus can be detected in blood, saliva, and cerebral fluid. Kittens can become infected while nursing or even in the womb. In very rare cases, the virus can also be transmitted through close social contact. However, the main route of transmission is through bite wounds, as the virus is present in very high concentrations in saliva. The virus can only survive for a few seconds outside the body and cannot therefore be transmitted via bedding or drinking bowls.
After entering the bite wound, the virus enters the lymph nodes via the blood, where it attacks the cells of the immune system (the white blood cells) and uses them to multiply. This is always a lifelong infection. It can take months or even years from the time of infection to the onset of clinical symptoms. However, if the immune system is weakened to the point where it can no longer fight off otherwise harmless pathogens such as bacteria or fungi, serious illness can result.
In the initial stage of infection, fever and swollen lymph nodes may occur. Animals usually recover from these initial symptoms very quickly, which is why the infection often goes unnoticed. If the disease breaks out months or years later, very unspecific symptoms appear. Due to the weakening of the immune system, infected animals show increased susceptibility to infections as the disease progresses. These often include chronic inflammation, such as gum, skin, or mouth mucosal inflammation, fever, and diarrhea. Weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, dull coat, anemia, and loss of appetite may also occur. FIV cats also have a significantly higher risk of developing cancer than healthy cats.
Typical AIDS-like symptoms often only appear in the final stages of the disease. Since the virus also attacks the cells of the nervous system, neurological symptoms such as behavioral disorders, paralysis, muscle twitching, or coordination disorders may occasionally be observed.
Since clinical symptoms can vary greatly due to the different secondary diseases, a reliable diagnosis can only be made with the help of a blood test. The most common tests are modern rapid tests, which can detect antibodies produced by the body against the virus and are approximately 95% accurate. However, these tests can only be performed at least 14 days after infection, as antibodies are not yet detectable in the blood before this time. In special laboratories, the virus can also be detected directly in the blood. However, these tests are very complex and, depending on the method used, only provide limited certainty.
There is still no effective treatment for FIV. Therapy is therefore limited to treating the secondary diseases. In addition, various antiviral drugs have been used for some time, but these only slow down the disease and cannot cure it.
The aim of treating a cat with FIV must be to prolong its life and improve its quality of life. The necessary measures include providing a stress-free environment, avoiding feeding raw meat, and having a veterinary check-up every six months. Cats infected with FIV should only live indoors to minimize the risk of infection and to protect other cats from becoming infected.
With good care and consistent monitoring, cats infected with FIV have the same life expectancy as uninfected cats. However, the increased risk of developing cancer and some difficult-to-treat secondary diseases can worsen the prognosis in some cases.
There is still no approved vaccine against FIV in cats in Europe. Effective prevention is therefore not possible. However, cats that are kept indoors have a significantly lower risk of contracting FIV than outdoor cats.
With increasing mobility, open borders, and a wide range of travel options, this insidious infectious disease has also become more prevalent in our part of the world. Many dog owners want to have their four-legged friends with them on vacation and therefore travel south with their dogs. More and more rescue dogs are also being brought to Germany from southern Europe and rehomed here, with the result that diseases can also be imported.
Like many other pets, our dogs can also suffer from skin fungus. Skin fungal infections occur mainly in young animals, those with weakened immune systems, or those that have been affected by parasites or other diseases. However, the disease is not only a danger to your dog, as many skin fungi are also transmissible to humans and are therefore zoonoses. Elderly and weakened people are particularly at risk of developing a dangerous fungal infection.
It's wonderful that you're thinking about adopting a dog from abroad, because you want to save a life, and that's great! But please be prepared that your new dog may not immediately show you love and gratitude. You should also ask yourself whether you might want to give one of the many dogs in a US animal shelter a chance. Rescuing a dog from abroad also involves risks and problems.
Surgery describes the treatment of diseases and injuries through mechanical intervention on the body. This usually takes place under various forms of anesthesia (numbing). During the procedure, bodily functions and the depth of anesthesia are monitored using modern equipment.
Gynecology and andrology are separate fields of medicine. Gynecology deals with the female reproductive organs, while andrology deals with the male reproductive organs. Both fields cover diseases of the reproductive organs and reproductive medicine. Obstetrics is a branch of gynecology.
Skin fungal infections are also common in chinchillas. The most common are ringworm and bald patch, which cause changes to the fur and skin of chinchillas. Skin fungal infections are not life-threatening, but can lead to persistent problems due to their contagious nature. Skin fungi can also be transmitted to or from humans to animals, which is referred to as a zoonosis.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant skin tumor that occurs in cats mainly in the mouth, ears, and nose. Starting in the uppermost layer of skin and mucous membrane, the squamous epithelium, this tumor spreads very quickly and aggressively. Cats of all breeds and ages can be affected, although older cats are more susceptible.
In dogs, as in humans, the anterior cruciate ligament often tears. This strong ligament connects the thigh bone to the shin bone in the knee joint and prevents the knee from overextending or twisting. However, while cruciate ligament tears in humans are usually traumatic in nature (caused by sports accidents of all kinds), in dogs the ligament gradually breaks down over a longer period of time (degeneration).
The bit attached to the bridle transmits your rein aids to your horse and is therefore a central link in rider-horse communication. As the horse's mouth is a particularly sensitive area, it is important that the bit suits you both. Choosing the right bit depends on the level of training of the rider and horse, the type of riding, the anatomy of the horse's mouth, the temperament and also the preferences of the horse.
Similar to humans, dogs of middle to advanced age can also develop a sugar metabolism disorder. Canine diabetes is the second most common hormone-related disease in dogs. The first noticeable symptoms are increased thirst and increased urination. If diabetes is detected early, the disease can be well controlled with lifelong insulin therapy. However, certain emergencies can also occur in the context of diabetes, requiring immediate veterinary treatment.
What lies behind this almost unpronounceable name? Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis is a hereditary, incurable metabolic disease that primarily affects Quarter Horses, Paint Horses, and Appaloosas, whose bloodlines all trace back to the Quarter Horse stallion "Impressive."
Gastroenterology is the branch of internal medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This also includes the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.
