Easy, Affordable
Protection for Your Pets. You can't predict the
future of your pet's health, but you can prepare for
it. Not only do we offer the most comprehensive,
flexible pet care coverage - we also pay a higher
percentage of your claim than our competitors. We're
meeting the real-life needs of today's cats, dogs and
owners. QuickCare Pet Insurance
Look For: The
elegant, powerfully built leopard has a long
body, relatively short legs and a broad
head.
Length: 40-80 inches long
Weight: 65-150 pounds
Habitat: Dense bush in rocky
surroundings and riverine forest are their
favorite habitats, but leopards adapt to many
places in both warm and cold climates.
Range: Wild leopards live only in
Africa and Asia.
Leopard vs. Jaguar: Since wild
leopards live only in Africa and Asia and
wild jaguars live only in the Americas, there
is no possibility of confusing them in the
wild. There are also visual markings that set
them apart. Leopards do not have the spots
within the rosettes that jaguars always have,
and the jaguar's spots are larger than the
leopard's. The Amur leopard and the North
Chinese leopard are occasional exceptions.
The leopard is smaller and less stocky than
the jaguar, although it is more heavyset than
the cheetah..
The University of Illinois College of
Veterinary Medicine has assembled these quick
facts to address the concerns of dog owners.
Canine Influenza
Canine influenza—new influenza
strain—was first reported in
January 2004 at a Florida greyhound
track.
The virus was first identified in the
pet population in spring 2005, when the
University of Florida College of
Veterinary Medicine isolated and
identified a strain of the influenza
virus as a cause of a serious respiratory
illness in dogs in shelters, humane
societies, boarding facilities, and
veterinary hospitals in that state.
This virus, belonging to the influenza
A family, is a mutated strain of an
equine influenza virus that has been
detected in horses for over 40 years.
This specific strain of influenza is
not known to infect humans or
poultry.
As of October 7, 2005, 2:00 p.m.,
(Eastern) confirmed positive sero samples
of canine influenza had been diagnosed in
the pet populations in ten states:
Florida, New York, California, Oregon,
Washington, New Jersey, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It
had also been diagnosed in Washington,
D.C.
As of October 7, 2005, there had been
no reported cases of canine influenza in
the State of Illinois.
Signs and Virulence
Canine influenza is a new, contagious
respiratory disease that may mirror signs
of kennel cough, including sneezing,
coughing, and fever. It requires
veterinary medical attention.
Nearly 100 percent of dogs that come in
contact with the virus become infected,
regardless of age or vaccination history.
Of those infected, 20 percent show no
signs of disease.
Of the 80 percent that exhibit signs,
two forms have been observed:
Mild infection. Symptoms include a
low-grade fever, nasal discharge, and a
persistent cough that could last up to
three weeks.
Severe infection. Symptoms include a
high fever, increased respiratory rates
with difficulty breathing, and other
indications of pneumonia.
Researchers have observed canine
influenza to be fatal in fewer than 8
percent of infected patients.
Because this virus is new to dogs, most
dogs will not have a natural immunity to
the influenza.
Treatment
Contact your veterinarian if you
believe your dog may have contracted
canine influenza. Your veterinarian is
best qualified and equipped to make a
diagnosis and to provide advice for
caring for any symptom-free dogs you may
have in your household.
Although most dogs will recover from
this virus without any treatment, dogs
exhibiting symptoms of a mild infection
can be treated with antibiotics to
prevent secondary bacterial
infections.
Others with a more severe form of the
virus require the same treatment as
humans with influenza: fluids and rest,
and more severe cases requiring
intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
Treatment for this population has been
successful in about 95 percent of the
cases.
Spread of the Virus
Canine influenza is thought to be a
mainly airborne virus, most likely
transmitted by an infected dog sneezing
or coughing on another.
Symptoms generally appear two to five
days after a dog is exposed to the
virus.
Infected dogs have the ability to
spread the virus for seven to ten days
from the onset of symptoms.
Much the same as human influenza, this
virus can be spread through direct
contact with a contaminated surface.
Infected dogs may not exhibit signs of
infection, but are still able to spread
the virus.
Prevention
Although researchers are working on a
vaccine to prevent canine influenza, one
does not exist at this time.
As with any other potentially
communicable disease, exercising a few
common-sense precautions can help to
prevent the spread of canine
influenza:
Use kennels, grooming facilities, and
dog parks that are well known to you.
Watch for news of canine influenza
outbreaks in your area.
Contact facilities in advance to ask
about any recent occurrences of
respiratory illnesses in dogs.
Inquire about steps pet facility
operators take to isolate any apparent
cases of illness.
If your pet is exhibiting symptoms of
canine influenza, contact your local
veterinarian. Your veterinarian is best
qualified and equipped to make a
diagnosis.
If your pet has a respiratory infection
or has recently recovered from one, limit
its contact with other dogs for a couple
of weeks, allowing for complete recovery
and reducing the likelihood of
transmission.
Assume that the more exposure your dog
has to other dogs, the greater the chance
of becoming infected.
Transmission to Humans
There is no evidence of canine
influenza spreading to humans.
The equine strain of influenza has been
in horses for over 40 years without any
reported human infection.
The Bottom Line
"The important thing is that people not
panic over this. Canine flu is a new
disease, so there is a lot we don't know
about it, but the mortality rate is very
low, and many dogs don't even get sick from
it. It made a huge splash in the press
because the molecular genetics part of the
story established such a clear
cross-species transmission of an influenza
virus – not because it is a new,
deadly disease of dogs. The virulence of
this virus has been greatly exaggerated by
some." —Dr. Tom Graves, University
of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
"Anxiety is the most frequent cause of both
house-soiling and territorial spray marking,"
says Dr. Larry Lachman, a clinical
psychologist and animal behavior consultant.
Changes in the home are common triggers for
pet stress.
The condition of the litter box could also be
a problem. Clean the box at least two times a
day. Once a week, dump out the litter, clean
the box with soap and water and refill with
fresh litter. Do not use a soap with a lemony
or strong fragrance.
You can also switch litter or try a fine-
sand-type, which cats seem to prefer. If the
litter you're using has a fragrance, switch
to unscented. Gradually phase in the new
litter. If you're using a plastic liner, get
rid of it.
Consider the location and number of litter
boxes. Lachman recommends one per cat. Make
sure it's in a place with easy access. Don't
disturb the cat when it's using the box or
even near it. Don't ever use the litter box
as a place to easily grab the cat for
something it dislikes, like a trip to the
vet.
When you're out, confine the cat so it can't
get to off-limit elimination areas. There's
no way you can get your cat to stop
house-soiling if you continue to give it
access to its favorite accident locations.
When you leave home, confine the cat in a
laundry room or bathroom with its litter box
on one side, on the floor, and its food,
water and snacks on the opposite end,
preferably high up. Include catnip, toys
and/or unwashed clothing or a towel that
smells like you and a tape recording of your
voice. Those will reduce the cat's anxiety.
It's my experience that indoor-outdoor cats
have more problems with house soiling and
spraying than indoor-only cats. My bias: Keep
them indoors. Also, make areas where the cat
has urinated or defecated aversive by
applying different agents and texture
surfaces. For example, most cats don't like
to walk on aluminum foil. After cleaning up a
stain, lay some strips of foil, weighing them
down. Cats also frequently find
citrus-smelling agents a turn-off.
Cats do not eat where they eliminate. Clean
up the accident, and twice a day for at least
four weeks help your cat forage or snack
right on the spot. Give it Pounce or liver
treats. Your cat will quickly associate the
area with food and stop soiling there.
If you catch the cat in the act, startle it
mildly, without hitting or hurting it. After
a two- to five-minute "time out," redirect it
to a good behavior and give it a reward. This
process is called SWRR (startle, wait,
redirect, reward). Remember, you must catch
the cat in the act. It does no good (and can
do harm) if you punish after the fact.
For more information, contact Dr. Larry
Lachman at P.O. Box 22151, Carmel, Calif.,
93922; by phone at 831-643-2635; via e-mail
at drlarry@familyanimal.com or
dociam2@msn.com or online at
http://www.familyanimal.com.
Heather walked into her living room and saw
her brother playing chess with the dog.
"Amazing!" she said, "This must be the
smartest dog in the history of the world!"
"He's not so smart," her brother said, "I've
beaten him three out of five games so
far."
Feedback
from Our Readers
(continued from page
one)
We love to hear stories, comments and
suggestions from our readers! Write
to the Editor
You are receiving this Newsletter because
you have subscribed for our newsletter at our site.
If you do not wish to receive further news or
mailings from NoahsAnimalFigurines.com click here to
unsubscribe.
Look For: The
elegant, powerfully built leopard has a long
body, relatively short legs and a broad
head.