AVS 101 1st Edition Lecture 22 Cats & Dogs Cat Breeds Cats Male = tom Female = queen Young = kitten Live 14 years (average) Nutrition Do not feed dog food to cats Cats lack glucokinase to break down carbs Amino acids taurine & arginine found only in animal protein– Deficiency à blindness Cannot convert beta carotene to Vitamin A Nutrition Cats are not vegetarians Necessary to maintain low pH in urine Lactose intolerant, do not replace water with milk Reproduction Queen has several cycles in succession in summer & fall Tom’s penis has small “horns/barbs” Gestation approx. 60 days Health Concerns FLUTD - feline lower urinary tract disease– Struvite crystals form in urethra– Symptoms: frequent attempts to urinate, straining to urinate, crying while urinating Health Concerns FLUTD– Effects both male & female– Urine pH < 6.6 crystals do not form– Acidified diet Health Concerns Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia)– Most deadly of all cat ailments– Virus transmitted by vomit, saliva, excrement of fleasSymptoms: dehydration diarrhea, fever 104-105, attempts to drink/painful throat, hovers over dish Health Concerns Rabies– Viral disease effecting most mammals & some birds– Skunk #1 transmitterThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.– Virus attacks central nervous system– Symptoms: unusual behavior, horse voice, dehydration but cannot drink– Vaccinate Health Concerns Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)– Similar to human HIV infection– Weakens the immune system– No cure, no vaccine– Risk factors: age, gender, & time spent outdoors– Symptoms: temperature, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhea, conjunctivitis Health Concerns Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)– weakened immune system– Tumor growth– Transmission: infected saliva, urine, feces, mother-to-newborn– No cure, treatment to relieve pain– Vaccine – not 100% effective Vaccination Schedule FVRCP boosted yearly FeLV boosted yearly Rabies boosted every 1 to 3 years depending on state law Dog Breeds Dogs First domesticated animal Greatest diversity within species  Avg. life 14 yrs. Terminology– Female – bitch– Breeding male – stud– Young – pup– Birth - whelping Nutrition #1 problem – obesity Feed is based on individual– Consider age, activity, size  Feed ad libitum Time restricted (5-30 min.) Older dogs restrict calorie but not protein Do not feed cat food to dogs Nutrition Limit table scraps Dry  Semi-moist Canned  Do Not Feed Raw eggs  Dairy  Chocolate – has theobromine, toxic to dogs & cats– 3 oz. baking chocolate or 1.5 lbs. of milk chocolate will kill a 25 lb. dog Do Not Feed Onions Vitamin B or C  Anti-freeze Reproduction Bitch is in estrus two times per year Don’t breed 1st heat – too immature Male/female “tie” together Reproduction Gestation approx. 63 days Health Problems Hip dysplasia– Head of femur doesn’t fit hip socket– More common to larger breeds– Genetic “inbreeding” Health Problems Heartworm– Transmitted by mosquito– Animal tires easily, cough, weight loss– Preventative treatment Health Problems Canine Distemper– Most common infectious disease– Leading cause of death in non-vaccinated dogs Health Problems Canine Distemper– DHL vaccine (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis) every yr. Health Problems Rabies– Virus transmitted from saliva of infected animal– Closer the bite to the brain, the faster the symptoms develop– Change in behavior, paralysis of lower jaw & larynx– Not always frothing at mouth– Vaccinate every year Health Problems Bordetella (Kennel Cough)– Coarse, dry, hacking cough– VaccinationRequired for boarding at many kennels Vaccination Schedule - Dog Boost DHLPP, Bordetella & Lyme vax annually Rabies booster every 1 to 3 years Heartworm test after 5 months– Retested annually– Take heartworm preventative beginning at 8 weeks– Heartgard, Revolution, Proheart Age Euthanasia When?– Is the animal in pain?– Incurable disease?– Quality of life? Euthanasia How? Most humane – lethal injection of sodium