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Tag: ringworm

  • Keeping Your Dog and Family Safe: Understanding and Preventing Zoonotic Diseases | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Keeping Your Dog and Family Safe: Understanding and Preventing Zoonotic Diseases | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Let’s talk about something important that affects both our canine friends and us – zoonotic diseases. These are infections that can pass between animals and humans. While our dogs bring us joy and companionship, they can sometimes carry diseases that might make us sick. But don’t worry! With the right knowledge and precautions, we can keep everyone healthy and tail-wagging.

    Leptospirosis: Sneaky Water-Lover

    First on our list is leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that dogs can pick up from contaminated water or soil. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and jaundice. To prevent this disease, keep your pup away from stagnant water and consider vaccination if you live in an area where leptospirosis is an issue. If your dog does contract leptospirosis, your vet will likely prescribe antibiotics. Remember to practice good hygiene when caring for an infected dog in order to protect yourself.

    Ringworm: Misleading Name

    Despite its name, ringworm isn’t a worm at all — it’s a fungal infection! It causes circular patches of hair loss and can spread to humans through direct contact. Treatment usually involves antifungal medications, both topical and oral. To prevent spreading, regularly groom and inspect your dog, and wash your hands after handling them, especially if you notice any skin abnormalities.

    Giardia: Tiny Troublemaker

    Giardia is a microscopic parasite that can cause diarrhea in both dogs and humans. Dogs often pick it up by drinking contaminated water. If your furry friend has giardia, your vet will prescribe anti-parasitic medication. Prevention involves keeping your dog away from potentially contaminated water sources and maintaining good hygiene practices.

    Rabies: Serious One

    Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is fatal if left untreated. Thankfully, it’s preventable through vaccination, which is mandatory in many areas. If you suspect your dog has been exposed to rabies, contact your vet immediately. Prevention is key here — keep your dog’s rabies vaccination up to date and avoid contact with wild animals.

    Salmonella: Not Just from Chicken

    While we often associate Salmonella with undercooked poultry, dogs can carry this bacteria too. They might show no symptoms but can still spread it to humans. To prevent Salmonella, practice good food hygiene, especially if your dog eats a raw diet, and wash your hands after handling dog food or feces.

    Roundworms: Common Culprit

    Roundworms are intestinal parasites that can cause a pot-bellied appearance and poor growth in puppies. Humans can contract them too, especially children. Your vet can recommend a deworming schedule based on your dog’s age and lifestyle.

    Prevention: The Best Medicine

    The good news is that preventing these zoonotic diseases is often straightforward:

    1. Keep your dog’s vaccinations or titers up to date.
    2. Practice good hygiene – wash your hands frequently.
    3. Clean up after your dog promptly.
    4. Regular vet check-ups to catch any issues early.
    5. Keep your dog on a regular deworming schedule.

    Remember, a healthy dog is more likely to have a healthy human family. By staying informed and taking these simple precautions, you’re not just protecting your furry friend — you’re safeguarding your whole family!


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    Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.

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  • 6 Things to Know When Your Cat Has a Ringworm Infection | Animal Wellness Magazine

    6 Things to Know When Your Cat Has a Ringworm Infection | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Ringworm is a common infection cat parents must deal with. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect yourself, your cat, and other family members. Here are the top six things to know about ringworm infections and how to deal with them.

    If you’re a cat parent and aren’t familiar with ringworm, consider yourself lucky! Ringworm is a common fungal infection that impacts cats. The name comes from the characteristic ring-shaped rash it causes, rather than a type of worm. In fact, this infection has nothing to do with worms at all! Ringworm infections are caused by fungi called dermatophytes, which are extremely common, so infections can happen easily. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or facing your first infection, these six tips will help you control and treat ringworm in cats!

    1. Any Cat Can Get Ringworm

    You often see ringworm infections in cats with weaker immune systems, such as kittens, seniors, and unhealthy feral cats. What’s more, long-haired cats get ringworm more often because it’s more difficult for them to groom themselves. However, any cat can get this infection.

    2. It’s Highly Infectious

    Ringworm isn’t usually a serious infection and is easily treatable, but it’s very infectious. You or your cat can get ringworm from coming into contact with an infected animal, person, bedding, or other objects.

    3. You Shouldn’t Pet a Cat with Ringworm (Because You Can Get It)

    Many species of ringworm are zoonotic, meaning you can get it from touching an infected cat (or vice versa). If you do need to handle a cat with ringworm, protect yourself by:

    • Covering any cuts or scrapes you have
    • Wearing gloves, long sleeves, and an apron
    • Washing your hands and clothes after handling the cat

    4. Quarantine a Cat with a Ringworm Infection

    Because ringworm is so contagious, it’s important to quarantine an infected cat to protect yourself and other two- and four-legged family members in the house. Isolation usually lasts between two and four weeks, though treatment typically lasts five to six weeks. Once your cat has started treatment, quarantine should continue until you get a negative result from a fungal culture that your veterinarian can take.

    5. You Must Clean Everything in Your Cat’s Environment

    Ringworm spores are invisible and persistent: You can’t see them with the naked eye, and they can lie dormant for years. As such, it’s important to wash everything you can and throw out/replace anything that can’t be washed. Here are some additional tips:

    • Wipe surfaces with a pet-friendly disinfectant (this does NOT include Lysol)
    • Steam clean or shampoo carpets and furniture
    • Wash food and water bowls with disinfectant soap
    • Vacuum and clean surfaces every couple of days
    • Wash your cat’s bedding, towels, your clothes, and cleaning cloths twice with bleach
    • Disinfect brushes and grooming tools

    6. Start Treatment Immediately

    Talk to your vet about whether your cat should be clipped or shaved. In terms of treatment, Banixx Pet Care and Banixx Medicated Shampoo are simple, affordable, and effective products that treat a ringworm infection. Safe for kittens, puppies, cats, dogs, and other animals, these gentle yet powerful products have anti-fungal properties that control and prevent the spread of ringworm while soothing itchy, painful skin.

    Visit Banixx to learn more!


    Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Keeping Warm During the Winter Storm

    Austin Pets Alive! | Keeping Warm During the Winter Storm

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    Sep 30, 2021

    “The APA! Neonatal program has been a part of my life since 2013,” said Kimberley.

    “I adopted my first kitten, now an 8-year-old cat, at a PetSmart adoption event in June 2013.

    I was struggling with depression and trying to push my way through grad school and Lancelot has been helping me with his affection from our union.”

    “Fast forward a few more years and I once again turned toward kittens as a way to help me with my mental health. In 2018, I was struggling with another depressive spell but this time turned to volunteering with APA!. I started off in the ringworm cattery before figuring out how to volunteer in the neonatal nursery. I really wanted to focus on the nurturing of kittens to mirror self-care.”

    For many of us, self-care and mental health came into focus during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and for us Texans, during Winter Storm Uri. When Winter Storm Uri hit Texas in mid-February this year, it leftover four million people out of power and water for days. Temperatures got down to historically low single digits, and there was widespread loss of internet and cell phone reception.

    In our work, lives are on the line every day. When disasters like Uri hit, it takes a village to ensure no companions’ lives are lost — no matter the circumstances. Luckily, we have people like Kimberley on our side.

    “I was on my second kitten of the year when Winter Storm Uri hit,” said Kimberley. “I had an adorable 7-week old orange kitten named Finn when I lost electricity.

    For three days straight he spent the majority of the time in bed with me curled up next to my chest while I was under five blankets. My older cats were on top of the blankets surrounding us. No heating pad or warm gruel during this storm. I was totally iced in.”

    “I went to my car a few times in an attempt to charge my phone and had the heat on to try to keep him warmer. Prior to my in-laws taking me and all four felines in where they had electricity, I did fear he was starting to fade on me.”

    Neonates, kittens from birth to six weeks of age, are often bottle-fed every few hours and often kept on heating pads during normal temperatures. Caring for Finn during Winter Storm Uri quickly became a life-or-death situation.

    To perk him up, Kimberley knew she had to make warm sugar water for him to drink. But with no electricity and no running water, this wasn’t going to be easy. Luckily, Kimberley saved some clean water prior to the boiling order and was able to make the concoction with room temperature water — though room temperature was about 26 degrees.

    “It was terrifying trying to keep him warm and not suffocate him as he burrowed up against my chest, sometimes inside my jacket after coming out to eat or use the litter box,” said Kimberley. “He was a trooper though.”

    Despite being without power for 48 hours and without water for 72 hours, our shelter remained operational. We mobilized to place 90 percent of our population in foster homes, and our fosters were more vital than ever. Nothing stopped our teams from saving lives and placing pets in forever homes.

    “I didn’t even have a halfway charged phone prior to losing power and had spotty signals at best. Yet the adoption team still managed to send me adoption requests, despite the challenges we all faced in Austin. I recall replying to two potential adopters when I had maybe 5 percent battery and trying to set up future Zoom meet and greets.” said Kimberley. “In the end, Finn did go to one of those potential adopters.”

    “It was a horrible situation, but I can assure you the off-site volunteers and all of us fosters were doing our best to keep the animals alive and continuing our darndest to further Austin’s goal of No Kill. We did our best to keep the animals alive with what little resources we had without electricity.”

    “At this point, I’ve taken in 64 kittens in my four kitten seasons. Of the 21 I’ve had so far this season, 4 have been through the P.A.S.S. program. The majority of my kittens have had ringworm and I do my best to inform people that ringworm is not a reason to reject an otherwise healthy animal. I hope to continue saving kittens and adding joy to other people’s lives with my fosters.”

    “I truly consider myself a social worker for both humans and cats.”

    Without lifesavers and advocates like Kimberley, APA! companions may have been lost during the winter storm. We need you to join Kimberley to fight for No Kill to stay in Austin so pets like Finn and all of Kimberley’s kitties get the same chances as healthy pets by making a gift today.

    With our No Kill future at risk more now than ever before, we need your help TWICE as much to keep Austin No Kill. Give today and double your impact for companions in need.

    What’s your Winter Storm Uri story? Interact with our posts on social media TODAY for your last chance to be featured!

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