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  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, November 16, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Feline ‘Flu’
    Continued
    Last week, we dealt with the situation whereby feline respiratory distress comes on rapidly and with great severity (acute form). As was mentioned, if the symptoms are pronounced, then the cat will very likely die, especially if you waited too long to ensure …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, November 9, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Continued
    We said last week that, in addition to a few other infectious agents, two virus groups are primarily involved in this Respi-ratory Disease Complex that affects cats.
    It is quite immaterial which virus afflicts the animal, since the symptoms are pretty much the same. In any …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, November 2, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Feline Viral Respiratory Disease Complex  aka Feline Influenza
    General comments
    Ailments associated with the respiratory tract are pretty common – and understandably so. The upper respiratory passages contain a lot of bacteria and other infectious agents. With every breath of air comes a new horde of …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, October 26, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Feline ‘Distemper’
    This is a viral infection of cats. It has many names. The real technical name is also Feline Panleuko-penia.
    However, because of a similarity with the agent that causes Parvovirus in dogs, the disease is called Feline Parvovirus. Other names for Feline ‘Distemper’ are …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, October 19, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Leptospirosis – infectious jaundice
    Over the years I have spoken and written so much about this disease that at one time my friends used to call me Dr Lepto.
    The reason for delivering the fire and brimstone message is that this infectious disease is very prevalent …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, October 12, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Kennel cough
    Or, if you wish to get technical – Acute Infectious Tracheobronchitis. (Now you can go to your doctor and have him fix your dislocated tongue, which tried to pronounce that bit of science).
    Few professions can trivialize serious scientific erudition like veterinary medicine. For example, …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, October 5, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Infectious canine hepatitis
    Infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) is a highly contagious viral disease, which, as the name suggests, attacks predominantly dogs, although the virus is known to cause illness in foxes, wolves and coyotes.
    The literature documents that even skunks and bears can be infected. Other carnivores …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, September 28, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Distemper
    Here is another disease against which we can vaccinate, thus offering our dogs meaningful protection. Distemper is a highly contagious disease which is caused by a virus similar to the germ that causes measles in people. Worldwide, it is the leading cause of infectious disease …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, September 21, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Canine Parvovirus (CPV)
    Continued
     
    Last week, we began with the big theme of specific infectious diseases against which we can vaccinate. Our first choice was Canine Parvovirus (CPV).
    We had delineated the following CPV symptoms:
    • Sudden onset of depression
    • Loss of appetite
    • Fever (104°-106°; 40°C-41°C).
    • Grey coloured diarrhoea …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, September 14, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Specific infectious diseases
    Now that we have, over the past few weeks, discussed the basic principles of immunity and vaccination schedules, we can now turn to the many specific infectious diseases, including those against which we advocate vaccination. We can be very emphatic in stating that …

  • A Gardener’s Diary

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, September 7, 2008 | 0 Comments

    The gems that make it good to be alive

    The bulb is a development in plants which is designed to assist them survive long periods of dormancy. The bulb is a storehouse for food. It gives food to the emerging shoots and roots once a period …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, August 31, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Canine vaccines
    Much of what was said last week in the general discussion of feline vaccines would be valid for dog vaccines as well. For example, it is much cheaper (and logical/practical) to have one’s dog vaccinated against several diseases via one single dose administered …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, August 24, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Feline vaccines
    Well, I had promised that we would deal with the specific diseases today, but there was a change of mind. Sorry. Really, it makes more sense to continue the discussion on vaccinations (within the general context of immunity) by describing the vaccines that are …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, August 17, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Vaccines
    Well, now that we have, I hope, grasped the concept of immunity, let us have some superficial discussions on vaccines. Vaccines, as you would have gathered from the last three weeks of Pet Corner, may contain living and virulent bacteria, ‘living’ viruses, weakened bacteria and …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, August 10, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Artificially acquired immunity - (Continued)

    Passive immunity
    You may recall that last week we spoke of active immunity which was produced by inoculating an animal with dead or weakened germs.
    The animal then produces antibodies to those specific bacteria or viruses. These antibodies are to be found …

  • Pet Corner

    By Dr Steve Surujbally | Sunday, August 3, 2008 | 0 Comments

    Artificially acquired immunity
    Artificially acquired immunity is of two types. Either it is an active immunity or it is a passive immunity.
    Active imunity, as the name suggests, occurs when the body itself develops antibodies (see Pet Corner 27.7.08) against a specific disease. This can happen in …