Prevention and Treatment for Infectious Diseases in San Antonio
At Borgfeld Animal Hospital, we love it when a (preventive) plan comes together. There are some common diseases in pets in San Antonio that are pretty preventable. Are you equipped to keep your pet safe?
Vaccines: The Foundation of Disease Prevention for Pets
Vaccines are products that have been developed to prepare your pet’s immune system to fight off future exposure to a particular disease. Vaccines help to lessen or prevent infection.
Many diseases that we immunize against are highly contagious and even deadly. Oftentimes even with treatment, unvaccinated pets that contract these diseases die. Some of these diseases are even zoonotic, or transmissible to people.
Infectious diseases we see in Texas that we may recommend vaccinating against include:
- Rabies virus
- Distemper virus
- Parvovirus
- Kennel cough (Bordetella bacteria)
- Canine influenza
- Panleukopenia (cats)
- Lyme disease
- Feline leukemia virus
Not all pets will need all vaccines, but every pet benefits from some of them.
Pet Parasite Prevention
Besides viruses and bacteria, many common diseases for Texas pets are parasite borne. Thankfully, we have some great options to prevent these diseases in our four-legged friends.
Protect your pet against:
- Heartworm disease: This serious condition results from a parasitic worm infestation in the heart and associated blood vessels. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Every pet’s preventive care should include a defense against heartworm disease.
- Intestinal parasite infection: Pets can become infected with parasitic worms and single celled organisms that can result in diarrhea, weight trouble, and other problems. Routine fecal screenings for asymptomatic infections as well as periodic deworming is key for most of our pet patients.
- Ectoparasite driven diseases: Fleas, ticks, and the like are not only gross in and of themselves, but they can also carry disease. Infections with things like Lyme disease and Haemobartonella (Cat Scratch Fever) can be serious.
There are a variety of pet parasite preventions available, and our team can help find a suitable plan for any of our patients.
When it comes to infectious diseases, prevention is often the least risky and least costly approach. No one wants to have a sick pet, so being proactive makes a lot of sense. Please be sure to contact us to discuss the best disease prevention approach for your pet and family. We are happy to come up with a customized approach to meet your individual needs.