Sick Pet?
If any issues arise please text the foster hotline at 650-557-3398 and/or email leadfoster@hdbnqrescue.org
Kennel cough (Bordetella)
Known as the common cold for dogs.
Symptoms: Hacking cough, nasal or eye discharge
Treatment: Older puppies and adults with healthy immune systems usually recover on their own. We do have antibiotics that may be given to young puppies with immature immune systems or adults that don’t appear to be getting better on their own.
Contagious? Yes, it’s contagious to other dogs so it’s best to have your rescue dog use their own water and food bowl if living with other dogs. Not contagious to cats.
Demodex mange
Skin mite, affects dogs with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms: Patches of hair loss, dry scaly skin
Treatment: monthly heartworm medication. It will clear up in 1 to 2 months.
Contagious? This type of mange is not contagious.
Worms
Intestinal parasites
See a worm in your dog’s feces? (We know, ew!) Contact us and we’ll provide you with a dewormer.
A trip to the vet is not required for worms and they are generally not a serious condition unless left untreated for an extremely long time.
Diarrhea
Runny, frequent defecation
It’s very common for shelter animals to have diarrhea when they’re first rescued due to change of diet and environment. It’s not cause for concern unless it lasts for more than 2 or 3 days, or there’s actual blood in the diarrhea.
If you see blood in the diarrhea, it’s most likely a parasite called Giardia, which is treated with a medication the rescue stocks called Safeguard or Panacur. Contact us and we’ll send some to you.
Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
Known as the common cold for cats.
Symptoms: Nasal/Eye discharge, coughing, sneezing, congestion.
Treatment: Cats/Kittens with otherwise healthy immune systems usually recover on their own. We do have antibiotics for ones that don’t appear to be getting better on their own.
Contagious? Yes, it’s contagious to other cats so it’s best to have your rescue cat in a separate room away from other cats. Not contagious to dogs.
Earmites
Parasites in the ears
Symptoms: Scratching at ears frequently, black gritty dirt in ears
Treatment: clean ears apply topical medication.
Contagious? Technically yes, but hard to spread.
Worms
Intestinal parasites
See a worm in your cat’s feces? (We know, ew!) Contact us and we’ll provide you with a dewormer.
A trip to the vet is not required for worms and they are generally not a serious condition unless left untreated for an extremely long time.
Diarrhea
Runny, frequent defecation
It’s very common for animals to have diarrhea when they’re first rescued due to change of diet and environment. It’s not cause for concern unless it lasts for more than 2 or 3 days, or there’s actual blood in the diarrhea.
If you see blood in the diarrhea, it needs to be treated with a medication the rescue stocks.
Rare Issues in Dogs.
Parvovirus
Who’s at risk? This disease is predominantly found in puppies because most adults have been fully vaccinated against it.
Symptoms: Vomiting, and liquid or bloody diarrhea with metallic odor, extreme lethargy (no interest in taking walks, playing, etc.), no drinking or eating for more than 24 hours.
What do I do? Please contact us immediately if you think your puppy may have Parvo. Separate them from all other dogs in your care, putting the dog in a small area that can be cleaned with bleach later.
Note: The good news is the vast majority of puppies survive Parvo with treatment. Keep in mind that Parvo is much rarer in puppies over six months of age and adults. In older puppies and adults, what appears to be Parvo is usually just a bad case of diarrhea and/or stomach viruses
Distemper
Symptoms: It starts out like kennel cough – cough, nasal or eye discharge, lethargy, and lack of appetite. When it gets to the neurological stage, you will see facial or muscular tics and possibly seizures.
What do I do? Please contact us immediately if you think your dog has Distemper. Separate them from all other dogs in your care.
Prognosis: Unfortunately, the prognosis for Distemper is extremely poor, and most dogs do not survive even with treatment. Neurological symptoms also can take months to appear so this is a disease that is very difficult to diagnose.
Rare Issues in Cats.
Ringworm
Fungal Infection of the skin
Symptoms: Patches of hair loss, dry scaly skin, glows in black light
Treatment: Oral medications, medicated baths, medicated cream
Contagious? YES! to humans and pets.
We try not to intake kittens that we know have ringworm unless the foster is experienced with this.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
FIP is caused by a viral infection. The odd thing about FIP is that most cats are infected with the causative virus (feline coronavirus) when they are young, but only a small proportion of infected cats go on to develop FIP at a later date due to the virus mutating within their bodies.
Symptoms: vomit, poor appetite, lethargy, weight loss, fluid build-up in the abdomen or chest, enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty breathing, eye abnormalities, difficulty walking, behavioral changes, and seizures.
Treatment: Injections daily and supportive care
Contagious? The virus is contagious and spreads through fecal matter but only some kittens are affected by the mutation.