"A Breathtaking Topic"

“What are you seeing lots of Doc?’ This is a pretty common question, so I figured might as well blog about a current issue. The answer for today is PNEUMONIA. Cause:

• Pneumonia is a multifactorial disease

• Infectious Agents

• There are many viral, bacterial and even some fungal causes

• Some infectious agents are contracted while others can be normal inhabitants of the respiratory tract that have overpopulated.

• Environmental Conditions

• Low temperatures, high humidity, poor ventilation (if housed)

• Extreme or sudden weather changes

• Overcrowding

Symptoms:

• Dull or depressed

• Decreased appetite

• Fever

• Eye or nasal discharge

• Coughing

• Drooped ears

• Increased respiratory rate

Treatment:

• Many cases of pneumonia respond to treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories

• It is best to discuss the case with a veterinarian to decide the proper medications to use.

Prevention: Some things, such as changing weather conditions, are out of our control. However, there are a few things you can do to help prevent or reduce the severity of pneumonia such as:

• Colostrum- make sure newborns receive adequate colostrum in the first 4-12 hours of birth. This is important for their immune system.

• Monitor-check all animals every day and watch for any symptoms mentioned previously.

• Vaccinations- There are many vaccines that can be used in some species to help prevent pneumonia. However, they are not available for all infectious agents and are not always 100% effective. Vaccines work best when given to healthy animals and properly boostered.