bacteria

Do you have a young dog that is suddenly in renal failure? Is your dog unvaccinated? Has your part of the country been recently subjected to flooding? Maybe Leptospirosis should be on your list of disease differentials.

Does your dog have heartworms or Dirofilaria immitis? There is a long list of complications that may occur as a result of heartworm disease or in the treatment thereof. New research has shown that a gram-negative intracellular bacterium by the name of Wolbachia may be responsible for many of these complications and side-effects.

Tetanus is caused by a neurotoxin produced by club-shaped bacteria, known as Clostridium tetani. In the presence of oxygen or other adverse environmental conditions such as cold or a lack of humidity, this bacterium will produce a single inactive spore. The spore is a defense mechanism by which the bacteria are able to survive conditions that would result in their death.

Commonly known as "snuffles," nasal catarrh, or pasteurellosis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection affecting rabbits. Snuffles produces a discharge from the nose and eyes.

Kennel Cough--or Infectious Tracheobronchitis--is an easily transmitted combination bacterial/viral disease in the canine patient. It is caused by a bacterial infection of Bordetella bronchiseptica and viral components parainfluenza and canine adenovirus. Tracheobronchitis is a highly infectious condition seen 5 to 10 days following exposure to the causative agents.